D.C. Sandwich Icon Taylor Gourmet Shutters Both Chicago Restaurants

Both Chicago locations of Taylor Gourmet, the beloved Washington, D.C.-area sandwich-focused restaurant chain, are closed after less than nine months according to an employee at the Loop location. Representatives and management for the chain have not yet responded to inquiries about their statuses but the employee said sadly over the phone today that both the Loop and newer West Loop restaurants are now closed for good. Online ordering has been disabled and a tipster wrote to Eater Chicago that a sign is now affixed to the Loop location’s door that states “Taylor Gourmet has left Chicago.”

The chain, beloved in the Beltway area for its cheesesteaks, hoagies, and creative sides, opened its first Chicago location at 1 N. Dearborn Street in the Loop in January. The West Loop/Fulton Market location came just in June at 177 N. Morgan Street. A third Chicago location was just announced last week for Willis Tower. There’s no word yet on whether that is still happening.

UPDATE: Taylor Gourmet is closing all of its D.C.-area locations on Sunday as well, according to the Washingtonian. A major private equity firm reportedly pulled its investment in the company and bankruptcy filing will happen soon, the paper reports, writing that the company’s business was deeply hurt by its owner’s meeting with President Trump in January 2017.