Four Corners Unveils its Retro Revamp of River North’s Motel Bar Tomorrow

— Longtime River North lounge and eatery The Motel Bar reopens under Four Corners ownership tomorrow. The group, which announced the takeover in May, is implementing a “retro” theme including new food menus with TV dinner-inspired specials, cocktails “made with nods to old school pop culture moments” such as the “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (rum base with a butterfly pear flower-infused ice cube), and a new design inspired by classic roadside motels from Route 66. It’ll be open 11 a.m. until late every day except Sunday, when it’s closed. Menus are here.

— Get ready to see many more Farmer’s Fridges both locally and beyond following the healthy vending machine company’s closing of $30 million in financing. The money will be used in part to expand to other major Midwestern cities beyond Chicago and Milwaukee plus another geographical area outside the Midwest, Crain’s reports.

— Dreamy actor Tom Hanks ate at Rosebud in Little Italy recently and loved the baked Ziti, writes the Sun-Times.

— Randolph Row Latin-themed restaurant and cocktail lounge Ronero has another new chef: Jose “Pepe” Rodriguez comes from Miami and is working on his first menu for fall that’ll include a deconstructed take on traditional Brazilian seafood stew with sofrito-stuffed skate wing, coconut broth, and tuile.

— And finally, Lago Wine Bar, the Lakeview spot that was sued by a NYC group for allegedly copying menus and design, is officially closed. A new concept is reportedly slated to reopen there later in September.