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

Plus, Farmer’s Fridge plans expansion after raising $30 million and more intel

The new Motel Bar will still have a large patio
Facebook/Motel Bar

— 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.

Ronero

738 West Randolph Street, , IL 60661 (312) 600-6105 Visit Website

Lago Wine Bar

3207 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 Visit Website

The Motel Bar

600 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60654 +1 312-822-2900 Visit Website

Rosebud

1500 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 942-1117 Visit Website