Eater Chicago - The Saga of Chicago ‘Tamale Guy’ Claudio VelezThe Chicago Restaurant, Bar, and Nightlife Bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52682/favicon-32x32.png2021-08-18T14:52:28-05:00http://chicago.eater.com/rss/stream/223642222021-08-18T14:52:28-05:002021-08-18T14:52:28-05:00Tamale Guy Moves Operations to Wicker Park
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<figcaption>Claudio Velez is on the move. | Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago</figcaption>
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<p>Claudio Velez leaves West Loop to be closer to his customer base</p> <p id="0O7OQ4">He’s on the move, again. <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2021/7/29/22600181/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-chicago-bar-food-vendor">Claudio Velez</a> has a new home — closer to his customer base in Wicker Park. For the foreseeable future the Tamale Guy will operate out of Bangers & Lace, utilizing the Division Street bar’s kitchen. </p>
<p id="KhTmPL"><a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2021/7/8/22526852/claudio-velez-authentic-tamale-guy-new-location-restaurant-lone-wolf-bar-west-loop-randolph-street">Just last month</a>, Velez — now calling his operation, the Authentic Tamale Guy — had debuted along Randolph Restaurant Row in the West Loop. The collaboration with <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/lone-wolf">Lone Wolf</a> represented a comeback <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-tamale-guy-claudio-velez-lawsuit-20210318-iz2sakc7mrgdpn2zgxvnxb7yki-story.html">after a broken partnership</a> led to the closure of a Ukrainian Village restaurant known as <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/tamale-guy-chicago">Tamale Guy Chicago</a>.</p>
<p id="w37EAC">This time, Velez’s departure is amicable. Bangers & Lace is at “epicenter” of his father’s clientele, Osmar Abad Cruz tells Eater Chicago. For more than 20 years, Velez has stopped at taverns around Wicker Park, Bucktown, and West Town, selling his tamales to customers at dive bars in those neighborhoods. Moving from West Loop to Wicker Park makes things easier for Velez and his family. Velez hopes to remain at Bangers & Lace for the next few months as he saves money to eventually open his own restaurant, his son adds.</p>
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<p id="3jjzCs">While Velez will no longer use Lone Wolf’s kitchen, the bar will still sell his tamales, says a spokesperson for the bar’s owners at Heisler Hospitality. The kitchen at Bangers & Lace is larger and can better handle the amount of orders Velez is receiving. Lone Wolf will continue to sell the tamales through the end of the years as planned, the spokesperson adds.</p>
<p id="urSoGI"><a href="https://www.tamaleguy.com"><em>Authentic Tamale Guy</em></a><em>, inside Bangers & Lace, 1670 W. Division Street, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Wednesday; 4 p.m. to midnight Thursday; 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday; noon to 3 a.m. Saturday; noon to 11 p.m. Sunday.</em></p>
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https://chicago.eater.com/2021/8/18/22631176/tamale-guy-chicago-wicker-park-bar-bangers-laceAshok Selvam2021-07-23T15:06:25-05:002021-07-23T15:06:25-05:00Tamale Guy Visits 20 Bars and Makes 1,500 Tamales on First Day Back
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<figcaption>Claudio Velez took plenty of selfies on Thursday night. | Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago</figcaption>
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<p>Operating out of Lone Wolf, the Authentic Tamale Guy’s first day was a success</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="5D8VHy"><a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2021/7/20/22585891/tamale-guy-chicago-lone-wolf-opening-west-loop">Thursday was an all-nighter</a> for Claudio Velez that led to five hours of sleep after making his way to 20 bars while making the tamale drops that have endeared him to Chicagoans for more than 20 years. Velez started his workday in the morning with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/truewestloop/permalink/3039664992947349/">loud applause</a> from customers sitting at <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/lone-wolf">Lone Wolf</a>’s 23-table sidewalk patio along Randolph Street. Velez and his family launched their new operation, the Authentic Tamale Guy, from the West Loop bar and later that night he stopped at bars like <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/rainbo-club">Rainbo Club</a>, Hideout Inn, and <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/bucktown-pub">Bucktown Pub</a>. </p>
<p id="1eGCFU">The new agreement with Lone Wolf gives Velez a base of operations where he can have a hybrid business of serving customers his classic tamales with corn husks and green salsa at his home tavern while having the option to bar hop afterward. The first customer at Lone Wolf lined up around 10:30 a.m. Thursday and Velez says he and his family made 1,500 tamales before selling out.</p>
<p id="8MQfaP">Thursday felt like the old days for him as a Chicago nightlife legend who fed hungry bar customers at taverns without food service. On opening night, he mingled with customers, took selfies, and cracked smiles with bartenders who haven’t seen him since before the pandemic. Velez hopes this new partnership with Lone Wolf will work out better for him compared to his Ukrainian Village restaurant. A falling out with those partners has led to a pending lawsuit. Since one of those partners, Kristin Vega, was a longtime worker at Easy Bar, he’s staying clear of that Wicker Park spot: “I don’t want to start any trouble,” Velez says, with his son, Osmar Abad Cruz translating.</p>
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<figcaption>Claudio Velez is on Randolph Street.</figcaption>
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<img alt="A plate of tamales in corn husks." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1VXiSHuvTJJ7A8Lsu44yIB8Z9p0=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22735901/55F3B687_F476_4B6F_B937_3B62660D693F.jpeg">
<cite>Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago</cite>
<figcaption>Despite the locale change to Randolph Street, the zippered plastic bags and red coolers are still around.</figcaption>
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<p id="IAwnrK">Velez’s story has been well chronicled, from his rockstar status, trouble with the city due to West Loop complaints, and the opening of his first restaurant. He’s gotten used to the attention and applause. He even received another <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/10/1/21492337/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-released-from-hospital">ovation in September as he was discharged</a> from Rush University Medical Center following a 35-day stay for treatment for COVID-19. Abad Cruz reflected on how far his father has come, remembering seeing his dad in the hospital, staring blankly into space with the disease affecting his breathing and senses.</p>
<p id="sopUAC">“I just want to him to do well,” Abad Cruz says. “He deserves this.”</p>
<p id="aLNTmZ">The Tamale Guy did test out home delivery last year after COVID-19 closed bars and cut him off from his customer base. While Velez says his dream is to eventually open another restaurant, visiting Chicago’s bars are what perks him up. Through the years, part of the fun was the luck involved in randomly running into Velez at a bar. The Tamale Guy’s tendencies and routes were unknown. Velez still will not publicize his routes and that preserves some of the excitement for old-school fans. Delivery will eventually be made available in a week or two so folks can plan their night around tamales.</p>
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<figcaption>Tamale Guy is all about the fans.</figcaption>
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<cite>Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago</cite>
<figcaption>More fans and more photos.</figcaption>
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<p id="vOyLKS">Velez says he plans on visiting on another 20 bars or so on Friday night. He’s stopped drinking alcohol for a bit, agreeing to resume in late August to coincide with his son’s birthday: “There’s too many problems with alcohol,” he says.</p>
<p id="CAP5sy">Still, interacting with fans remains his favorite pastime. Velez has been delivering tamales for more than 20 years around Chicago after immigrating from Mexico. With the help of his son, they’ve been searching for a licensed kitchen space to make tamales since last year. They connected with a Facebook group, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/truewestloop">True West Loop</a>, who introduced them to Lone Wolf’s owners at Heisler Hospitality (<a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/estereo">Estereo</a>, <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/queen-mary">Queen Mary</a>). While delivering tamales to bars, Velez and his family would make food from their homes. <a href="https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdph/provdrs/healthy_restaurants/svcs/register_a_cottagefoodoperation.html">Chicago’s cottage food laws</a> are restrictive, allowing very few foods to be made at home. Items like jams and baked goods can only sold at farmers markets. In other parts of the country, <a href="https://la.eater.com/2020/9/2/21418664/riverside-ab-626-home-restaurants-legal-california-chefs">including the LA area</a>, cottage operations flourished during the pandemic. Though they’ve kept all the recipes the same “it’s a lot different” working at Lone Wolf. There’s less worry about fines from the city, which something the officials threatened last year in cease-and-desist letters prompted by complaints <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/5/13/21253013/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-west-loop-complaints">after Velez sold tamales at a West Loop park</a>: “We feel more safe and at peace because there’s a license to cook,” Velez says.</p>
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<img alt="A masked man standing next to a tray of tamales." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jDC5aw7oPwQNteVZNK2gfNlPpZY=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22735923/F269BBE1_5C5D_4CA2_AD76_38CE682826E1.jpeg">
<figcaption>Claudio Velez inside his new kitchen.</figcaption>
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<p id="XgFowR">On Thursday night, a customer gave Velez a $100 tip, and he says he could feel his fans’s love throughout the night. At 56, he says he’s determined to keep up the pace: “If I have the strength, I’ll go ahead and make it work,” he says.</p>
<p id="kfN9h7">On Saturday night, a video crew from Vice Media will accompany him on his tamale run. He’s been popular with the media with TV and print interviews. Velez also says he plans on dropping off any leftover food at the end of the night and feeding people without housing who live under Chicago’s bridges. He says he needs to give back to the community that’s supported him.</p>
<p id="wTQsCe">“The people, they care lot,” Velez says.</p>
<p id="6R25Gc"><a href="http://tamaleguy.com"><em>The Authentic Tamale Guy</em></a><em>, inside Lone Wolf, 806 W. Randolph Street, open noon to midnight, Wednesday through Monday.</em></p>
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https://chicago.eater.com/2021/7/23/22590457/authentic-tamale-guy-claudio-velez-lone-wolf-west-loop-bar-open-randolph-streetAshok Selvam2021-07-20T17:04:43-05:002021-07-20T17:04:43-05:00Tamale Guy Gears Up For Thursday Debut on Randolph Street
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<img alt="A man making tamales in a kitchen." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Vm2qjUYxfBR8dvy4oKqvQOLaM9E=/0x0:4032x3024/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69608895/IMG_5685_3.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Claudio Velez busy making tamales at his former restaurant. | Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago</figcaption>
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<p>Claudio Velez and Lone Wolf prepare to unveil their new partnership</p> <p id="uKC3S7">Thursday is the day for Claudio Velez as his new venture, the <a href="https://www.tamaleguy.com">Authentic Tamale Guy</a>, debuts <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2021/7/8/22526852/claudio-velez-authentic-tamale-guy-new-location-restaurant-lone-wolf-bar-west-loop-randolph-street">along Randolph Restaurant Row in West Loop</a>. Velez is taking over food operations at <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/lone-wolf">Lone Wolf</a> bar where he has an agreement in place with the tavern’s owners, Heisler Hospitality (Sportsman’s Club, Estereo), to stay for six months. </p>
<p id="yQZSo8">Velez will not only serve Lone Wolf’s customers, but he’ll once again go out on runs to seek out bars in Wicker Park, West Town, and Ukrainian Village to make tamale drops. This is a separate operation from the <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/tamale-guy-chicago">Tamale Guy Chicago</a> restaurant that opened last year in Ukrainian Village. Velez and his partners had a falling out over control of finances. There’s a pending lawsuit that led to that restaurant’s closure. Velez’s former partners have denied all wrongdoing.</p>
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<p id="4UP69B">The Authentic Tamale Guy is a means for Velez to gain independence without worry about tangled business relationships. Son Osmar Abad Cruz and a few family members will be helping out. Abad Cruz even helped with <a href="https://www.tamaleguy.com">a new website</a>.</p>
<p id="eTgDoN">While Velez preps for Authentic Tamale Guy to open, other family members have recently opened a separate operation in suburban Cicero. Abad Cruz’s half-brother, Kaleb, is making deliveries as his mother, Bety Bautista, runs a restaurant called <a href="https://tlaxc-ana.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral">Tlaxc-Ana</a>. They serve tacos, tortas, and tamales. Bautista says they opened in June and would have opened sooner, but it was a struggle gaining the right suburban approvals.</p>
<p id="cEU0KE">Back in the city, Velez is reading for a noon opening on Thursday, urging customers to order early. When the Ukrainian Village restaurant opened, <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/8/13/21366683/tamale-guy-chicago-open-restaurant-sells-out-of-food">the first day featured long lines</a> that stretched blocks of customers waiting for their orders. </p>
<p id="xvffbP">The menu features chicken, pork, and cheese tamales. There’s also weekend specials: a Oaxacan-style tamale wrapped in a banana leaf and a variant served with mole. Velez was need of a commercial kitchen space to avoid city fines <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/5/13/21253013/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-west-loop-complaints">after West Loop residents last year</a> made complaints to the city about his operation. For two decades, Velez had delivered tamales that were prepared at his residence without notable issue until then. </p>
<p id="gHnF5D">But now inside a high-profile space, Velez and his family don’t have to worry about complaints. And if their six-month run at Lone Wolf is successful, perhaps other opportunities will pop up — Abad Cruz says they’re still interested in opening their own restaurant.</p>
<p id="8Eq85x"><a href="https://www.tamaleguy.com"><em>Authentic Tamale Guy</em></a><em>, inside Lone Wolf, 806 W. Randolph Street, opening at noon on Thursday.</em></p>
<aside id="nZtaaa"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"chicago-eater"}'></div></aside><p id="fluYZk"></p>
https://chicago.eater.com/2021/7/20/22585891/tamale-guy-chicago-lone-wolf-opening-west-loopAshok Selvam2021-07-08T14:35:31-05:002021-07-08T14:35:31-05:00Tamale Guy Strikes Deal to Move to Randolph Restaurant Row
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<img alt="A gray-haired man with glasses." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/J8i7Ow1xW6eYm4BsxdhJ-lbWX6g=/89x0:1512x1067/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69557864/50211402181_9a5e0b4b59_h.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Claudio Velez is back in the game. | <a class="ql-link" href="http://garrettsweet.com" target="_blank">Garrett Sweet</a>/Eater Chicago</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Claudio Velez and family will prepare their famous tamales from Lone Wolf, a bar in the West Loop</p> <p id="H054EM"><a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2021/5/17/22436842/bars-reopening-tamales-mask-rules-chicago-tribune-reviews-critics">After months of uncertainty</a>, Claudio Velez — Chicago’s roving vendor known to many simply as “the Tamale Guy” — has found a new home. Velez, who bounced around from bar to bar selling tamales prepared by his sisters in his home kitchen, now has a properly licensed facility where he can cook without the fear of fines from the city. He’s taking over the kitchen at Lone Wolf, a West Loop bar along Randolph’s restaurant row.</p>
<p id="Zsox2A">It’s a six-month agreement with Velez projected to start on Friday, July 16. His son, Osmar Abad Cruz, says his father hopes for success and to find a permanent home with Lone Wolf, selling tamales to bar customers and making his legendary runs to bars in Wicker Park and Ukrainian Village. They’ll also offer delivery and online ordering. The agreement with Lone Wolf doesn’t mean Velez is giving up on his dream of opening his own restaurant, says his son: “He’s so excited, so happy,” says Abad Cruz, adding there will be new items beyond the classic tamales and salsa verde. Think banana leaf-wrapped tamales and a variety of new salsas.</p>
<p id="1PrsP6">Velez and Abad Cruz also established a new LLC, The Authentic Tamale Guy, which will also be the name of the new business. Abad Cruz says they’ve <a href="https://uspto.report/TM/90541242">filed to trademark</a> his father’s likeness and the name “Tamale Guy Chicago.” This will be a tight operation with Velez’s sister, brother, and son onboard.</p>
<p id="HsMDqG">Lone Wolf’s owners, Heisler Hospitality — a company the includes bars like Sportsman’s Club, Pub Royale, and Queen Mary Tavern — gained the trust of Velez. Jeff Donahue, Heisler’s director of operations, says Velez saw many familiar faces in May when he toured the space; many of Lone Wolf’s staff have worked at the bars Velez frequented. Lone Wolf hasn’t fully fired up its kitchen since the pandemic, which makes it easy to allow Velez to take over the space.</p>
<p id="GDmMkY">The gears began churning in May when Velez sent out feelers that he was looking for kitchen space. Moshe Tamssot has been in contact with Velez and his family in Chicago since 2020. Tamssot, the coordinator of the True West Loop neighborhood Facebook page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/truewestloop/permalink/2990700371177145/">made a post</a> looking to connect Velez with interested restaurant owners with space to spare. Heisler spokesperson Hannah Turnbaugh Compton reached out to Tamssot who ended up serving as the bridge connecting Velez to Lone Wolf management.</p>
<p id="AgWlm1">Abad Cruz says he was impressed by Heisler’s experience and how supportive they were. They’ve offered his father full autonomy, and Velez will be operating totally separately from Lone Wolf. The agreement is comparable to a rental: “We wanted to keep this easy to make everyone feel secure,” Donahue says, noting Velez’s challenges with his past partnership.</p>
<aside id="1pSiAq"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"The Secret Origin of Chicago’s Tamale Guy","url":"https://chicago.eater.com/2020/8/12/21356865/tamale-guy-chicago-restaurant-west-town-claudio-velez"},{"title":"As Bars Stay Closed, Chicago’s Legendary Tamale Guy Tests Home Delivery","url":"https://chicago.eater.com/2020/3/27/21197096/tamale-guy-chicago-delivery-covid-19-bars"},{"title":"City Issues Cease and Desist to Chicago’s ‘Tamale Guy’ After Coordinated Complaints","url":"https://chicago.eater.com/2020/5/13/21253013/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-west-loop-complaints"},{"title":"‘Tamale Guy’ Claudio Velez Released From Hospital","url":"https://chicago.eater.com/2020/10/1/21492337/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-released-from-hospital"}]}'></div></aside><p id="33rSn6">Randolph Street — home to McDonald’s corporate headquarters, celeb chef Stephanie Izard’s Girl & the Goat, and Au Cheval — is a far cry from the Wicker Park dive bars that Velez sold his tamales at, taverns like Gold Star Bar, Happy Village, and Club Foot. But this match is all about trust, according to Abad Cruz. Their worry about partners taking advantage has built up through the years. <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/8/12/21356865/tamale-guy-chicago-restaurant-west-town-claudio-velez">In an August 2020 interview</a>, Velez mentioned sending money to Mexico so his family could build a home that was ultimately never constructed. </p>
<p id="DbJ4kH">While Velez has family in Chicago, Abad Cruz moved from San Diego to help his father set up a website and provide support. Velez’s often turned to friends for help reading contracts due to a language barrier. He can now depend on his son.</p>
<p id="ITaXUD">“Obviously my dad, he doesn’t know a lot of English,” he says. “But it’s hard, even for someone who can speak the language ... it was extremely important to find a trusted partner.”</p>
<p id="mibPBH">Velez, a native of Acapulco, Mexico, had a lifelong dream of opening his own restaurant, but enjoyed success for only a few weeks after the August 2020 opening of Tamale Guy Chicago in Ukrainian Village. Five months after doctors released him from the hospital <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/10/1/21492337/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-released-from-hospital">where he’d spent a month</a> being treated for COVID-19, <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-tamale-guy-claudio-velez-lawsuit-20210318-iz2sakc7mrgdpn2zgxvnxb7yki-story.html">he filed a lawsuit against</a> his partners at Tamale Guy Chicago. In that March filing, he accused Pierre and Kristin Vega of denying him access to financial records, which effectively barred him from the business. Velez alleged his partners cashed in on his reputation and froze him out of the business. Fans rallied to his aid and donated $90,000 to <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/claudio-the-tamale-legend">two</a> GoFundMe campaigns to provide him seed money for the restaurant and to help with his medical bills. Kristin Vega is listed as the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/bn7n82-claudios-medical-expenses?utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link">organizer of the campaign</a> that raised $56,000 for those bills. It’s unclear how much of that money Velez saw. Abad Cruz says they were close to running out of money in May before they met with Heisler.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="The exterior of a bar." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TZzrDfI7w8QOEJwUdoQ8GTehD5o=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22705942/10815905305_ac2792ecfc_c.jpg">
<cite>Marc Much/Eater Chicago</cite>
<figcaption>Lone Wolf opened in 2013 along Randolph Street.</figcaption>
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<p id="egWhPd">It’s challenging for a restaurant to turn a profit right after opening, especially during a pandemic. Even with those factors, Velez expected to see a profit and seeks damages of more than $100,000. The lawsuit also accuses the Vegas of stealing Velez’s tamale recipes and that their conduct “improperly appropriated Plaintiff’s name, likeness, and intellectual property.” The Vegas had brokered a deal with a local graphic designer to create a logo featuring Velez’s likeness, and they worked on a collaboration beer called “Tamale Guy” with Solemn Oath Brewery.</p>
<p id="8E4Vh2">The Vegas’ attorney, Brian Konkel, sent Eater a statement on Thursday morning: “The Vegas deny all of the allegations asserted by Mr. Velez-Gonzalez, and are confident the facts will bear out in their favor. They look forward to resolving this matter soon.” </p>
<p id="YgiCk5">A trip to a Chicago dive bar wouldn’t be complete without hearing Velez yell “tamales!” while holding his signature red plastic cooler. Donahue says tourists who don’t have time to venture to other parts of the city will now have the opportunity to experience Velez’s tamales close to downtown.</p>
<p id="Wnmrqx">During the pandemic, unable to sell at bars, Velez found success with home delivery. Operations were going smoothly until complaints by <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/5/13/21253013/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-west-loop-complaints">anonymous West Loop residents spurred the city</a> into sending cease-and-desist letters ordering Velez to stop making his tamales from his unlicensed kitchen or face up to $1,000 in fines, which he couldn’t afford. There was another xenophobic layer as Velez and his family worried that Velez’s status as an unauthorized immigrant left him particularly vulnerable. </p>
<p id="EDzdL6">“The entire family feels so much better now that they’re able to operate legally with the protections,” Abad Cruz says.</p>
<p id="FISKGl">Donahue adds: “They’re a legitimate business, they deserve to be anywhere in the city. If they want to be in the West Loop, we’re happy to have them.”</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="tamale guy" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0oVCH1ZkclMUwVIhyxM-iP58NMw=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21714577/50211403586_a5e5bf3a03_h.jpg">
<cite>Garrett Sweet/Eater Chicago</cite>
<figcaption>The team behind Tamale Guy Chicago in August 2020, in happier times before the restaurant opened.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="4toYie">Velez’s fans took a hard line against the Vegas. Though they didn’t make a formal announcement, the Vegas closed the restaurant shortly after the lawsuit was filed. Sales dropped after news of the lawsuit. One of the gripes in the lawsuit surrounded Velez’s nickname. Last month, the Vegas relinquished control of the restaurant’s Instagram account, <a href="https://instagram.com/tamaleguychicago?utm_medium=copy_link">@TamaleGuyChicago</a>. When Velez’s son, Abad Cruz, took over — after a legal battle — fans weren’t sure if their Tamale Guy was behind the posts. That prompted Abad Cruz to post <a href="https://instagram.com/stories/tamaleguychicago/2592010597080349819?utm_medium=copy_link">a story</a> reassuring customers that this was “Claudio, the authentic Tamale Guy.” Before that post, the most recent Instagram activity came on March 17, two days after Velez’s attorney filed the lawsuit. </p>
<p id="EDf5B9">The parties have been meeting in court since March. In recent months, Velez and Cruz have told Eater Chicago that they had doubts about the Vegas even before the restaurant opened. Cook County records show their next court date is scheduled for July 29.</p>
<p id="nOUGmy">Velez is happier than he has been in months, his son says, but it appears COVID-19 has had lingering effects. Abad Cruz says his father’s voice is softer, and he’s unable to yell as loudly as he once did. Still, he’s in a better place.</p>
<p id="2dnXEa">“His attitude is completely different now,” Abad Cruz says. “You can tell he’s more energized — he’s very, very excited to get out there.”</p>
<p id="r84Aeg"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tamaleguychicago/?hl=en">Check social media</a> and the upcoming website — <a href="http://tamaleguy.com">tamaleguy.com</a> should be live later this week — for updates.</p>
<p id="oISLCd"><em>The Authentic Tamale Guy, inside Lone Wolf, 806 W. Randolph Street, planned for a July 16 opening.</em></p>
<aside id="U2A47I"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"chicago-eater"}'></div></aside><p id="ttu5cP"></p>
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https://chicago.eater.com/2021/7/8/22526852/claudio-velez-authentic-tamale-guy-new-location-restaurant-lone-wolf-bar-west-loop-randolph-streetAshok Selvam2021-05-17T11:42:11-05:002021-05-17T11:42:11-05:00Tamale Guy Sidelined as Chicago’s Bars Roar Once More
<figure>
<img alt="A person wearing glasses and a black T-shirt while inside a kitchen." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JDQXhKzivKf_tZvMMw8qQnxd-tg=/78x0:1501x1067/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69299560/50211398016_3cbd736650_h.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Claudio Velez is healthy, but he doesn’t have a kitchen. | <a class="ql-link" href="http://garrettsweet.com" target="_blank">Garrett Sweet</a>/Eater Chicago</figcaption>
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<p>Meanwhile, a new co-critic<em> </em>at the ‘Tribune’ gives barbecue spot Soul & Smoke a rave review</p> <p id="ieIUpw">Over the weekend, as <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2021/5/14/22436172/chicago-cdc-restaurant-bar-mask-mandate-curfew-loosen-restrictions">Chicago’s bridge phase saw crowds</a> of customers sipping beer and cocktails at bars, patrons were treated by another familiar sight to Chicagoans. A masked tamale vendor with a blue cooler entered Logan Square bars to ask if anyone wanted a tamale. This type of scene was unimaginable in 2020, but some routines are returning.</p>
<p id="N8JmdW">That masked hero was not Chicago’s most famous tamale vendor. Claudio Velez and his red cooler aren’t ready to return selling tamales bar to bar, but he tells Eater Chicago he’s healthy and he’s searching for a new restaurant space. Last year, Velez contracted COVID-19 <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/10/1/21492337/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-released-from-hospital">which hospitalized him for a month</a>. Though he’s healthy, he doesn’t have a commercial kitchen space to make tamales. </p>
<p id="K5denW">The city, spurred by anonymous complaints last year from the West Loop, sent Velez a <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/5/13/21253013/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-west-loop-complaints">cease-and-desist letter</a> warning him about making tamales at home for public consumption. Velez was shaken by the letter, and despite a history of making and delivering tamales to Chicago’s bars for decades. Fear has grounded Velez’s tamales operation as he’s worried about fines and concerns as an undocumented immigrant.</p>
<p id="SDYuRx">Theoretically, Velez would have space at his Ukrainian Village restaurant, but he’s no longer involved in the operation. Several restaurant owners have reached out to Velez offering their kitchen space, but the Tamale Guy says he prefers to work independently. He’s currently tangled in a legal battle over the rights to his nickname with his restaurant partners at <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/tamale-guy-chicago">Tamale Guy Chicago</a>. The next court date is June 2, according to Cook County. <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-tamale-guy-claudio-velez-lawsuit-20210318-iz2sakc7mrgdpn2zgxvnxb7yki-story.html">The lawsuit, reported by the <em>Tribune</em>, alleges</a> the Vegas kept money and financial information from Velez while locking him out of the business. The practice that started while he was hospitalized. Velez’s partners in the Ukrainian Village restaurant, industry veterans Pierre and Kristin Vega, haven’t returned multiple requests for comment. They’ve argued in court they didn’t do anything wrong. While court proceedings continue, Velez says <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/truewestloop/permalink/2990700371177145">he’s been searching</a> for a new restaurant space with his siblings. They’re looking for leads on spaces, according to Velez, who also spoke with the Facebook group True West Loop.</p>
<p id="vkHBkD">Elsewhere, the Chicago’s road to recovery was evident in downtown Chicago at Gibsons, the iconic steakhouse in downtown. People hugged, bumped fists, and struck up conversations with strangers through clear plastic barriers, toasting dirty martinis to better times. Some servers assured customers that staff has been vaccinated and it was OK to keep masks off while seated. Nearly every outdoor table was occupied, and the indoor bar area was bustling as well. </p>
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<p id="G5MWzW">While the weekend was jubilant for many restaurants, not everyone was prepared to reopen. Popular pizzeria Paulie Gee’s, the New York import with two Chicago locations, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO3q4e8hjJy/">on social media</a> explained why it’s targeting a June opening for its Logan Square restaurant: some staff haven’t yet gotten the second dose of their vaccine; workers are installing a new HVAC system and ion treatment filters; and dining rooms that served as storage spaces during the pandemic need to be cleaned and prepared for patrons. </p>
<p id="I3nEf6">At Nick’s Beer Garden in Wicker Park, the late-night bar was scrambling to stay open until 4 a.m. for the first time since March 2020. GM Jeremy McDevitt says it would have been nice if the city provided restaurant owners with a little bit more notice than a day. Over the weekend, many bouncers pointed to signs reminding customers that despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new guidance, that venue house rules still required masks. Chicago and Illinois officials have yet to adjust city and state mask requirements even after Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week said they would fall in line with the CDC’s lead. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="pml4JR">
<h2 id="let1q8">And in other news...</h2>
<p id="AsvDL3">— In another sign of some normalcy returning to town, the <em>Tribune </em>dining section published its first restaurant review since Phil Vettel’s January departure, an end to his 31-year tenure as the paper’s restaurant critic. Last week, <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/platform/amp/2021/5/14/22434512/chicago-tribune-restaurant-dining-critics-walnut-room-drag-brunch-vacas-creamery-vegan-ice-cream">the <em>Trib</em> promoted reporters</a> Louisa Chu and Nick Kindelsperger into the role. <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/reviews/ct-food-review-soul-and-smoke-evanston-barbecue-20210517-yutv4p733jbobdmwyejjelfm2q-story.html">Kindelsperger reviewed Soul & Smoke</a>, giving the Evanston restaurant three stars and remarking that the “outrageously juicy” brisket is “the best I’ve tried outside of Texas. Those who follow Kindelsperger on Instagram may get an idea of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNVPG0clZ6t/">what reviews will pop up in the paper</a>, unlike his predecessor, he’s much more active on the medium. Vettel’s last review <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/reviews/ct-food-restaurant-review-ever-0910-20200909-7bqfthfm6neqjlfrfozm6knlbq-story.html">came in September</a> when he gave <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/ever">Ever</a> four stars.</p>
<p id="h7lOhW">— <a href="https://www.advancingjustice-chicago.org/doughsomething-fundraiser/">Dough Something</a>, the anti-racism campaign founded by decorated chef Beverly Kim (<a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/parachute">Parachute</a>, <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/wherewithall">Wherewithall</a>), will on Monday, May 24 raise funds with a panel on race and identity in the restaurant industry. Moderated by Monica Eng of WBEZ, the panel will feature Kim, Nyesha Arrington (Leona, Native), Erik Bruner-Yang (Maketto), Brandon Jew (Mister Jiu’s), and Preeti Mistry (Juhu Beach Club). Tickets ($10) are available <a href="http://eventbrite.com/e/doughsomething-happy-hour-tickets-153675957927">via Eventbrite</a>. Kim was also featured this month in <a href="https://abc.com/news/insider/watch-our-america-asian-voices-national-geographic">ABC’s “Our America: Asian Voices”</a> special. </p>
<div id="aDlyNr"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/91PPbWBaGOM?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; clipboard-write; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="5EvUrW">— Sure, popular passenger boat <a href="https://www.chicagowatertaxi.com/?fbclid=IwAR2QsWDiOv959KRAbYU9aFfhc0sU1_PzO_5abOyHGLYsReSM9hekNupmVcs">Chicago Water Taxi</a> will resume operations <a href="https://www.timeout.com/chicago/news/chicago-water-taxi-rides-will-resume-this-month-051121">on May 29 after a year-long hiatus</a>, but its yellow water crafts aren’t the only ones hitting the river: Phase Three Brewing of Lake Zurich, Illinois, every Thursday starting May 20 will host a tap takeover with Chicago Fireboat Tours featuring newly-released beers over the course of a 2-hour Sunset Brew Cruise. More details and tickets are <a href="https://www.fireboattours.com/toursandcruises">available online</a>. </p>
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<p id="0Xjrbw">— Chicago’s well-known <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/goose-island-beer-co">Goose Island Beer Co.</a> is on the hunt for a new brewmaster as Keith Gabbett, who currently holds the position, has been promoted to a new position invented just for him: “senior innovation manager,” <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeanettehurt/2021/05/11/goose-island-is-looking-for-a-new-brewmaster-as-its-innovation-operations-expand/?sh=27de062e307b">according to <em>Forbes</em></a>. Local brewers looking to take their shot can apply on the <a href="https://abinbev.taleo.net/careersection/35/jobsearch.ftl?f=ORGANIZATION(250200018112)&a=null&multiline=false&ignoreSavedQuery">brewery’s website</a>. </p>
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https://chicago.eater.com/2021/5/17/22436842/bars-reopening-tamales-mask-rules-chicago-tribune-reviews-criticsAshok SelvamNaomi Waxman2020-10-20T12:54:01-05:002020-10-20T12:54:01-05:00Tamale Guy Beer Gets Friday Release
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<p>Plus, Kevin Smith’s Mooby’s pop-up gets its own brews</p> <p id="w4FJhO">Chicago-area brewers are known for their creativity in releasing beers with unique ingredients, having nostalgic tributes to people or places, or capitalizing on current events in making a statement. What readers will find below is a periodic roundup of notable beers that have grabbed the attentions of Eater Chicago’s staff. </p>
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<h2 id="GRV3YR">October 20</h2>
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<h3 id="XmgD8Q">Buffalo Creek Brewing</h3>
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</div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGVYAxTlTOh/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Our Candy Corn Ale release is just over a week away! We’ll see you on Oct 23 at 5:30 for a Halloween treat. #buffalocreekbrewing #craftbeer #chicagobeer #chicagobrewery #chicagoland #beergeek #brewery #craftbeerporn #beerme #chicagobeer #drinkillinois #illinoisbeer #chicagobrewery #craftbeer #drinklocal #longgrove #candy #candycorn #halloween</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/buffalocreekbrewing/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Buffalo Creek Brewing</a> (@buffalocreekbrewing) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2020-10-14T18:27:42+00:00">Oct 14, 2020 at 11:27am PDT</time></p>
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<p id="w7PgG4">The fall was once a time where brewers would inundate customers with pumpkin-flavored beers. Pumpkin beers are still around, but that doesn’t mean brewers can’t look for new ways to autumn-ize their beers. Last year, Buffalo Creek Brewing unleashed its Candy Corn Ale, a cream ale made with candy, featuring — according to a news release — marshmallow, vanilla, and “butter caramel-like flavors.” It’s only available on draft for $7 per pint at the <a href="http://www.buffalocreekbrewing.com">Long Grove brewery</a> starting on Friday, October 23. </p>
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<h3 id="x72byy"><a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/marz-community-brewing">Marz Community Brewing</a></h3>
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<img alt="A can of beer with a cartoon cow." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KrErvTzPe6SlvnuvA7yt8MQGeKc=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21974883/IMG_9798.jpg">
<cite>Marz Community Brewing [Official Photo]</cite>
<figcaption>Mooby’s beer is here.</figcaption>
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<p id="dusFAC">Filmmaker Kevin Smith enjoys selling stuff to his fans, hocking items like hockey sweaters with his logo and action figures of himself. As organizers prepare to launch the Chicago <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/10/13/21514109/moobys-pop-up-chicago-west-loop-restaurant-home">leg of his pop-up tour</a> for Halloween at Saint Lou’s Assembly in West Loop, Marz Community Brewing is getting in on the action with two beers with can art inspired by <strong>Mooby’s</strong>, the fast food restaurant from Smith’s films. Mooby’s Sparkling Lager is 4.8-percent ABV. It’s Marz’s Chug Life in disguise for Halloween. A second beer, Floridaweiss, is 8-percent ABV. It’s a wild ale with pineapple, mango, guava, and passion fruit. it’s $22 for a four pack and available for pickup at Saint Lou’s <a href="https://www.exploretock.com/saintlousassembly/checkout/options">during the pop-up starting on October 30</a>.</p>
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<h3 id="bhJUv7">Solemn Oath Brewery</h3>
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<img alt="tamale guy" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0oVCH1ZkclMUwVIhyxM-iP58NMw=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21714577/50211403586_a5e5bf3a03_h.jpg">
<cite>Garrett Sweet/Eater Chicago</cite>
<figcaption>Claudio Valez (center) poses with his crew from Tamale Guy Chicago.</figcaption>
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<p id="Zyzcba">Now that Claudio Velez, Chicago’s Tamale Guy, is healing at home after a severe bout with COVID-19, Solemn Oath Brewery will release a tribute to the man bar-goers love to see. Earlier in October, Solemn Oath began brewing a beer with the team from <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/tamale-guy-chicago">Tamale Guy Chicago</a>, Velez’s Ukrainian Village Restaurant. Proceeds will benefit Velez’s medical expenses. It’s a hazy pale ale inspired by paletas. Brewery Jared Saul has known Valez for years and says they’ve added mango, which is Velez’s favorite. The beer also has notes of strawberry and ancho chile. The label art by Jourdon Gullett features Velez’s red cooler. The beer is called <strong>El Rey de Tamal</strong>, which means “the king of tamale.” The beer is set to release on Friday, October 23 on draft at the Naperville brewery. Four packs will also be available at Ukrainian Village’s <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/all-together-now">All Together Now</a>, the charming wine store and restaurant down the street from Tamale Guy. <a href="https://www.solemnoathbrewery.com/#FxieEf">Delivery is also</a> available on Saturday for those who can’t make it out to Naperville. Preorders start 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 22 online.</p>
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https://chicago.eater.com/2020/10/20/21525242/chicago-beer-releases-roundupAshok Selvam2020-10-01T14:21:31-05:002020-10-01T14:21:31-05:00‘Tamale Guy’ Claudio Velez Released From Hospital
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<img alt="A father and son seated at table." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rG7nLYG0YGKZZbu2yyD1WZNB_lQ=/177x0:1600x1067/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67566550/50211678622_5374216342_h.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Claudio Valez and his son sit at his restaurant. | <a class="ql-link" href="http://garrettsweet.com" target="_blank">Garrett Sweet</a>/Eater Chicago</figcaption>
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<p>COVID-19 kept Velez in the hospital for 35 days</p> <p id="pBt56z"><a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/8/31/21408995/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-family-hospital-critical-chicago">After 35 days in the hospital</a> where doctors treated him for COVID-19, Claudio Velez is heading home. The 55-year-old, known for trotting around Chicago with a red cooler full of tamales, will require home care, but is feeling much better after spending much of his time at Rush University Medical Center hooked up to a ventilator. </p>
<p id="2acU8P">Velez was discharged from the hospital at 1 p.m. Thursday. The staff at Rush gathered in the lobby and greeted Velez with cheers as his son, Osmar Abad Cruz, pushed his wheelchair out down the hospital corridor. Thursday marked a victory for Velez, who at one point was listed in critical condition. Cruz flew in from San Diego fearing the worst.</p>
<p id="eYIKLg">August and September were meant to be months of celebration after Velez finally opened his first restaurant. <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/tamale-guy-chicago">Tamale Guy Chicago</a> was a dream come true for Velez, an immigrant from Acapulco, Mexico who has spent two decades in Chicago, becoming a vital part of the city’s bar scene. Velez built a loyal fanbase for this tamale deliveries to bars. An appearance by Velez, nicknamed the Tamale Guy, brought joy to Chicago’s nightlife. </p>
<p id="RpviD8"><a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/8/12/21356865/tamale-guy-chicago-restaurant-west-town-claudio-velez">The restaurant, a venture</a> with Velez and his friends Pierre and Kristin Vega, drew long lines on opening day. Tamale Guy Chicago sold out of food, with lines stretching down Chicago Avenue. Velez celebrated, but wasn’t able to enjoy his achievement for long. After a week of breathing problems, his sister finally convinced him the check into the hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with COVID-19, one of the most severe cases they’ve seen. </p>
<div id="kPew23"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T3qOPXmpddM?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="NL5CYm">Velez’s fans quickly came to his aid, donating to a GoFundMe to pay for his health care costs. <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/bn7n82-claudios-medical-expenses?utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link">Fans raised nearly $57,000</a> as Velez lacks health insurance. This was <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/claudio-the-tamale-legend">the second GoFundMe</a> fans had created for Velez, as they raised more than $36,000 earlier in the year after the city sent <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/5/13/21253013/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-west-loop-complaints">Velez a cease-and-desist letter</a> which forced the Tamale Guy to stop working, fearing legal action. The city threatened to shut down his business after a West Loop resident complained that Velez was operating a business without a license. Velez found a silver lining and used the GoFundMe money to open his restaurant.</p>
<p id="xQKjTI">Velez’s family was unable to visit him at Rush due to coronavirus safety protocols. Instead they saw him via video chat. He wasn’t able to speak for much of his time at the hospital. He has two daughters and another son in Chicago.</p>
<p id="SZPIro">The restaurant closed for 12 days but has reopened. Velez’s sister has taken over in the kitchen while her brother mends. The restaurant has also started to deliver food to bars. Velez is thankful to the city’s service industry for looking out for him through the years.</p>
<p id="rHuy8c">Pierre Vega has been running without Velez’s presence. Vega has been also dropping off tamales at bars. The Tamale Guy’s operation has always been a family operation. </p>
<p id="w5RhmI">Though he’s getting older, Velez was adamant in delivering food to bars. The bar culture was too much for him to give up. Abad Cruz doesn’t know when his father will be able to return working, but his family will care for him at home.</p>
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https://chicago.eater.com/2020/10/1/21492337/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-released-from-hospitalAshok Selvam2020-09-08T19:11:38-05:002020-09-08T19:11:38-05:00Tamale Guy’s Restaurant to Reopen Wednesday as Claudio Velez Remains Hospitalized
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<img alt="Two men with coolers." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AK14j3TIICUwmEG1PLOAl9yXzSs=/133x0:1556x1067/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67373409/50210879298_436f7dd94e_h.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Tamale Guy Chicago’s Pierre Vega and Claudio Velez stand on their restaurant’s back patio. | Garrett Sweet/Eater Chicago</figcaption>
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<p>Velez will likely remain in the hospital for a few more weeks</p> <p id="tEUT4S">As Claudio Velez’s health continues to improve, his partners <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CE5MGzBj0Zq/">have announced</a> that their restaurant will reopen Wednesday in Ukrainian Village. Velez, known as the “Tamale Guy” has been resting at Rush University Hospital since <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/8/29/21406611/tamale-guy-chicago-coronavirus-test-closed">August 27 after diagnosed with COVID-19</a>. The 55-year-old Velez was placed on a ventilator and at one point he was in <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/8/31/21408995/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-family-hospital-critical-chicago">critical condition</a> and sedated.</p>
<p id="PBW6dR">But last week, Velez’s condition saw a dramatic turn. His fever came down and on Tuesday doctors hoped to take Velez off his ventilator, says son Osmar Abad Cruz. Velez will still need hospitalization for a few more weeks.</p>
<p id="rYDYH4">Velez is a cult hero in Chicago for his DIY tamale operation. He’s sold tamales out of a red plastic cooler, making stops at various bars for 20 years. The food served as a treat to bar customers who needed some late-night grub. But as the pandemic closed bars in March leaving Velez without customers, he began offering home delivery. Business was booming until he <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/5/13/21253013/tamale-guy-claudio-velez-west-loop-complaints">received a cease-and-desist letter</a> from the city, a product of an anonymous complaint emanating from the West Loop, Velez laid low. Fans began raising money via GoFundMe for Velez to help make up for the business lost thanks to the city’s threat. They raised more than $36,000. Velez used the money to make a dream come true. He<a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2020/8/12/21356865/tamale-guy-chicago-restaurant-west-town-claudio-velez"> opened up a restaurant</a>, <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/tamale-guy-chicago">Tamale Guy Chicago</a>, with partners Pierre and Kristin Vega.</p>
<p id="UE22dk">But only a few weeks after opening, Velez began struggling with breathing. He didn’t check into the hospital immediately, but finally did at the urging of his wife. Doctors say he contracted one of the most severe cases of COVID-19 that they’ve seen.</p>
<p id="fh46ar">The Vegas set up a second GoFundMe to help pay for Velez’s medical expenses. Fans have <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/bn7n82-claudios-medical-expenses?utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link">so far raised more than $56,000</a>. Velez does not have health insurance. Family hasn’t been allowed in the hospital room due to COVID-19 restrictions. Velez hasn’t been able to speak. Family, including wife Bety Bautista, have used video calls to see Velez. Velez is divorced from Abad Cruz’s mother.</p>
<p id="WIDA5X">Abad Cruz hopes to better know next week how much longer his father will remain at the hospital. Meanwhile, the Vegas will reopen Tamale Guy Chicago at 11 a.m. Wednesday.</p>
<aside id="X4kAlz"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"chicago-eater"}'></div></aside>
https://chicago.eater.com/2020/9/8/21428231/claudio-velez-tamale-guy-restaurant-reopenAshok Selvam