This is sooner than expected, but expected none the less.

http://chicago.grubstreet.com/2013/02/w ... le_jo.html


There is still Mack's godson's place.

http://lthforum.com/bb//viewtopic.php?f=14&t=29166

Wow. I AM sorry to hear that news. I was at the 82nd street location a few weeks ago. I was also underwhelmed. The olny advantage I saw in vistiting the 82nd street location is that they accept plastic.

I ordered the hot link/rib tip combo. The links tasted left over and re-warmed. The tips were so dry it was as though I could strike a match off the bones. I hope Mack comes over to the 82nd street location and presides over the food preparation like he used todo on 69th street. THEY need him there more than ever.

beelewis wrote:I hope Mack comes over to the 82nd street location and presides over the food preparation

I think he is retired...

Panther in the Den wrote:

beelewis wrote:I hope Mack comes over to the 82nd street location and presides over the food preparation

I think he is retired...

I'm hopeful that he was well-compensated for passing along his knowledge, name and recipes and is enjoying a satisfying retirement. Well-deserved.

The original location is staying open for a year, or two, correct? I hope. This is the place in Chicago I most
regret not visiting since learning about it on LTH.

Wow... this is really depressing news to read this morning.


-B

I just got off the phone with Garry of Uncle John's of Richton Park. Yes, it is true that Mack's location is closed for good. Mack is taking a very well deserved retirement, and tending to some health issues. In the city, you still have the Dat Donuts location around 83rd as mentioned upthread.

If you are willing to trek out to the south Suburbs, Garry and crew are really turning out some great product, equal to the original UJs IMO.

While I certainly would never begrudge such a well deserved retirement I'm still sad I'll never have a UJ's tips and links combo again. On the positive side I'm happy I was able to enjoy so many while UJ's was there and serving up some of the best damn BBQ in Chicago.

Kman wrote:While I certainly would never begrudge such a well deserved retirement I'm still sad I'll never have a UJ's tips and links combo again. On the positive side I'm happy I was able to enjoy so many while UJ's was there and serving up some of the best damn BBQ in Chicago.

Same here. Ive sampled most of the BBQ in the city - IMHO UJ's was consistently *the* best BBQ this city had to offer. There is nothing in the city comparable to the Hot Links they had when they were "on" - and they were almost always "on" with Mack in charge. Their tips were excellent, Ive had some very good slabs there - as good as anyone in the city. But their links were consistently head-and-shoulders above any BBQ in Chicagoland IMHO. I had a few too many of them - and hopefully the other UJ branches will still have some good stuff...but it wont ever be quite the same again, which is very sad

(Oh, and UJ's on 69th is definitely closed for good BTW - their FB page had the update an hour ago today: "For all yall who is wondering yes we are close and for good. ..thanks for all yall support ..."

c8w

I'd remind everyone that Barbara Ann's still sells what I believe is the same link, and when they are "on", BA's is still damn good. Much better than the mediocre stuff I've sampled from the Dat/UJ place (which is convenient and has apple fritters, nonetheless).

I wish Mack well. An era has passed. My next project will be to get a box of those hotlinks Mack used to cook. I'll start learning to cook those links to perfection. I do a pretty good job grilling and smoking rib tips. Hopefully but next summer, I'll be able to create a winning ribtip/hotlink basket.

Luv you Mack !! Sorry to see you retire. You deserve it .

can anyone tell why uncle johns on 69th closed????

sad sad sad he's retired.......BBQ will never be the SAME !!!

bigMO65 wrote:BBQ will never be the SAME !!!

It will be the same in Richton Park. On my last visit there, the tips and links combo was as good as any I ever had on 69th Street. Yeah, it's a much longer schlep for most of us, but definitely worth the trek.

Great news...something finally CLOSER to my house! I have a good friend Pastoring in the neighborhood...now I know where we can source grub!!

According to Gary Wiviott on facebook:

Saddened by the news BBQ man extraordinaire Mack Sevier/Uncle John has passed. Rest in peace my friend.

The visitation for Mack is Thursday from 4-8pm at Gatling's Chapel at 10133 S Halsted, Chicago.

The funeral is on Friday from noon-2.

We truly have lost one of the great ones.

Glenn

glennpan wrote:The visitation for Mack is Thursday from 4-8pm at Gatling's Chapel at 10133 S Halsted, Chicago.

The funeral is on Friday from noon-2.

We truly have lost one of the great ones.

Glenn

Agreed, he was a giant among BBQ cooks in Chicago. I loved meeting his extended family that came to GNR's last year courtesy of you glennpan, thanks.

Mack Sevier, perhaps the most well-regarded practitioner of South Side Chicago-style barbecue, has died at age 70.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertain ... story.html

RIP Mack

Mack was the best. His hot links will always be one of the best things I've ever tasted, and as long as I'm BBQing and Grant Park is willing to sell me some, they will be on hand for the 4th of July.

JeffB wrote:Mack was the best. His hot links will always be one of the best things I've ever tasted, and as long as I'm BBQing and Grant Park is willing to sell me some, they will be on hand for the 4th of July.

Amen on all counts. For those grieving, I think Uncle J's on 47th is even truer to Mack's style with the links than Richton Park is (both are great and worthy of pilgrimage).

The funeral home has a guest book online for anyone who would like to extend a message: http://m.legacy.com/guestbooks/DignityM ... =175001832

I'll miss Mack a great deal.