Ram4 wrote:It's amazing to me that they make over $4 million per restaurant on average (far higher than any other chain in the country (burgers, chicken, pizza, seafood, Mexican, etc.) in spite of being closed Sundays and people boycotting them. Portillo's which wasn't included on the Top 50 list makes an average of 9 million per store, with the biggest locations making around 17 million.

I agree. That's insane. Is this really their earnings or is it their revenue?

=R=

The figures, as is common, are for sales. In second place are McDonalds and Panera at about 2.8 million and Chipotle in third at 2 million, followed by a number of chains in the 1.5 to 1.6 range. The number are for calendar year 2018.

scottsol wrote:The figures, as is common, are for sales. In second place are McDonalds and Panera at about 2.8 million and Chipotle in third at 2 million, followed by a number of chains in the 1.5 to 1.6 range. The number are for calendar year 2018.

Yeah, that makes a lot more sense. Thanks.

=R=

Vegan Jewish Deli to Open in Chicago
https://vegnews.com/2019/9/vegan-jewish ... in-chicago

Greek restaurant Charcoal Flame from Morton Grove will be opening up in Chicago at 7003 N Clark St near the Rogers Park metra stop. Business license was issued yesterday for it which traces back to the same owner of the one in Morton Grove

Lizzy J Cafe had its grand opening today on Montrose. I joined a friend there for brunch not realizing that it was the grand opening. The food was very good; I will definitely be back.

2205 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60618
https://lizzyjcatering.com/lizzyjcafe/

Sad news. 90 Miles Cafe Lincolnwood location is closed:

https://www.90milescubancafe.com/lincolnwood/

Drover wrote:I don't know that this constitutes a closing so much as a re-branding, but the El Llano on Elston and Irving Park is being converted to a Brasa Roja. When they were first opening the signage in the window billed it as "El Llano-Brasa Roja" before they settled on just El Llano before opening. I guess now they've changed their minds?

Brasa Roja (formerly El Llano) (Re-Opening Soon)
4011 N. Elston
773-866-9500 (assuming they're keeping the same number)

Now re-opened.

Fuzzbone wrote:Sad news. 90 Miles Cafe Lincolnwood location is closed:

https://www.90milescubancafe.com/lincolnwood/

Not sure that says so much about 90 Miles as the location. An inside-the-mall restaurant anchor seems a more fitting location for bigger national chains than small local ones.

If you are craving some Pho around the Wicker Park/Bucktown area, then there's a new spot called Phodega which serves pho as well as other Asian food in a limited menu like Hainese chicken & rice. They also sell some other things bodega style (hence the name) like various Asian snacks and some other stuff

Phodega
1547 N Ashland (near North Avenue)
11am - 8pm Tuesday through Sunday
Closed on Mondays
https://www.phodega.com

Gaijin is now open in West Loop serving both Osaka style and Hiroshima style okonomiyaki as well as kakigori (Japanese shaved ice). They also have high balls, cocktails, sakes, Japanese beer and some non Japanese wines. Paul Virant is behind this.

Gaijin
950 W Lake St
Open 11am - 11pm 7 days a week
312-265-1348
https://gaijinchicago.com

Max's Restaurant, a Filipino chain is coming to Chicago on North Elston, near Seafood City. Known for their fried chicken, with a menu very similar to local favorite, Isla Pilipina...set to open soon per their website:

https://www.maxsrestaurantna.com/store/ ... ning-soon/

Max's Restaurant
5033 N Elston, Unit 102
773-830-2065

marothisu wrote:Gaijin is now open in West Loop serving both Osaka style and Hiroshima style okonomiyaki as well as kakigori (Japanese shaved ice). They also have high balls, cocktails, sakes, Japanese beer and some non Japanese wines. Paul Virant is behind this.

Gaijin
950 W Lake St
Open 11am - 11pm 7 days a week
312-265-1348
https://gaijinchicago.com

We'll be there on Saturday. Our mouths have been watering ever since we had the Hiroshima version on Miyajima last year.

José Andrés, the Washington, D.C.-based chef known for his humanitarian efforts, will open his first Chicago restaurant on Tuesday in Streeterville. Beefsteak, Andrés’s fast-casual restaurant, will debut on the ground floor of a new Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine building at 303 E. Superior Street.

https://chicago.eater.com/2019/11/11/20 ... eeterville

Looks like Taco Joint is no more, apparently their last location at 1969 N. Halsted has closed.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/c ... SKlDdv_VGc

Gonna miss that place.

The Lake Zurich location of Meat & Potatoes has closed, according to their Facebook page. Their comment on Yelp claims that the Freddy's Steakburgers opening in the same strip mall and McAlister's Deli up the street led to their downfall.

Their spot in the outlot of the strip mall did make them less visible, I always felt. Easy to forget they were there. They were there for just under a year. My coworker and I got food from there once, fairly recently. I liked the customization- I got roasted potatoes with gyro meat and typical gyro toppings. I thought it was good- really satisfied the potato craving I'd been having- but much heavier than I would want to do on a regular basis.

Their McHenry and Carpentersville locations remain open.

400 State Route 31
McHenry, IL 60050

2258 Randall Rd
Carpentersville, IL 60110

mnpeatery.com

A staple of the Mount Prospect restaurant scene for more than 40 years is closing. Kampai Japanese Steak House's Facebook page late Friday announced the business' closure. The eatery is at 2330 S. Elmhurst Road, where it has been for 44 years.

https://www.dailyherald.com/amp-article ... 191109806/

A new authentic looking Chinese restaurant opened in Ukranian Village the other day - Lao Peng You (which translates to "Old Friend"). According to my wife, the menu looks primarily Xi'an or Shaanxi. Also appears that they handmake noodles there.

Looks like they got slammed in their first few days, ran out of stock and are closed for now. Asian food continues to get better in Chicago.

Menu: https://www.oldfriendchicago.com/menu

Lao Peng You
2020 West Chicago Avenue
Tuesday - Sunday: 11am - 9pm. Closed on Mondays
https://www.oldfriendchicago.com

Pork & Mindy’s closes locations, files for bankruptcy
Led by celebrity chef Jeff Mauro, the company had a deal to open stalls in 20 Mariano’s by the end of 2019.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/restaurants/pork-mindys-closes-locations-files-bankruptcy

Since the Crain's story is behind a paywall, I want to add that Pork and Mindy's filing is Chapter 7, which means they are not trying to reorganize.

ekreider wrote:Since the Crain's story is behind a paywall, I want to add that Pork and Mindy's filing is Chapter 7, which means they are not trying to reorganize.

Pork & Mindy’s is no more after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Nov. 5.

Led by Chicago native Jeff Mauro, who called himself the "sandwich king," the company filed in the U.S. bankruptcy court for the Northern District of Illinois and listed liabilities between $1 to $10 million with an estimated 50 to 99 creditors.

The creative BBQ concept debuted in Bucktown in January 2016 and Mauro operated two additional restaurants in Wrigley Field and the Loop. Earlier this year, Mauro signed a deal with area grocery chain Mariano’s to open in 20 stores by the end of 2019. A few were up and running before the bankruptcy filing. Mariano's confirmed the Pork & Mindy's closures in its stores.

Mauro also told the Chicago Tribune he planned to open two more stand-alone locations in Elmwood Park and the Irving Park neighborhood. Representatives for Mauro could not be reached for comment.

In August, Eater Chicago reported that original Bucktown Pork & Mindy's at 1623 N. Milwaukee Ave. was closed. The new space was intended for Pork & Mindy's workers to learn how to work at the other restaurant locations. Also, Mauro intended to open a delivery-only restaurant, private event space and training center, dubbed QU, at the location.

A Chapter 7 usually leads to liquidation.

Pork & Mindy’s was known for its pork offerings including Chinese-style pork shoulder, candied bacon and variations on tater tots.

=R=

I was never a fan of the Pork & Mindy’s restaurant as it seemed like a marketing gimmick built on Jeff Mauro's celebrity name without the tasty and quality food. What i'm curious about is what Mariano's will do to replace the closed Pork & Mindy’s locations within the grocery store locations.

polster wrote:I was never a fan of the Pork & Mindy’s restaurant as it seemed like a marketing gimmick built on Jeff Mauro's celebrity name without the tasty and quality food. What i'm curious about is what Mariano's will do to replace the closed Pork & Mindy’s locations within the grocery store locations.


The deal with Mariano’s is definitely terminated. The grocery chain released this statement about the partnership: “Mariano’s is no longer offering Pork & Mindy’s products as Pork & Mindy’s has filed for relief under the Bankruptcy Code." Instead it will launch a new food concept called Mariano’s Smokehouse.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/c ... story.html

I know the Mariano's in Westchester had a smokehouse bbq kiosk that closed down before P&M came in to take it over. I was really excited about easy P&M access, but then Mariano's changed owners and the whole store became much less of a grocery source for me, so I wasn't there much. As it turned out, neither were very good IMHO.

Eater and yelp reporting that Club 77 in the loop has closed after less than 2 months:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/club-77-chicago

https://chicago.eater.com/2019/1/14/181 ... sures-2019

Drover wrote:The former Nancy's Pizza spot on Elston at Irving Park is getting a new sandwich shop soon.

Ladies & gentlemen! Boys & girls! Coming this fall to 3970 N. Elston Ave Chicago, Illinois..... JT’s Genuine Sandwich Shop!!!!!!!!!

Our menu will feature the greatest sandwiches from our Midwestern region of the country including Iowa breaded tenderloin sandwich, Detroit style Coneys, Italian roast pork sandwich, Chicago style dogs and soooo much more!

-- Currently barebones J.T.'s FB Page

Now open.

The owners of the acclaimed Skokie restaurant Libertad are planning two new restaurants in Evanston, after aldermen Monday approved a lease for the space formerly occupied by Cafe Coralie.

Marcos Rivera, owner and general manager of Libertad, and his business partner Arturo Orozco, Jr. have submitted plans to open a new casual restaurant called Estacion at 633 Howard St. The city-owned space most recently served as a French cafe, and previously was the Evanston Police Outpost.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ ... story.html

Umacamon, the wonderful Japanese restaurant in Rolling Meadows shared a post on its Facebook page of a message that appears to be a notice of closure. It was posted in Japanese, but translated as "Notifications from our store, Dear customers who might be good. Our store is at the end of November for the relocation of the womochimashite. We are pleased to inform you that we will be closed. We have plans to relocate in the future, but we will be at the beginning of the day. We are planning a company to arrange, sell, and deliver the bento of togo specialty, catering, meeting and events. The store is still in preparation. The relocation is scheduled for the east side of downtown. We are looking forward to seeing you at the imts machine fair lunch box. (Umacamon@Gmail.Com) until. We have been open for 5 years in this land. I have been supported by many customers and people, and I have been able to have a lot of experience with the general restaurant, the festival, the tuna demolition show, etc. It was a short period of 5, but the employees are proud to be a shop that has been made up with customers, and it is full of gratitude and gratitude. Thank you from your heart.
In the future, the form of business will change, but I am going to work hard on the local contribution and the customers who are willing to be happy. Thank you very much for your continued support. From November 25th we will be open for lunch only until the 30th. Our lunch will be held on Saturday, November 30th. It's going to be a limited menu and manpower until the 30th, so you may also be able to hang out your service, menu, and inconvenience. Thank you for your understanding.Maybe it's good, Moly, Hong"

Fuddruckers closes longtime Schaumburg location:
Fuddruckers closed its Schaumburg restaurant of more than three decades Wednesday night. "Unfortunately, it was a call that had to be made," said Gerald Carothers, area leader for Fuddruckers. "We're sorry that we had to do that." Schaumburg's Director of Communications & Outreach Allison Albrecht said the village approved the Fuddruckers building at 436 E. Golf Road in 1985. Village officials now plan to work with the property owners on marketing the site for another restaurant. Carothers said he had no information about what the next use of the site might be. There are two remaining Fuddruckers in Illinois, in Downers Grove and in Matteson.
https://www.dhbusinessledger.com/busine ... g-location

Dinotto Pizza and Vino at 1551 N. Wells posted on their Facebook page that today will be their last day of business after 30 years.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Dave148 wrote:

WillG wrote:Looks like an outpost of Lao Sze Chuan will be opening in Highland Park at the corner of Sheridan and Park where a sushi place used to be. Doesnt have any timeline but looks like just getting started on the buildout.

-Will

Oh Man!! I'm a happy camper.

LSC website is also showing another location coming soon at:
1220 W, Valley Lake, Schaumburg, IL 60195

If I were you, I'd follow this man's example . . .



and curb your enthusiasm. If these new places end up anything like the current locations, there's very little about which to get excited.

=R=

If you have not been to the Uptown location recently, a visit might change your mind.