The Amazon Go location on Franklin (south of Monroe) has reopened (in case anyone noticed that it had closed). They have added an automated coffee/espresso station, a Coke Freestyle station for DIY fountain drinks and a hot foods section (soups/sandwiches - where the food is heated/prepared is a mystery). There are also several empty refrigerated coolers with "coming soon" signage. They have condensed some of the "fluff" from the previous iteration.

Can’t find a dedicated thread for Slim’s at 2020 W. Montrose. They appear to be temporarily closed, possibly until January 2021. Their website says “Closed.” Yelp says they are “... temporarily closed. Scheduled to reopen on January 1, 2021.” The message on their phone says they are temporarily closed and will update their customers as anything changes. This makes me really really sad but I have to say we noticed a real drop in quality lately.

Artie wrote:Pullman Food Hall Welcomes Lexington Betty's Smokehouse
West Side BBQ Spot Opens in South Side Food Hall

Lexington Betty's replaces Exquisite to Go sandwich shop and joins Laine's Bake Shop and Majani Soulful Vegan Cuisine to round out the space of Black-owned restaurants at 756 E. 111th St.

Lexington Betty's owner Dominique Leach said her goal was also to expand and make the South Side as familiar with her food as residents who support the West Side location at 6954 W. North Ave., and have supported the pop-up spots and food truck before her storefront opened a year ago. Leach said the concept honors her southern heritage through her grandmother Betty King, who hails from Lexington, Miss.

Laine’s Bake Shop, which for the past year has operated a brick and mortar bakery at the One Eleven Food Hall incubator in Pullman, announced it will close that Far South Side location.

https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/02/24 ... this-week/

I have found my way into WeChat pages in Chinese talking about upcoming Chinese restaurants in Chicago. Here's a few more that might not have made it in the news yet..

* Spicy Grandma Kitchen - I'm not sure if this is open yet but it might be.. at 2353 S Wentworth. They deliver on Chowbus. It does skewer hot pot just like the new Mrs. Gu a few buildings south.

* Shaxian Snacks ( 沙县小吃) - Fujian food and a huge chain in China with a NYC location. Coming to Cermak near Xi'an Cuisine. Opening around June or July?

* Yao Pickled Fish (姚酸菜鱼) - Chain from Shenzhen. Supposed to open on Cermak acdross from Shaxian Snacks. Summer opening? Apparently there's no restaurant in Chicago yet that specializes in this type of fish. I've had this style before and am a big fan. Spicy and sour.

* Haidilao - Eater switched up this and Xiang Hot Pot (which is awesome!). In fact, Haililao which is a major hot pot chain in China with 400+ locations in China, Japan, Korea, US, Canada, etc will be coming to Cermak & Michigan Ave.

https://www.instagram.com/haidilaohotpotus/?hl=en

* Qiao Lin - Talked about this before. First US location of a Chongqing hot pot restaurant which will open at 2105 S Jefferson St. That location is the former home of Hong Kong Noodle Company, old warehouse converted into a new mall called Jefferson Square. Slated to open in April - pictures look nice.

* Lao Jiu Men (老九门) - opening soon in the strip mall with Meet Fresh at 2026 S Clark. Hot pot chain from China with locations in Toronto and London. Might be their first US location.

* Yuehuafang (月花坊) aka Moon & Flower House - a mini chain from Flushing NYC with locations in Brooklyn and Boston. Coming soon to both Chicago and Philadelphia. Serves up fried chicken, popcorn shrimp, burgers, fruit tea, bubble tea, etc with Chinese twist. Location will be 2300 S Archer Ave suite 209 in the new retail center on Archer.

* Jianghu BBQ - at 2171 S China Place in Chinatown. Looks like it's Korean BBQ, but all the words inside are Chinese and they might have Chinese food too.

* Mr. Dumpling - at 2485 N Clark St in Lincoln Park. Not open yet, and this is presumptuous but keep your eyes peeled for this.


Of course, there are more things opening including a XiaoLongKan and Liuyishou (not sure if that made the news but they announced it I think in October). Looks like legitimate authentic hot pot has started to invade Chicago especially South Loop and Chinatown, a few already opened like Mrs. Gu Skewers Pot.

spinynorman99 wrote:The Amazon Go location on Franklin (south of Monroe) has reopened (in case anyone noticed that it had closed). They have added an automated coffee/espresso station, a Coke Freestyle station for DIY fountain drinks and a hot foods section (soups/sandwiches - where the food is heated/prepared is a mystery). There are also several empty refrigerated coolers with "coming soon" signage. They have condensed some of the "fluff" from the previous iteration.

Amazon planning to open grocery store with package alcohol sales in Naperville

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ ... l#nws=true

Antepli Turkish Gourmet opened in late January next to Sahar International Market. New thread started here.

According to a sign at their Naperville location, all of the Illinois locations of B Good are closed. They also had locations in Vernon Hills and Schaumburg.

Jim-Bob wrote:all of the Illinois locations of B Good are closed.

B Good ==> B Gone

Mr. Dumpling opened yesterday according to their Facebook page in Lincoln Park at 2485 N Clark in the former home of Benjyehuda. They offer 9 different types of dumplings either boiled, fried or steamed, as well as many other food including meat skewers, and also some sichuan dishes (like mapo tofu amongst others) as well as some of the American stuff like General Tso's. I'm thinking the owners might be from northern China but offer sichuan food too.

Mr. Dumpling
2485 N Clark St
(773) 360-1864
M-Th 11am - 10pm
F-Sat 11am - 11pm
Sun 11:30am - 10pm

Site: https://www.mrdumplingchicago.com/
Menu: https://www.mrdumplingchicago.com/menus
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/mrdumplingchicago

--

Also per post on the Chicago section of http://www.thechihuo.com (run through Google Translate if you can't read Chinese characters), the Chongqing-style hot pot chain Lao Jiu Men will open in early March (aka any day) at 2026 S Clark next to Hello Jasmine. They have locations in London, Toronto, and beyond. 2020 will definitely be the year of legit new hot pot in Chicago.
https://thechihuo.com/articles/chicago-20200228-1

marothisu wrote:Mr. Dumpling opened yesterday according to their Facebook page in Lincoln Park at 2485 N Clark in the former home of Benjyehuda. They offer 9 different types of dumplings either boiled, fried or steamed, as well as many other food including meat skewers, and also some sichuan dishes (like mapo tofu amongst others) as well as some of the American stuff like General Tso's. I'm thinking the owners might be from northern China but offer sichuan food too.

Hopefully Mr. Dumpling can make it work, but I feel like there have been a lot of restaurants in that space in the last few years.

Signage is up for "Big League Burgers" at the former Bread and Wine / B-Side Burgers spot on Irving Park and their opening looks imminent. They have applied for a liquor license for look for beer onsite at a minimum.

In other Irving Park neighborhood news, Tank Noodle is looking to add a location on the Irving Park/Portage Park border just east of Six Corners this summer, in the old Hats Plus and adjacent storefronts. This location will feature a full bar.

Big League Burgers (Coming Soon)
3732 W. Irving Park Rd

Tank Noodle (coming soon)
4706 W. Irving Park Rd
http://www.tank-noodle.com

Oreo-maker Mondelez International plans to open a public cafe at the base of its new Fulton Market headquarters that it says embodies the “makers and bakers spirit” of the snacks behemoth. Mondelez, whose move from Deerfield to Chicago’s bustling former meatpacking district is scheduled for April 6, partnered with restaurant group 16” on Center to launch Good Ambler, which is slated to open this spring.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business ... l#nws=true

The former Pete Miller's in Evanston will become a Reza's.

spinynorman99 wrote:The Amazon Go location on Franklin (south of Monroe) has reopened (in case anyone noticed that it had closed). They have added an automated coffee/espresso station, a Coke Freestyle station for DIY fountain drinks and a hot foods section (soups/sandwiches - where the food is heated/prepared is a mystery). There are also several empty refrigerated coolers with "coming soon" signage. They have condensed some of the "fluff" from the previous iteration.

The "coming soon" section is now filled with beer/wine/spirits with some local brews featured (Three Floyds).

I was at the Shop & Save Market in Niles (Golf Mill Mall) today and noticed many of the shelves empty. I asked the cashier and found out this location is closing.

On a side note, not sure if its legal or not but I saw this price gauging for toilet paper (Scott 36 pk. for $39.99) at Shop And Save in Golf Mill. All other toilet paper was gone except this $39.99 toilet paper which is a result of corona virus scare.

Former Asian Fusion pioneer Kelly's Cajun Grill in Union Station is converting into a new Chick-fil-A.

Hopefully they will hire white hat guy to yell "Yummy Yummy Right Here" to hawk people in like he did for Kelly's

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... ater&ifg=1

Pasteur in Edgewater closed.

polster wrote:I was at the Shop & Save Market in Niles (Golf Mill Mall) today and noticed many of the shelves empty. I asked the cashier and found out this location is closing.

On a side note, not sure if its legal or not but I saw this price gauging for toilet paper (Scott 36 pk. for $39.99) at Shop And Save in Golf Mill. All other toilet paper was gone except this $39.99 toilet paper which is a result of corona virus scare.

I'd rather have plenty of toilet paper available at a buck ten a roll than have none available at 50 cents a roll.

Some place called Blue Food Co. opened in the old S & S / Tastee Freez spot at the corner of Elston and School. Looks to emphasize healthy eating inspired by the so-called "Blue Zones" of healthy cuisine around the world. Heavy but not exclusive emphasis on vegetarian offerings. Don't plan on dinner here as hours are 6:30am-4:30pm.

Blue Food Co.
3290 N. Elston
(773) 942-7529
https://bluefoodco.com/

This is an opening/temporarily closing notice for Une Annee/Hubbard's Cave Brewery, formerly near Golf Mill. They now have a new location at 6343 Gross Point, just Northeast of Caldwell (roughly Touhy/Caldwell). Really nice space with an outdoor patio coming soon. Was there for their soft opening this weekend, which turned out to be their soft closing as well under the new rules. They have a food window at one end (really good barbecue and some other changing options) and their bar at the other, with 24 brews on tap. The majority of the space is dedicated to the brewing operation. Will definitely return when things go back to near-normal.

I posted this in the main thread but per their Facebook page, GNR Isla Pilipina is shutting down at the end of the month with eyes toward a potential downtown move in the future. 
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... %2As%2As-R

As noted in their post, this was planned pre-pandemic - this isn't a COVID-19 casualty. They are still taking carry-out and GrubHub orders for the next week-plus so if you want your Isla fix, now is the time. We had carry out tonight and it was good as ever (though the lumpia had lost their crackle by the time we got home).

This was a Culinary school and store in Glen Ellyn.

Marcel's Culinary Experience

Marcel's friends and family, it is time for us to make the very painful decision to close Marcel's, effective Friday, March 20th. We will reevaluate the week of March 30th and will make whatever decision is appropriate at that time. Marché will continue to be open and we will be transferring many food items to Marché so that will be available to you. Watch the Marché FB/IG sites for more detail on what is available and some new carryout options.

In addition, I will personally be very available (and likely will be in the store) -- if you need anything at all from Marcel's, reach me on my cell phone at 630-399-5871 and I will make sure you get it. We are open until 6 pm today if we can do anything for you at all.

I cannot express how sad this makes me and how much I hope to see you all very, very soon.

The Lisle branch of Country House is closed or closing, as is Chinn's 34th Street Fishery.

https://www.burgerone.com/location/lisle/

https://chinnsfishery.com/

The original Lindy's Chili and Gertie's Ice Cream at Archer and Western is closed. Drove past and noticed the For Sale signs, closed off parking lot and papered over windows. Yelp confirms.

File Under Openings (actually New Location )
In a stretch of N. Kedzie Ave. in Uber-diverse Albany Park is a
Middle Eastern /Mexican Grocery called
Dukan International Food Market
that is ready to open where
the old Lebanese Brothers had a Bakery (which became Sanibel)/Grocery on
one-half and the long-closed Al-Khaymeih, on the adjacent 1/2.

"In recent weeks,The Dukan International Market, which sells Middle Eastern and Mexican groceries, moved one block north from its location on Kedzie Avenue into a new building.

The owner, Weseem Hashlemoun, says he lost money on the new venture, but that he wanted to go forward with the opening anyway.

“It wasn’t easy, but we thought that the neighborhood needs it,” Hashlemoun said. “With whatever’s happening, we figured we have to stay open.”
Follow Paris Schutz on Twitter: @paschutz"

Beard & Belly, which has formerly been a pop-up at the Long Room, opens tomorrow in Edgewater. From their Facebook post:

Well this wasn’t how we envisioned it, but after over two years of hard work, red tape, and maybe even some tears, Beard & Belly and Honeypie are finally ready to serve you some food!

Starting tomorrow, we will be open 4-9pm for PICK UP orders only.

All orders will be taken online for contactless payment, and you will pick up your orders through the Honeypie side of our establishment, at 6155 N Broadway. Just go to http://www.beardandbellytogo.com to place your order! Pre-orders accepted up to two days in advance! #edgewater #chicago #burger #pie #honeypiechicago #foodie #bestpieintheworld

6157 N Broadway
Chicago, IL 60660
http://www.beardandbellychicago.com/

https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/04/21/saul-moreno-owner-of-restaurante-cuetzala-dies-of-coronavirus-rogers-park-wont-feel-the-same/

Cuetzala Gro will not be reopening following the death of its owner, Saul Moreno.

Toast Closing Bucktown, Lincoln Park Brunch Spots

BUCKTOWN — Both locations of popular brunch spot Toast are now permanently closed because of coronavirus, owner Jeanne Roeser said.

Roeser opened Toast in 1996. The breakfast restaurant had locations at 2046 N. Damen Ave. in Bucktown and 746 W. Webster Ave. in Lincoln Park.

In a Facebook post, Roeser thanked her customers for being a “beautiful part” of her life over the last 24 years.

“I loved my job and my restaurant and I am grief-stricken,” she said. “However nothing lasts forever in this world and it is time to move forward and see what this next phase will bring. I wish you peace and good health, my friends. Please be kind to one another.”

https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/04/22 ... -stricken/

https://www.facebook.com/toastchicago/p ... __tn__=K-R

You neglected to mention the obvious headline:

Toast Is Toast

nsxtasy wrote:You neglected to mention the obvious headline:

Toast Is Toast

If you keep posting puns you may be as well.