Chicago Retail and Restaurant Thread

LA1 · February 12th, 2007, 02:11 AM

Post any articles or share rumors about new stores or interesting restaurants/bars/nightclubs opening up in neighborhoods that lack or are devoid of them.

Examples being the Carson Prarie Scott store, Best Buy rumored to go to Chicago place, etc or new restaurants going to the growing restaurant row on Wabash south of Roosevelt.

Sir Isaac Newton · February 12th, 2007, 11:10 PM

In regards to new restaurants going to the growing restaurant row on Wabash, south of Roosevelt...does anyone know if Glashaus or 1349 South Wabash will have ground floor retail in the buildings? It would be great if a quality restaurant was built in each of these buildings as it would extend the restaurant row on Wabash, potentially creating a row that might eventually rival the row on Randolph Street.

spyguy · February 13th, 2007, 01:02 AM

Glashaus has something like 12,500 sq. ft. of retail, although I'm not sure about 1349.

danthediscoman · February 13th, 2007, 01:11 AM

^The lady at the Glaushaus sales center was saying they are in talks with Argo Tea for part of the retail frontage...at least its not a starbucks.

nomarandlee · February 19th, 2007, 05:32 PM

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/f...asse19.article

Rumor has city drooling
Another French chef may open restaurant here

February 19, 2007
BY JANET RAUSA FULLER Staff Reporter

Is an Alain Ducasse Chicago restaurant in the works?

The decorated French chef -- the only chef in the world to have three restaurants with three Michelin stars -- appeared to be on a scouting mission recently in the Windy City.

On Dec. 7, chef Graham Elliot Bowles at Avenues in the Peninsula hotel got a call: Ducasse was on a plane a few hours from Chicago, and he wanted to eat at Avenues.
Bowles said it was past 10 p.m. when Ducasse and two guests arrived, but the restaurant stayed open, and Ducasse told the young chef to cook at his whim.

'Like cooking for the Messiah'
"It was like cooking for the Messiah," said Bowles of serving Ducasse a meal that included venison tartare, salmon with "sauerkraut bubbles" and a Kobe strip steak with smoked potato beignets.
Restaurant manager Nicolas Dubort, who is from Paris, exchanged a few words in French with Ducasse, telling the chef "he would be a delight to have on the Chicago restaurant scene."

Ducasse smiled and said, "It is a little bit cold," adding that he was "undecided" but that "Chicago was a pleasant city," Dubort said.

Ducasse's camp in Paris has denied the chef is planning a Chicago venture. But the talk in local food circles is that Ducasse was at one point eyeing the Donald Trump tower under construction on Wabash Avenue. Trump officials in New York did not return calls for comment.

"I'm sure they're looking for a high-profile operation," chef Charlie Trotter said of his friend.

The three jewels in Ducasse's Michelin-studded crown are the Plaza Athenee in Paris, Le Louis XV in Monaco and Alain Ducasse at the Essex House, which has closed and is reopening this spring at New York City's St. Regis Hotel. He also has restaurants in Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, Las Vegas, Italy, Mauritius, Tunisia and Switzerland.

Another French uber-chef, Joel Robuchon, confirmed this month that he is planning to open a Chicago restaurant by the end of next year.

Ducasse's apparent interest "only helps to cement the fact that Chicago is this big food town now," Bowles said. "It makes it better for everybody."

jfuller@suntimes.com

The Urban Politician · February 19th, 2007, 08:58 PM

[QUOTE=nomarandlee;11808261]Ducasse smiled and said, "It is a little bit cold," adding that he was "undecided" but that "Chicago was a pleasant city," Dubort said.[QUOTE]

^ Fuck him. I'm so sick of hearing that shit. I'm freezing my ass off--in fact my nose nearly fell off yesterday from the wind chill I experienced while walking around New York yesterday. And this is the same guy who has a restaurant in snowy Switzerland.

People who make stupid statements like that should just get banned from setting foot in Chicago for 10 years.

urbanpln · February 19th, 2007, 10:02 PM

Whole Foods and Target are locating in the Carson's building. There are several other retailers also.

edsg25 · February 19th, 2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanpln

Whole Foods and Target are locating in the Carson's building. There are several other retailers also.

how in the world will whole foods deal with the parking issue? Dominicks over at Skybridge on Halsted at least has space in the condo's garage for (free) parking; I believe the Streeterville Jewel does, too. But in the heart of the Loop? That seems crazy. Meanwhile, Treasure Island is openning a few blocks away in LSE and I'm sure they will have parking.

I still wish that Sunset Foods (with all its successes on the North Shore) would open downtown; they would be very successful.

LA1 · February 20th, 2007, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanpln

Whole Foods and Target are locating in the Carson's building. There are several other retailers also.

NO WAY! How did you find out about that? Is Target still looking at Lord and Taylor's former space? Who else is coming in? Anything notable?
Man State Street is booming!

trvlr70 · February 20th, 2007, 05:21 PM

[QUOTE=The Urban Politician;11811189][QUOTE=nomarandlee;11808261]Ducasse smiled and said, "It is a little bit cold," adding that he was "undecided" but that "Chicago was a pleasant city," Dubort said.

Quote:

And this is the same guy who has a restaurant in snowy Switzerland.

People who make stupid statements like that should just get banned from setting foot in Chicago for 10 years.

I'm a Swiss born Chicagoan. No major city in Switzerland is anywhere near as cold as Chicago. Parts of Switzerland have palm trees.

trvlr70 · February 20th, 2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA1

NO WAY! How did you find out about that? Is Target still looking at Lord and Taylor's former space? Who else is coming in? Anything notable?
Man State Street is booming!

At Water Tower Place? Oh God, I hope not. I'm a fan of Target, but Michigan Av. should remain higher end in my opinion.

urbanpln · February 20th, 2007, 07:41 PM

Whole Foods and Target are definitely coming to the Carson's sight. There does not seem to be a parking plan at this moment. There should be a public announcement within the next two weeks. As fgor other retailers, I don't know at this moment but the deevelopers are looking for a good mix of quality stores.

urbanpln · February 20th, 2007, 07:48 PM

I have a question for you trvlr70 and other forumers. Do you think Chicago's winters will prevent it from attracting more young talent,commerce and tourist? I'd like edsg25 and Steeley's opinion also.

headcase · February 20th, 2007, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edsg25

how in the world will whole foods deal with the parking issue? Dominicks over at Skybridge on Halsted at least has space in the condo's garage for (free) parking; I believe the Streeterville Jewel does, too. But in the heart of the Loop? That seems crazy. Meanwhile, Treasure Island is openning a few blocks away in LSE and I'm sure they will have parking.

I still wish that Sunset Foods (with all its successes on the North Shore) would open downtown; they would be very successful.

Why is there a parking issue. Walk, use transit. Within a couple of blocks of the Carson's site there are lots of condos coming on line in the next couple of years. There is no way anyone can convince me that parking is necessary at this site.

SSDD

dvidler · February 20th, 2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanpln

I have a question for you trvlr70 and other forumers. Do you think Chicago's winters will prevent it from attracting more young talent,commerce and tourist? I'd like edsg25 and Steeley's opinion also.

I would say that the view of Chicago on a world wide scale impacts those factors more than our winters. Unfortunately many in Europe, Asia, etc do not know of Chicago as we do. Which is why the Olympics in 2016 provide a big catalyst to turning this view around.

dvidler · February 20th, 2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanpln

Whole Foods and Target are definitely coming to the Carson's sight. There does not seem to be a parking plan at this moment. There should be a public announcement within the next two weeks. As fgor other retailers, I don't know at this moment but the deevelopers are looking for a good mix of quality stores.

Do you know first hand of this or just speculation?

urbanpln · February 20th, 2007, 09:55 PM

This is good information. As I quoted earlier, I expect an announcement within the next 2 weeks.

edsg25 · February 21st, 2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by headcase

Why is there a parking issue. Walk, use transit. Within a couple of blocks of the Carson's site there are lots of condos coming on line in the next couple of years. There is no way anyone can convince me that parking is necessary at this site.

SSDD

no argument there, but the existing Jewel, Dominick, and TI super markets in the downtown area all provide parking. It is unlikely that people doing major shopping are going to walk to take public tansit. My assumption is that Whole Foods success is based on serving people other than those on Michigan, Wabash, and State. Without a car, that would be a most difficult task.

edsg25 · February 21st, 2007, 02:27 PM

Isn't American Girl a lock at L&T WTP???? I didn't think any other store was open for consideration. If there was, I doubt that Target would have been the best fit. That honor would belong to Carsons. Carsons never said it didn't want to be downtown, only that the size and scope of the State Street store lost its practicality.

edsg25 · February 21st, 2007, 02:30 PM

Does anyone know what is going on with Lettuce Entertain You?

I have no question that their success continues unabated at so many locations. However, there has been one fundamental change in LEY: at one time, it seemed, Lettuce cranked out new Chgo restaurants almost at the rate of one or two a year.

New restaurants continue to open in Chicago, but LEY contributes very few and the ones it does add tend to be replacements for existing LEY restaurants. Even in their western markets (LA, Vegas, Phx), little seems to happen. Does anyonne have any idea why the slowdown?

February 12th, 2007, 02:11 AM	#1
LA1 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 830 Likes (Received): 0	Chicago Retail and Restaurant Thread Post any articles or share rumors about new stores or interesting restaurants/bars/nightclubs opening up in neighborhoods that lack or are devoid of them. Examples being the Carson Prarie Scott store, Best Buy rumored to go to Chicago place, etc or new restaurants going to the growing restaurant row on Wabash south of Roosevelt.

February 19th, 2007, 05:32 PM	#5
nomarandlee My Mind Has Left My Body Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: 1060 W. Addison, City by the Lake Posts: 7,120 Likes (Received): 119	Rumor has city drooling http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/f...asse19.article Rumor has city drooling Another French chef may open restaurant here February 19, 2007 BY JANET RAUSA FULLER Staff Reporter Is an Alain Ducasse Chicago restaurant in the works? The decorated French chef -- the only chef in the world to have three restaurants with three Michelin stars -- appeared to be on a scouting mission recently in the Windy City. On Dec. 7, chef Graham Elliot Bowles at Avenues in the Peninsula hotel got a call: Ducasse was on a plane a few hours from Chicago, and he wanted to eat at Avenues. Bowles said it was past 10 p.m. when Ducasse and two guests arrived, but the restaurant stayed open, and Ducasse told the young chef to cook at his whim. 'Like cooking for the Messiah' "It was like cooking for the Messiah," said Bowles of serving Ducasse a meal that included venison tartare, salmon with "sauerkraut bubbles" and a Kobe strip steak with smoked potato beignets. Restaurant manager Nicolas Dubort, who is from Paris, exchanged a few words in French with Ducasse, telling the chef "he would be a delight to have on the Chicago restaurant scene." Ducasse smiled and said, "It is a little bit cold," adding that he was "undecided" but that "Chicago was a pleasant city," Dubort said. Ducasse's camp in Paris has denied the chef is planning a Chicago venture. But the talk in local food circles is that Ducasse was at one point eyeing the Donald Trump tower under construction on Wabash Avenue. Trump officials in New York did not return calls for comment. "I'm sure they're looking for a high-profile operation," chef Charlie Trotter said of his friend. The three jewels in Ducasse's Michelin-studded crown are the Plaza Athenee in Paris, Le Louis XV in Monaco and Alain Ducasse at the Essex House, which has closed and is reopening this spring at New York City's St. Regis Hotel. He also has restaurants in Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, Las Vegas, Italy, Mauritius, Tunisia and Switzerland. Another French uber-chef, Joel Robuchon, confirmed this month that he is planning to open a Chicago restaurant by the end of next year. Ducasse's apparent interest "only helps to cement the fact that Chicago is this big food town now," Bowles said. "It makes it better for everybody." jfuller@suntimes.com

February 19th, 2007, 08:58 PM	#6
The Urban Politician The City Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,968 Likes (Received): 0	[QUOTE=nomarandlee;11808261]Ducasse smiled and said, "It is a little bit cold," adding that he was "undecided" but that "Chicago was a pleasant city," Dubort said.[QUOTE] ^ Fuck him. I'm so sick of hearing that shit. I'm freezing my ass off--in fact my nose nearly fell off yesterday from the wind chill I experienced while walking around New York yesterday. And this is the same guy who has a restaurant in snowy Switzerland. People who make stupid statements like that should just get banned from setting foot in Chicago for 10 years. __________________ It is humanly impossible to walk through Chicago's core and not consider it one of the world's great cities unless you are inwardly angry at the place for somehow threatening or robbing your hometown of its vitality or integrity.

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February 12th, 2007, 11:10 PM	#2
Sir Isaac Newton Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 346 Likes (Received): 0	In regards to new restaurants going to the growing restaurant row on Wabash, south of Roosevelt...does anyone know if Glashaus or 1349 South Wabash will have ground floor retail in the buildings? It would be great if a quality restaurant was built in each of these buildings as it would extend the restaurant row on Wabash, potentially creating a row that might eventually rival the row on Randolph Street.

February 13th, 2007, 01:02 AM	#3
spyguy Expert Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 6,947 Likes (Received): 5	Glashaus has something like 12,500 sq. ft. of retail, although I'm not sure about 1349.

February 13th, 2007, 01:11 AM	#4
danthediscoman Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 384 Likes (Received): 0	^The lady at the Glaushaus sales center was saying they are in talks with Argo Tea for part of the retail frontage...at least its not a starbucks.

February 19th, 2007, 10:02 PM	#7
urbanpln Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 329 Likes (Received): 0	Whole Foods and Target are locating in the Carson's building. There are several other retailers also.

February 20th, 2007, 07:41 PM	#12
urbanpln Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 329 Likes (Received): 0	Whole Foods and Target are definitely coming to the Carson's sight. There does not seem to be a parking plan at this moment. There should be a public announcement within the next two weeks. As fgor other retailers, I don't know at this moment but the deevelopers are looking for a good mix of quality stores.

February 20th, 2007, 07:48 PM	#13
urbanpln Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 329 Likes (Received): 0	I have a question for you trvlr70 and other forumers. Do you think Chicago's winters will prevent it from attracting more young talent,commerce and tourist? I'd like edsg25 and Steeley's opinion also.

February 20th, 2007, 09:55 PM	#17
urbanpln Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 329 Likes (Received): 0	This is good information. As I quoted earlier, I expect an announcement within the next 2 weeks.

February 21st, 2007, 02:27 PM	#19
edsg25 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 9,399 Likes (Received): 0	Isn't American Girl a lock at L&T WTP???? I didn't think any other store was open for consideration. If there was, I doubt that Target would have been the best fit. That honor would belong to Carsons. Carsons never said it didn't want to be downtown, only that the size and scope of the State Street store lost its practicality.

February 21st, 2007, 02:30 PM	#20
edsg25 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 9,399 Likes (Received): 0	Does anyone know what is going on with Lettuce Entertain You? I have no question that their success continues unabated at so many locations. However, there has been one fundamental change in LEY: at one time, it seemed, Lettuce cranked out new Chgo restaurants almost at the rate of one or two a year. New restaurants continue to open in Chicago, but LEY contributes very few and the ones it does add tend to be replacements for existing LEY restaurants. Even in their western markets (LA, Vegas, Phx), little seems to happen. Does anyonne have any idea why the slowdown?