Rib Hill Restaurant in Pill Hill

Something see on Pete Kastanes' Vanished Chicago Businesses on instagram. This business was located at 9129 S. Jeffery Blvd. What you see here is a menu from that long gone business.

Krispy's Chicken is coming to Chatham on 87th

Photo by Lee Edwards - BlockClubChi

Well I'm glad to see that the garish signs from the King Food & Deli has been removed along with their bulletproof glass to be replaced by a different business. This building which was formerly a Church's Chicken is going back to its original function.

Lee Edwards of BlockClubChi informs us:

After complaints from residents, community leaders and the neighborhood’s alderman, a controversial Chatham convenience store that used bulletproof glass and sold junk food and cigars has been replaced with a restaurant.

A new Krispy’s Fried Chicken & Seafood restaurant location recently opened its doors in place of the King Food and Deli convenience store, which Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th) labeled a “problem business” this summer.

Krispy’s Fried Chicken & Seafood is a restaurant chain based out of Wichita, Kansas, with four existing locations on Chicago’s South Side.

“I’m glad the community got together and made the owner rethink his business model because his former model wasn’t conducive for the Chatham community,” Sawyer said. “It’s not ideal but it’s better than what it was before.”

The new restaurant at 400 E. 87th St. is the result of several conversations between the alderman, the store’s owner, who also owned King Food and Deli, and Melinda Kelly, executive director of Chatham Business Association, Sawyer said. He said he voiced his opinions about the business, which were well-received by the business owner, who ultimately decided to convert the store into a restaurant.

We see the good people over at Concerned Citizens of Chatham have already been debating this new development since last month.

5 Loaves suffers a temporary set back this past weekend...

5 Loaves tagged us on a ig post that we regrammed on Sunday and Worlee Glover shared this on Concerned Citizens of Chatham also. It's a shame that a neighborhood eatery on 75th Street has been knocked out by copper thieves that keeps this business from operating - in this case no electricity. For a quick buck thieves prevent a legitimate business from making long-term money.

No sooner did I finish this post last night I saw this quick announcement on 5 Loaves ig that their electricity has been restored. I'm sure there is a whole story behind it, but it seems the folks at 5 Loaves got to work - with the help of the community - is back up and running and hopefully they'll see you as a customer on Tuesday and beyond!

Chicago's Best Fried Chicken: 5 Loaves Eatery

[VIDEO] Recently a 6th Ward business 5 Loaves Eatery was show on Chicago's Best TV which airs both on WGN & CLTV. We shared an Instagram post from 5 Loaves early last month letting us know that CBTV host Britney Payton was dropping by to film a segment hear and invited people to drop by.

I'm sorry to say I've never visited this place, however, since they are located near 75th/King Drive they're worth a visit. Also it's a plus that they're not far from Lem's Bar-B-Q which is down the street on 75th also.

Has anyone else been? How do they like the food? Also what would you recommend for a first timer to that restaurant?

Are you going to Lem's on the Fourth?

If you attempted to pay Lem's Bar-B-Q (@ 311 E. 75th Street) a visit the evening before the 4th of July there was a line wrapped around the establishment. It seems a lot of people want to get that quick Lem's fix in time for the holidays. Bear in mind however that the long-time bbq restaurant will be open on the Fourth and will be closed Wednesday. Normally Lem's is closed on Tuesday.

I'll even post the ig post from the official Lem's profile below:

A post shared by Lem's BarBQ (@lemsbarbq) on Jul 2, 2017 at 2:13pm PDT

An interesting proposal for the former UPB branch/Jeffrey Theater

UPDATE 11:25 AM - I apologize, failed to give this post a title!

7054 S. Jeffrey Blvd

Through NextDoor I found a DNA Info article regarding Alisa Starks making a pitch to the South Shore community regarding the former Urban Partnership Bank branch located at 7054 S. Jeffrey Blvd. It sounds like a good plan:

Alisa Starks, who developed movie theaters in Lawndale and Chatham, has been brought in by Monroe Investments to revive the bank at 7054 S. Jeffery Blvd. that closed in 2014.

At a 5th Ward meeting Tuesday at the South Shore Cultural Center, Starks presented a rough idea for the 46,000-square-foot bank that included a four-screen movie theater on the main floor, a six-lane bowling alley in the basement and a kid-friendly restaurant and play area on the second floor.

“It’s designed to be a boutique theater, think Hyde Park’s Harper Theater,” said Starks, who said she was alerted to the bank’s potential by one of her South Shore neighbors.

She said the first floor would also include a Cajun restaurant called Odessa with live jazz and blues run by the chef from the now-closed Epiphany Bistro in Lincoln Park. 

The former UPB branch - and longtime hq for the defunct Shorebank - had been closed since 2014. The space also includes the facade of the former Jeffrey Theater. It would be very cool to redevelop that site and it could be a movie theater again and revive this corner now that a important business anchor had left. There's just one problem.

This article is almost two years old. Published in August 2015 and during that month Starks' ICE Theaters had filed for bankruptcy. Of course this is not to say this wouldn't be a successful venture and that this project genuinely caught the entrepreneurial eye of Ms. Starks.

Not mentioned in this article was ICE Theaters other than the fact that the Chatham 14 was sold by the Starks and ultimately that venue is under the ownership and banner of Studio Movie Grill. So no indication of this development on Jeffrey becoming an outpost for ICE Theaters.

Now, it's about to be summer 2017, which is the expected opening date for this venue. One wonders if there are any further updates about this development or even a grand opening. In the meanwhile it's safe to say this space remains shuttered and there is also a shuttered grocery store just across the street still looking for a tenant.

Finally here's a recent picture of 71st/Jeffrey taken from the J14 bus on the way to downtown Chicago. I could be wrong but there's no evidence of any development here. Perhaps Ms. Starks wasn't able to make this development happen during the course of the last two years.

71st/Jeffrey

Konkol: Roseland's Only Steak House Survives Tough Times Down At 'The Ranch'

Photo by Mark Konkol - Yolanda Pierce from right and two employees

All the times I passed this place on Michigan Ave and never been inside. It seems to be one of the few consistent businesses on this stretch. It survived a long time and apparently still does although times and demographics have changed since this business opened in 1969.

On a morning stroll, I hiked west from Pullman and under the 113th Street viaduct that leads to the wrong side of the tracks.

I walked past Palmer Park, where the faint scent of marijuana hung in the cool, humid air, and headed up the hill toward Michigan Avenue — Roseland’s once-vibrant shopping strip now populated by hustlers, pimps and dealers who openly cater to the vices of the addicted, the desperate and the damned — on my way to “The Ranch.”

That’s what locals call the neighborhood’s only surviving steak joint, where you can get a T-bone, charbroiled just the way you like it, with a baked potato and salad for less than 20 bucks. And they serve tasty breakfast — two eggs with hash browns and toast for under $5 — all day long.

The late John Kapsaskis opened The Ranch Steak House at 11147 S. Michigan Ave. in 1969. Back then, Roseland was home to mostly blue-collar white families who later fled to the suburbs when black folks moved in and good-paying steel mill jobs dried up. His son, Dino — “The Greek Cowboy,” as one photo behind the counter calls him — kept the family steakhouse going even as the neighborhood’s population changed and its economy slumped.

Inside the front door is a far different world than the one left behind on the sidewalk. A set of bull horns hang from the ceiling. A sign welcomes customers to a dimly lit dining room decorated with carved Indian chief statues and faded photos of cowboys, those rifle-toting white men on horseback from Hollywood westerns.

Yolanda Pierce runs the ranch although the family who owns it no longer appears to be involved. Pierce's ex-fiance who's family runs the business is out taking care of his elderly mother in Greece. So now it's Pierce:

She’s the blond-haired, blue-eyed gal, a former hair stylist from Griffith, Indiana, who runs The Ranch now that Dino Kapsaskis — the owner and her ex-fiance — packed up and moved to Greece to take care of his 93-year-old mother.

Pierce’s friends tell her she should be angry that Kapsaskis left her to run The Ranch by herself, unsure if he’ll ever return.

“Even though he is my ex, this is his business. Dino could have sold this place. He always said business is business. He felt like he was doing me a favor. If I go anywhere else I’ll make minimum wage. What can I do?” Pierce said.

“We still care about each other enough to keep it going. I’m not mad at him. He did what he had to do. I’m taking care of my mother. I take care of my daughter. I do what I got to do.”

If you read the rest of the article she'll not that this place considering it's location isn't making a huge profit but she emphasizes how she helps her employees:

She doesn’t just do it for herself and her own family. The Ranch is the lifeblood that keeps a lot of people — her dishwasher, waitresses and cooks and even Kapsaskis, whom Pierce sends cash she considers “rent” — on the winning side of “the struggle.”

“They say when you eat at Outback Steakhouse or one of those chain places you’re paying for the owner's private jets and fancy houses. What we make helps everyone here. Nobody makes a lot of money. Here, you’re paying for our people to buy clothes for their kids,” Pierce said.

“I just feel like I don’t care if it’s a struggle. I’m gonna keep it going and that’s how Dino feels, too. No matter what, we’re going to try to keep The Ranch open for as long as can. Either things are going to get better or … whatever.”

I suggest you read the whole thing. This is a course on how to run a business in a difficult community to own a business. You may not agree with everything Griffith says about parking meters or minimum wage

Here's hoping The Ranch survives for any position renaissance that I expect Roseland to one day have. Especially when the CTA Red Line is finally extended further south. Plus I hope that the Pullman National Monument will have an effect on the surrounding communities as well.

5 Loaves restaurant has electrical box stolen

5 Loaves Eatery, located at 405 E 75th St, Chicago IL 60619, just reported that their electrical box has been stolen (along with Harold's Chicken), and business

Here's what they posted on Facebook:

Attention 5 Loaves family, we are sorry to inform you that our electrical housing was stolen overnight. This is the second time this has happened.


I pity these neighborhood terrorist that perform crimes on people and businesses, that are trying to make a living and provide for their families, by taking instead of working for what they want.


We are asking for your prayers for not only our business; but also Harolds that is next door to us.


It took over two and a half months ,last time this happened to reopen. We are praying that God allows us to come back stronger and better.


God bless

We wish them the best, and will keep you informed on how to help. Their website is http://www.5loaveschicago.com/ and their phone number is 773.891.2889

we will keep you updated on any progress.

On a personal note (from JP): I am sorry I haven't had the opportunity to visit yet. I do not want to see any further businesses close, especially nice sit-down restaurants.  we need these businesses to thrive if we want to see a positive tunraround.

Tribune: 'Vulnerable' cafe makes a stand in a tough part of town

We've been hearing about Kusanya Cafe - 825 W 69th St - over the years from its conception to the eventual opening. I'm glad that such an establishment is in the Englewood community and hopefully it will be there for years to come. All it took was someone with the vision to make it real. We hear from the brains behind the operation:

When Phil Sipka and some of his Englewood neighbors opened a cafe a year ago this week, skeptics had suggestions.

How about rolling security gates over the wall-size windows? Or a permanently locked door, with a buzzer to buzz customers in? Maybe a nighttime security guard.

Sipka and his neighbors had a different idea.

"Let's be vulnerable," he said Thursday, sitting at one of the tables he made from reclaimed wood. "I think people respect intentional vulnerability."

The cafe is named Kusanya, a Swahili word that means "to gather," and though it's in a neighborhood that makes news most often when someone makes trouble, it has managed to stay safe since it opened last Nov. 19.

And more about Mr. Sipka:

Sipka, 34, is a man of several talents. A native of Alma, Mich., he studied at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. He honed his coffee skills at the popular Robust Coffee Lounge in Woodlawn. "The Steve Harvey Show" featured him (video available on YouTube) quitting that job in song, backed by a doo-wop group.

When he moved to Chicago seven years ago, he immediately settled in Englewood, just a block from the cafe. He is white in a neighborhood that is predominantly black.

"A lot of people thought I was a cop for a long time," he said. He laughed. "I'd be the worst undercover cop ever."

He built Kusanya's coffee counter and wooden tables himself. He studied YouTube videos to learn how to hang a door.

"I've always liked making things beautiful out of things people throw away," he said.

You know, I wonder what brought him to Englewood. Why Englewood for him instead of other parts of the city?

Either way he had a vision and gained the support of the neighborhood. He had some help from the community getting this place ready for business.

I'm going to put this on the list of places I should visit on the south side.

DNA Info: Jim's Original, 24-Hour Restaurant Near 95th Red Line, To Close Monday

16 E. 95th St.

DNA Info has more of the impending closing of the Jim's Original hot dog stand located near the 95th Street CTA terminal. Reflected are the many quotes of disappointment by many of the customers of this hot dog stand where they could get a quick bite when then get off of the CTA bus or Red Line.

There appears to be some compensation for the closing. CTA is finalizing some relocation fees with Jim's so perhaps it's possible that in the future we can have a Jim's Original stand in the area in the future. However for now there are other places on the South Side to get your fix for a Maxwell Street polish sausage. Or you can always go to the stand @ 1250 S. Union Ave. near UIC.

ALSO, I noticed in some of the comments at DNA Info that the building where Jim's currently resides has been around longer than 24 years. The building has housed a number of businesses there over the years although I'm unsure of how long it has been at this spot.

Lems BBQ on 75th Street celebrating 60 years

3 day celebration coming up at their 311 E. 75th Street store with some events for charities. What you see above are flyers that you might recieve from Lem's after making an order. This additional information you may have seen in 6th Ward Alderman Roderick Sawyer's e-mail newsletter.

• Lem's Bar-B-Q 60th Anniversary - Lem's Bar-B-Q will be celebrating its 60th Anniversary next week. This restaurant has served as a staple in 6th ward for over 46 years and throughout the south side for over 60 years total. We are excited to help them celebrate during their 3-day anniversary event entitled "Million Acts of Love" on September 25th, 26th and 27th from 1:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.

How will the SMG Chatham 14 look?

Concept of the new SMG Chatham 14 via SMG.com

If you're unfamiliar with the changes coming to the Chatham 14 here's a post from last month about the coming changes.

The photo above is seen on Studio Movie Grill's locations tab and then click on the button for SMG Chatham. This is a concept of how the Chatham 14 would look after the expected renovations under their new concept. It's about that time for the renovations to start and while the theater remain open soon the Chatham will have the new amenities that you see listed below.

BTW, if you expect to purchase tickets through the SMG website there is still a link that will refer you to the Chatham 14 website where you will continue to check showtimes and buy your tickets online as well.

Chicago Patterns: A coffee house for Englewood

Photo @ Kusanya from Chicago Patterns

This article starts with the Kusanya Café which opened for business last month in Englewood located at 825 W. 69th St. It showed what it took to get that establishment up and running after four years. Then the rest of the article talks about the history and hopefully the future of that often beleaguered neighborhood. So basically, the people of Englewood and the founders of Kusanya have a long road ahead in revitalizing Englewood  from within considering the scarcity of financial resoures. I would encourage you all to read the whole thing.

An update to 87th/Vernon and Dunkin Donuts

Recently the Greater Chatham Alliance updated the Chatham neighborhood about the possibility of a local franchise operator to relocation from the current location to another along 87th Street. We've talked about this location at 87th/Vernon earlier this year and Worlee wrote about this at length earlier this month as well.

Dunkin Donuts??Franchise request to relocate from their Cottage Grove location to 87th Street.

The owners of Dunkin Donuts on Cottage Grove want to move to a vacant lot/ building location they own at 87th & Vernon.

At our June meeting, residents who live in this vicinity brought this to our attention for discussion?-and they were plenty of pros and cons on the situation. Why?

It seems the Dunkin owners want to have a 24 hour franchise and some neighbors don't want that round-the-clock activity. Or they would prefer to see a different type of restaurant since we have three (3) Dunkin Donuts and a Dat's Donut in our community already.

So these residents feel the community should push for a more upscale, fast-food chain like Chipolte or Portillo's.

Other residents feel that if a barrier was put up to separate residents from the 24 hour franchise activity, then our community would have, at least, an operating business in the location instead of a vacant building / property.

Well I didn't want to copy and paste the whole text on this subject, but if this was a possibility many are concerned with the activity and trash of a 24-hr store operating in their community. All the same it appears they're coming so what else may come of this?

DNAinfo: Izola's Replaced by New Soul Food Restaurant

Izola's as seen in April 2011

It appears the space formerly occupied by Izola's has a new tenant that recognizes the legacy of the previous establishment:

Brothers Anthony and Michael Cherry opened a soul food restaurant Saturday in the former home of the legendary Izola's.

Occupying 20,000 square feet at 522 E. 79th St. is Luversia's, a family restaurant that Anthony Cherry said was named after his late mother, Luversia Faye-Cherry, who died in 2008.

"She was a good person who taught us a lot about life," recalled Anthony Cherry, who grew up in Englewood but now lives in South Shore. "Five years from now I want to expand the restaurant to have a location on the West Side, North Side and downtown. I know those are ambitious goals, but I am an ambitious person."

Izola's, named after Izola White, opened in 1940 and closed in 2011. Luversia's has continued in part to use the former restaurant's identity by offering an "Izola's Ole-Skool Burger" for $6.99.

BTW, let's not forget not long after announcing for Mayor in 2010 Rahm Emanuel paid a visit to Izola's.

Who plans to pay a visit in the near future? And who has paid a visit and what are your thoughts on your experience there?

PHOTO: 79th & Langley in the 1980s

Sometimes I wonder if we could get a pizza joint of some type on our various commercial strips or buildings whether that's on 87th, 79th, 75th, 71st, Cottage Grove, King Drive, or State Street. Once upon a time Reggio's had a location on 79th & Langley and now the closest one to us is on 87th west of the Ryan at the Chatham Ridge shopping center the same area as the Harold's Chicken Shack.

The pic you see above was said to have been taken in the 1980s and was posted to the Reggio's Pizza fb page. Further information on this pic was found on Reggio's official webpage. The building itself is currently being used for the Congressional office of Bobby Rush.

Renovated Shell Gas Station Set to Reopen in Chatham - DNAinfo.com Chicago

Renovated Shell Gas Station Set to Reopen in Chatham - DNAinfo.com Chicago

 There's been some controversy over this project namely concerns that neighborhood residents weren't get jobs on this project or at least Blacks were getting jobs in a predominantly Black community. So it looks like residents have something to look forward too in the near future:

Owner Azam Kham plans to reopen his Shell gas station at 8659 S. State St. on March 16 after it closed two years ago. The renovated station will be open 24 hours a day and will have four additional pumps, bringing the total to 10. In addition, Kham has doubled the size of a convenience store at the site, to 2,000 square feet, and plans to sell more food as well as household items like soap, toilet tissue and paper plates.

"Customers can come inside to pay for their purchases and not stand outside as they did before," Kham said. "They can buy household products, snacks and other items."

But the convenience store will not be selling lottery tickets, he said.

"I do not plan on getting a lottery machine unless it is something the community later says it wants," Kham said. "I want to offer services the community needs."

Additionally, he plans to house two retail tenants at the site.

"I expect to have a restaurant and a bakery," added Kham, who also owns another Shell gas station in Bridgeport at 215 W. 31st St.

Kham said he had hoped to reopen the station last year, but was slowed by the permitting process and city inspections.

The Stew: Army & Lou's 'on hold,' its future dubious

 

I had intended to post this earlier but there was the blizzard and then there were addition comments in JP's post about Army & Lou's that was published this past weekend. This post links to the Tribune blog, The Stew , took a look at the news that JP posted here over the weekend regarding Army & Lou's located @ 422 E. 75th St closing at least for the time being:

The growth of restaurants in Hyde Park, Bronzeville and the South Loop has not been good news for restaurants located farther south such as Army and Lou's. The current owners (there have been several in Army & Lou's 65-year history) reportedly are hoping to attract new investors, perhaps an outright buyer, to keep the South Side institution alive.

Let's hope for good news. A permanently closed Army & Lou's would be a terrible loss.

BTW, the owner managing partner of Army & Lou's, Harry Fleming, responded to Worlee's comment made in JP's post:

Hi, my name is Harry Fleming and I am the managing partner for Army & Lou's. There seems to be a misconception that I would like to clear up. We have no connection with Pearl's Place. The previous owenr, Ms. Reynolds managed Pearl's Place back in the 90's for a few years. Again, we have no connection at all with Pearl's Place.

Thank you for your time. 

Pearl's Place is located at 3901 South Michigan Avenue

Also Mr. Fleming had an additional comment:

Our issue is not the general operations of the business but mainly economics. I love Gordon Ramsey and in the past he has approched Ms. Reynolds to do his show, but she declined. I'm of the same mind set because I've seen his show and it wouldn't at the end of the day be the "best" move for us.

We have an excellent business plan that several banks and the SBA have looked at and like very much. The issue seems to be leading money in the restaurant industry. Banks are extremely hesitant to put investment dollars into the industry. At least that what the banks tell me. We are currently searching for privet investors and partnerships with different universities like KKC, CSU, and Depaul. 

If you have any information or can point me in a particular direction please feel free to contact me at armyandlous (at) yahoo.com

Let's hope that Mr. Fleming and his other partners are able to re-open this restaurant so that I can pay that establishment a visit. Let it be soon!

Army and Lou's to close - maybe permanently, maybe temporary

I saw this on Rep. Constance Howard's Facebook page:

Celebrate the History, Legacy, and Institution of Army & Lou's Restaurant

Come out with your friends and family to celebrate the rich history and say farewell "for now" to ARMY & LOU'S, the oldest black owned restaurant in the Midwest. Eat your favorite meals and listen to live Jazz on Friday and Saturday. Enjoy the buffet and Live G...ospel on Sunday, 422 East 75th St., Chicago.

So I sent her a message asking about it.  Here's what representaive howard shared with me:

JP, Here is information from BERA, regarding why the restaurant is closing:

Alicia Spears talked with the publicity representative from Army and Lou’s and here is a summary of their conversation:

Restaurant owners do not know if they will re-open. They need funds, they need willing parties to commit to use of the site-not just verbal consent; they need consistent support, or investors willing to take over the 65 year old establishment.

Many people are going to the south loop restaurants where it is more trendy, a better sense of security, better parking. Since many African-Americans now live north of 63rd Street, they don’t want to come south.

Alicia Spears

Executive Director
Business and Economic Revitalization Association (BERA)
773-783-2636
200 East 75th Street
Chicago, Illinois
http://www.beraecon.com/

Here is Army' & Lou's website.

i hope this restaurant doesn't close for good. We already lost Yonni's. We can't lose this classic restaurant. In addition to the food and people, 2 standout qualities include the art display from a nearby art gallery, and a meeting room that could be reserved for meetings, gatherings, etc. I used it several times for my former organization's monthly luncheon.

Groupon for Soul Vegtarian East!

As of this posting, this deal is only good for another 9 hours.

Soul Vegetarian East Groupon

This is the restaurant at 75th & Indiana, and has been featured/mentioned several times here.

Let us know if you got this offer, or if you think of any businesses that would benefit from it.