Friday, March 29, 2013

Is Karamela Cafe Closed?

Upon walking down Michigan recently we noticed two things in regard to Karamela Cafe (1250 S. Michigan):
Old picture of refrigerator/display -- it's now gone!

  1. It was 8pm on a Tuesday night and the cafe was closed
  2. The desert refrigerator/display at the front of the store was gone and so were the cash register and other things.
While we may not be the brightest bulbs in the world, something seemed strange.  Could Karamela Cafe be closed?  It's been a rocky road leading up to the opening, but honestly we liked the place.

We've been a couple of times since our first visit and it seemed like others were there hanging out and enjoying themselves.  What gives?  Anyone know?

(Hat tip: NM!)

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did you try to get in touch with the owners and ask them what is going in before posting a blog post with a title that might bring you a couple readers? I noticed that both bloggers that cover this neoghborhood are more interested in flashy post titles than informing the readers. Flashy titles will not bring you more readers, but real, accurate information will. I am not associated with Karamela, but I love the place and I am rooting for them.

Anonymous said...

Eaaasy...Take a deep breath. A purpose of a blog is to open up a discussion. They asked a question, trying to get people's opinions on a specific topic, not too much flashy about that. Their positive review of the place seems to promote the thought process that they liked the place. I don't think anyone is rooting against Karamela.

Anonymous said...

I found Karamela terrible and most recent reviews on yelp would agree. I do hope the place is done and a new place moves in. Not to rant but the owners of Karamela are also the developers of the high rise. This place has been a disaster from the start when they couldn't keep their original chef. High rise developers can't run businesses. Square one is from the same developer too. Both share this in common. Great concepts with horrible execution. Donnas closed and new established business is coming in. Same with old hardwood. Survival of the fittest. Our neighborhood deserves better and we demand it. That is why these places close because we won't patronize a business just because anymore.

Also. Aon 7:35. What a troll comment. Great post by sloopin.

Anonymous said...

I was walking to Pita Heaven at about 7 last night and noticed the same thing. I thought it looked as if they were closing as well. I live close by and it never looks like that after closing at night. Coolers were empty ad cases were cleaned out.

Anonymous said...

1. Karamela was a dump, concept is stupid.

2. The owners were convicted of fraud, hope they rot in jail.

3. People that use the term "troll" to label a post that they dont agree with lack a true vocabulary to challenge

4. if you live around karamela and frequent this joint you are a fool with awful taste

Let's be nice said...

Anon 9:51

happy Easter to you!

Anonymous said...

anon @ 10 am trying to be cute--

happy passover, sorry the truth hurt you :)

Linda said...

To anon @9:51 - Interesting how you chastise a reader for using the term troll to refer to a COMMENT, but you easily refer to a PERSON as a fool with awful taste and one who lacks a true vocabulary to challenge. Why attack the person, geez.

Anonymous said...

Karamela charged me $18.57 for no reason and they have been "refunding" me for over a month. Still nothing. I guess I'm out the $18.57.

I liked their crepes a lot and their lattes were also very good. I attended pastry chef school, so I have decent taste in food too.

They should at least post a notice on their facebook page or their website or on their door. Bad form.

Mr. Truthy said...

Anon 9:51 and 10:09...

Thanks for the "truth",

we are all looking forward to more...

Shalom

rememberthebreath said...

Pita Heaven is definitely open. I went there for lunch today! And the comment by 9:51AM is a perfect example of why this blog bums me out. Good content, but enough negative/snarky/unmoderated members to poison the well. This blog really needs some good community guidelines. Like a simple -- keep things respectful/relevant.

Anonymous said...

What other blog covers the South Loop?

Anonymous said...

Karemela is owned by a greek real estate agents. You peoples source of information is terrible. Do some resarch before you talk out of your ass.

Anonymous said...

Aon 4:39. I applaud your great command of grammar and spelling you use while hurling insults. This place and pita heaven are associated with the developer. So is square one. Common knowledge if you have been to those places. Bottom line. It is a conflict of interest that holds commercial real estate hostage. Bad business models don't stick around.

Anonymous said...

One of the business partners was really skeevy. Guy ended up fleeing to Greece.

Anonymous said...

Confused do we have 6 jerks in our neighborhood or is it the same one 6 times?

Anonymous said...

Paying rent to a landlord does not make the business owned bythe lanlord. Are you stupid or something or do you not understand how economics work.

Anonymous said...

The posts in this comment section are either opinions or idiots whining about other people's opinions. You don't like people expressing their opinion then don't read the comments or move to North Korea where such freedoms don't exist.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of North Korea, does anyone else feel like a Korean BBQ would kill in the Sloop?

Anonymous said...

I walked in to grab a coffee after they opened. Waited to long and was charged 5 dollars for a medium sized cup that was no better than gas station coffee. Obviously I'll never go back even if they're open.

Anonymous said...

Is anyone surprised by this? Or by Donnas closing? Or by A Capella closing? Or by Alians closing? If you are, you're nuts. You could tell within one week of their opening that none of the above would make it.

rememberthebreath said...

This blog would benefit from getting rid of the "Anonymous" feature. There are several peer-reviewed studies that have shown that when people know their identities are secret (whether offline or online), they behave much worse than they otherwise would have, otherwise known as the "online disinhibition effect". If you give a normal person anonymity and an audience, you turn him/her into an ass. As this blog has proven. If this blog used FB comments or Disqus (forcing you to sign and link your comments to your real identity), I bet this douche-like behavior would stop. This is completely unrelated to free speech. This is basic civic behavior.

Anonymous said...

Korean bbq in the sloop would be a dream come true.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the baked goods at Karamela, although they could've stocked up on more cupcakes, they were often sold out early in day....Not totally surprised by them closing.

I was surprised Donna's closed. Her service, food & price point was good, wasn't a fancy menu but I thought incorporating the Jazz theme made it different.

Anonymous said...

What a pretentious rant. Is your first name remember and your last name breath? You and your emo pseudonym is just as anonymous. This blog rules. Great info and I love the comments on the thread. I thought Karamela was not good and am looking forward to a new business. What do you think? Right nobody knows because you didn't contribute to the thread unless your pretentious comments, arm chair psychology, and hallmark greeting card screen name should be confused as a contribution.

Chris said...

aNON @ 2:39 is exactly the reason this blog is awful. People who "like" the comments section when all this filth and negativity are splayed all over are the real problem. They push for this crap

Anonymous said...

"This blog would benefit from getting rid of the "Anonymous" feature. There are several peer-reviewed studies that have shown that when people know their identities are secret (whether offline or online), they behave much worse than they otherwise would have, otherwise known as the "online disinhibition effect". If you give a normal person anonymity and an audience, you turn him/her into an ass. As this blog has proven."
Exactly right. This isn't 1993 after all, the whole online-forum thing stopped being a new experiment years ago. The real-life dynamics of allowing anonymous comments are widely-proven now.

What other blog is it that covers the South Loop?

Anonymous said...

Aon 8:45. That comment was amazing. Blog isn't awful. War and poverty are.

Anonymous said...

Sir-Mix-a-Lot says,

Can't we all just get along?

Anonymous said...

Too bad, I really liked it there!

It is weird though...I've never heard of a new business closing after such a short period of time. Even those that aren't doing so well stick it out at least a year to give it a fair shot.

The owner was from a restaurant family, which is another reason I'm surprised by such an abrupt closing. You'd think they'd know it can take time to really see if the business will work out.