Thursday, April 24, 2014

(Spring) Cleaning Up the May or May Not Open Sloopin Business Counter

The Sloopin Business Counter is one of our favorite things.  It gives us a good way to quantify trends in the neighborhood.  Maybe it's not scientific, but in our eyes it's helpful.

Anyway, we've been doing it for a couple of years now and there are a couple businesses that either are still working out the kinks or simply have called it quits.  We don't have firm intelligence on all of them, so figured we would pose the question to you - do you have any updates on some of these lingering retail projects?

Inside Broad Shoulders Brewery
(via their Facebook Page)
Here are some of the lingering projects and some of the rumors we've been hearing:

• Broad Shoulders Brewery (2337 S. Michigan)
One of the most anticipated projects in the Sloop, but it's been taking a long long time.  However, looking at their facebook page it still looks they're still moving forward.  Chance of opening?  We're still optimistic

• Cheap Trick Chicago (2245 S. Michigan)
In march of 2013 this deal apparently fell through.  It wasn't clear if the deal for the building fell through or the concept in total.  We're assuming the former, but also heard rumors that it might not be dead.  Chance of opening?  Unlikely

• Yard House (150 W. Roosevelt Rd)
Back in 2012 it was leaked on the Yard House website that they would be opening at RC.  It's been awhile and we haven't heard anything.  The Roosevelt Collection team is also pretty good about updating everyone on retail news, so the fact that we haven't heard a peep makes us think this is dead.  Change of opening?  Not happening - removing from list

• Blackfin American Grille (150 W Roosevelt)
During the initial wave of retail announcements at Roosevelt Collection, Blackfinn was included as a new tennant.  This was back in November of 2012.  Given that we haven't heard anything else about this and that BlackFinn opened in River North - our doubts are high.  Change of opening?  Not happening - removing from list

• Pink Olive Wine and Liquor Store (80 E. Cermak)
Haven't heard much about this, but they were talking about opening over a year ago.  It's also interesting that McCormick Market recently opened in the same retail building.    Chance of opening?  Unlikely

• Pretty Donkey Coffee (77 E. Cermak)
We had questions when we saw their website, but gave them the benefit of the doubt.  While signage is up, it's been awhile since we've seen anything new happening at this place.  Chance of opening?  We're still optimistic

• FruVe (1130 S. Wabash)
One of the more interesting projects we were excited about, has seemed to stall.  It hasn't been a year yet, but usually a Juice bar doesn't take that long to build-out (despite that they were going to be the "world most complete juice bar" - whatever that means).  However, signage is still up, which is encouraging.  Chance of opening?  We're still optimistic

• TBD - Burger Restaurant (NW corner of Roosevelt & Michigan)
A super high-profile Sloop retail space was finally going to be snatched up by a relatively sexy restaurant, Burger Bar.  Or maybe not?!?!?!  Seemed like we had a lot of people confirming this, but maybe it fell through.  To this date there has been zero activity inside the proposed retail space at the Northwest corner of Roosevelt and Michigan.  Chance of opening?  Unlikely

What do you think?  Is our assessment off?  Have you heard otherwise?

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