Don't Blink! Blink Lash Studio Closes; Activity at 1400 S. Michigan

A reader tipped us that the Blink Lash Studio, who opened at 1317 S. Michigan in January, has apparently closed.  We recently walked by and can confirm that is the case as there is nothing inside and for lease signs all over the front door and windows.

In other South Michigan retail news, there seems to be some action at the old space of Caring Hands Pet Spa (1400 S. Michigan):

Brown paper on the windows at the old Caring Hands Pet Spa (1400 S. Michigan)

We also some construction workers removing old drywall from the building.  Unfortunately the construction workers didn't know what was going in (or weren't willing to part with that information).  Does anyone have the scoop on this one?

Finally, Giordano's looks primed for their opening at 1340 South Michigan (last we heard they were shooting for late October opening).  Just across the street Piano Forte (1335 S. Michigan) has been hard at work on their buildout and seems to be making significant progress.

(Hat tip: JK!)

Devil Dawgs Bringing the Devil to 767 S. State

Looks like South State street is getting a taste of the devil.  Various readers have sent us images and emails:

FYI, I was walking home from work today and it looks like Devil Dawgs is opening up a second location at 767 S State. There were some signs up in the windows saying it was coming soon, and a snippet at the end of this article mentions it.

We weren't familiar with Devil Dawgs, but apparently their original store in Lincoln Park has good reviews - 4 stars on Yelp.

Additional Update:
Devil Dawgs is replacing Young's Cleaners.  However, they did not close they just moved around the corner and reside on 8th street in the same building.

(Hat tip: MK, MJ, RD, CD!)

Good Times in the Sloop: Mariano's Opens at 1615 S. Clark

Mariano's at 1615 S. Clark - Opening Night Party

Sloopers rejoice - another highly anticipated grocery store has opened up a glistening, brand new store in the South Loop.  Mariano's is officially open at 1615 S. Clark!

That makes our neighborhood one with a plethora of grocery stores.  Mariano's moves into a crowded space with competitors such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Dominick's, Jewel and Target all within a quarter of a mile of each other (not to mention all the other "specialty convenience" stores spattered around the neighborhood).

If the above seems silly, it's because in our opinion it is slightly silly to get super excited about a grocery store opening up.    

But that's fine, because it shows that the neighborhood has evolved.  Back in 2010, the number one story we had on our site was about the opening of Trader Joe's (according to Google Analytics).  Now while we assume everyone is happy about Mariano's opening it seems like the Sloop is bigger and better than the opening of a fancy new grocery store.

Don't get us wrong, we're excited to have the new store open.  But it's not the most exciting thing going on in the Sloop.  Residential and commercial real estate has begun to pick up.  Positive press continues to sprout up.  The neighborhood discourse seems to be encouraging and best of all there seems to be genuine pride on every block throughout the neighborhood.

So yes, Mariano's opening is good news.  But remember the Sloop is on the up and up!

Oh and about the Mariano's (via Press Release):

Roundy’s, Inc. (“Roundy’s”) (NYSE: RNDY), a leading grocer in the Midwest, tomorrow will open Mariano’s South Loop – its 12th Chicagoland location – adding 425 new jobs to the Chicago economy and bringing the vibrant neighborhood fresh seasonal produce, organic meats and specialty local offerings that are part of Mariano’s signature grocery experience.  

The new store, located at 1615 S. Clark Street will feature popular products from local gourmet food purveyors, like Grandma Maude’s and Esther’s Authentic Foods, as well as 200 organic choices in produce, a meat department with a specialty grill station, and fresh artisan breads baked daily.

And as you may or may not be able to see in the picture above, they threw a grand opening party last night.

Congrats to Mariano's on the opening.  Good times in the Sloop!

Additional Info:  Here is a nice video done by NBC5.  Talks about Mariano's but also has good things to say about the South Loop's growth.

(Old Sloopin Mariano's Link)

(Hat tip: TW!)

Broad Shoulders Brewery Moving Along Slowly - Shooting for Early 2014 Opening

It's been slow process for the fine peeps at Broad Shoulders Brewery (2337 S. Michigan) in their attempt to open up shop in Motor Row.  We first heard about the project back in June of 2011 and since then their have been many bumps in the road.

But apparently that's not deterring them from chasing the dream.  If you look at their Facebook page you will understand things are moving forward, even if it's at a much slower pace than anticipated:

The good news for the brewery is that there still seems to be immense interest in the project from the South Loop community (hence all of our posts) and even the broader Chicagoland area.  Recently Time Out Chicago called out some of the more anticipated upcoming brewery openings and Broad Shoulders got some love:

After starting at Goose Island’s brewpub and Fulton Avenue production facility and then moving to Milwaukee’s Lakefront Brewing as their quality control manager, head brewer Frank Lassandrello saw the quality assurance issues that can occur when you fight for shelf space, which is why freshness is paramount to him.  

“A lot of beer sits for a very long time,” he says, which is why he was planning on Broad Shoulders being a production facility for distribution of Lake Shore Drive Lager and Blue Eyed Blonde kegs only—until the neighborhood told him they wanted a taproom as well.  

After adjusting his plans accordingly, he’ll have a space for growler fills and special-release 22-ounce bombers. The taproom features tables made from reclaimed ceiling joists pulled from his historic Motor Row building. 

(Hat tip: KP!)

Get Your Sloopin Hat Tip T-Shirt!

It's been 3 weeks and we want to encourage those of you who have submitted stores and received hat tips to claim your Sloopin hat tip t-shirt.

If you're initials are below and you submitted a tip/topic/pic email us sloopin@gmail.com:

• AB
• NPL
• KP
• CM
• GM
• JW
• LL
• RR
• MC
• TC
• AW
• KP
• KF
• TT
• JN
• KM
• JH

Thanks to everyone and PLEASE continue to send us stuff!  Without you Sloopin wouldn't be what it is.

Shots Around the Sloop: Double Rainbow Perfection

(Hat tip:  AD!)

Redevelopment of Old Harold Ickes Homes Moving Slowly

WBEZ shines light on the lack of action around the plan to redevelop the former site of the infamous Harold Ickes Homes:

Old Harold Ickes Homes (Image from WBEZ)

Residents of a former Chicago public housing development in the South Loop are angry that the DePaul University stadium is moving faster than replacement housing for them. 

In 1999, the Chicago Housing Authority began tearing down public housing as part of its $1.6 billion Plan for Transformation. The agency promised residents the right to return in new mixed-income communities. That included residents living in the Harold Ickes Homes near 22nd and State Street. The last building came down three years ago.

So what's next for this large, high-profile piece of property:

In an annual plan CHA sends to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says this about Ickes: “CHA plans to issue a joint developer solicitation with the City of Chicago in FY2014 to redevelop the proposed portions of land pending disposition approval as a mixed use development, which may include public housing and other residential, commercial, institutional, recreational and other land uses. CHA plans to bring back mixed-income housing, including public housing units, on remaining portions of the Ickes site.”  

Originally, the Plan for Transformation was a five-year plan. Today, it’s supposed to be completed by 2015. That would mean the CHA would have to deliver a whopping 7,000 units by then to meet its 25,000 replacement unit goal.

Should be interesting to see how this one plays out.

Real Estate Values in the Sloop - Mixed Opinions

British School of Chicago Delayed a Year Due to Merger

Planned British School of Chicago (via DNAinfo)

In case you missed this story, the British School of Chicago, who was planning on building a brand new building just north of Roosevelt Collection has been delayed (via Gazette):

Plans to open a new South Loop campus for the British School of Chicago have been pushed back to 2015 as a result of a merger between the World Class Learning (WCL) Group and Nord Anglia Education.  

The British School is a part of the WCL schools network. The partnership unites Nord Anglia Education’s 14 schools throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia with WCL’s 11 schools in North America, Qatar, and Spain.  

The combined organization will operate 25 schools in 11 countries educating more than 14,500 students. The site of the new school, just north of McCaffery Interests’ Roosevelt Collection mixed use development on Roosevelt Road, sparked debate for months because the original Roosevelt Collection plan called for a 2.2-acre public park at that same location.

Judging from the article it sounds like the school will still move forward.  However, whenever something like this happens we become a little skeptical.  Time will tell.

(Hat tip:   JH & SC!)

Kitchensurfing.com: Exquisite, Fun & Affordable Dining Options without Leaving the Comforts of Your Home

It's well documented that we get really excited to go out in the Sloop and try out all of the dining options our fine neighborhood has to offer.

However, sometimes going out can be burdensome.  Lack of reservation times.  Slow service.  Annoying crowds. You get the idea!

That's why we were so intrigued by a new concept called Kitchensurfing.  Their website sums up the concept pretty succinctly:

Ok, so the idea is that you need a chef for something. Anything.

So how does it work?  They break it down to five steps:

1)  Tell them what you're after (party size, budget, date, etc).
2)  They reference their database of chefs and provide matches based on step 1
3)  You review the chefs that met your criteria and pick one
4)  Next, you work with the chef to customize your menu
5)  Then you book your chef!

Yup, that's pretty much it.

Chef Kristin Koury

We recently tried it out and had an amazing time with Chef Kristin Koury.  She was right on time and was immediately accommodating, personable and warm.  She brought her supplies up, looked at our kitchen and then said, "thanks, that's all I need".  She immediately put us at ease and made us confident that all would be fine.

She provide all the food.  We provide our kitchen, silverware, plates, bowls and wine glasses.

Fast forward an hour later and our friends had arrived.  In total there were six of us.  We poured our own wine and then the fun began!  Our delicious four course meal started with a surprise shrimp gyoza appetizer (yes, that means we got an extra course - five courses!):

Not only was everything delicious, it was well timed, beautifully presented and we asked a ton of questions and Chef Kristin had great feedback (so we actually learned a bit).  

Highlights included amazingly tender and flavorful short ribs.  The macarons were also a treat and that's coming from a person who typically doesn't like macarons.

Once the meal was over, Kristin cleaned up our kitchen, silverware, plates, bowls, wine glasses and even the top of our stove (which was definitely not clean when she walked in), which was a nice little bonus and is part of the Kitchensurfing experience.

So what is the moral of the story?  If you're looking for an alternative dining option - whether it's a dinner party, a lunch or a cooking class - give Kitchensurfing a try.  Based on our experience you won't be disappointed - it's fun, delicious, easy and affordable.  

And if you're lucky you may end up with a kitchen that was cleaner than before your chef arrived.     

Editorial Disclaimer - no payment was exchanged between Sloopin and Kitchensurfing for this review.  All services and supplies were provided by Kitchensurfing. 

Bevello Opens at Roosevelt Collection; Sleepy's Mattress Opens at 605 W. Roosevelt

Businesses continue to open up shop in the Sloop.

Bevello, the women's retailer with a "boutique" type of experience, has opened up it's doors at Roosevelt Collection:

Inside bevello at Roosevelt Collection (image from Roosevelt Collection)

 By our count this marks the seventh store to open at Roosevelt Collection this year.

Just down the street a new mattress store, Sleepy's, has officially opened their doors at 605 W. Roosevelt:

Welcome to both businesses!

The 2013 business counter has now been updated as well.

"Roosevelt Corridor" Thriving: Pier 1 & Petco Sign Lease

More good real estate news for the Sloop.  The "Roosevelt Corridor" is thriving according to a story in chicagorealestatedaily.com:

Petco Animal Supplies Inc. and Pier 1 Imports Inc. have agreed to open stores in the Roosevelt Road corridor, a retail strip that's thriving in part because of a lack of nearby competition.

Petco will take over space between 603 and 627 W. Roosevelt (in the same complex as the newly opened Vitamin Shoppe and Sleepy's).

Construction Sign at the Maxwell listing retailers

Pier 1 Imports will be moving into the massive Maxwell development that is shooting for an opening date of September 2014.  We recently did a post on the development and totally missed the fact that the Pier 1 logo was on the sign in our picture.  Oops!

The more interesting story is the evolving notion of why this stretch is coming alive:

“What Roosevelt Road has turned into is what North Avenue is,” Mr. Annenberg said, referring to the main drag in the Clybourn Corridor. 

Retailers are drawn to Roosevelt Road because the nearby residential population has boomed, and the nearest shopping area to the south is more than six miles away, said Allen Joffe, principal at Chicago-based Baum Realty Group LLC, who isn't involved in either transaction.  

That means retailers can draw in shoppers from a broad area.  

“Your next really vital shopping area is really Hyde Park,” Mr. Joffe said.

This development might seem like it happened quickly, it's a vision many people in the Sloop have been talking about for years (including us way back in 2010).  It seemed bound to happen and it appears it is now.

While some may cringe at the notion of big box retailers coming to the neighborhood in mass, we think this is a good development.  As you head east over the river and into the heart of the South Loop you are still seeing new local restaurants, bars and retail operations popping up.  The more people that come to the neighborhood the better - whether it's for big box shopping or local nightlife.

(Hat tip:  KM!)

Police on the Scene: West of Chicago River and South of Roosevelt for Possible Standoff

A scary scene just west of the Chicago River and south of Roosevelt Road (via Chicago Tribune):

Police were at the scene of a standoff with a man with a rifle and a large knife that started late this morning at a South Loop rail yard. Police were on the scene of a possible standoff south of Roosevelt Road at Lumber Street, west of the Chicago River, according to Chicago Police. Amtrak police discovered someone trespassing on railroad property and the person may be threatening suicide, police said.

A reader sent us this note and picture:

Currently happening in the brown lands. At first we thought it was part of the Transformers movie.

We will post more as we read more.

UPDATE:
A standoff involving a man with a rifle and a large knife that started late this morning at a South Loop rail yard ended peacefully a little after 1 p.m.

(Hat tip:  JN!)

Details and Renderings Emerge From Roosevelt Streetscape Meeting

Rendering of proposed raised two-way bike lane
looking East from Roosevelt/Wabash intersection (image from chi.streetsblog.org)

Just last week we posted about a community event discussing the potential streetscape improvements to Roosevelt Road.  Unfortunately we couldn't attend, but thankfully the good people at chi.streetsblog.org had an extensive recap:

At a community meeting Tuesday at Columbia College, Chicago Department of Transportation Project Director Janet Attarian outlined plans for the new Roosevelt Road streetscape from State Street to Columbus Drive. The project will include a groundbreaking new segment of sidewalk-level, two-way bicycle lane, part of a bike-friendly route to and from the lakefront. The info session, hosted by aldermen Pat Dowell (3rd) and Will Burns (4th), also covered CDOT’s proposal for a new protected bike lane on State Street from 18th Street to 26th Street in Bronzeville – we’ll have a report on that project soon. 

The new sidewalk bikeway, which Attarian referred to as a “sidepath,” will be built on the north side of Roosevelt between Wabash Street and Indiana Avenue, connecting with multiuse paths through Grant Park. The streetscape project will also include pedestrian improvements and high-capacity bus shelters.

Beyond recapping the various topics discussed, the blog also has renderings that show what may be in store:

Proposed improvements Roosevelt between State and Wabash 

Proposed improvements for Roosevelt between Wabash and Michigan

Proposed improvements for Roosevelt between Michigan and Indiana

Their post provides a ton of other details and is definitely worth a read.  For instance they go into depth about the thinking as to why the protected raised bike lane needs to stop at Indiana as opposed to Columbus.

While this is a distinctive and drastic change to Roosevelt, it still doesn't do much for the stretch of Roosevelt west of State - where bikers tend to be at more risk from the amount of cars/buses.  However, this is a "pilot" and if it proves successful then it could mean additional improvements for bikers along Roosevelt and throughout the city.

Should be interesting to see how this pans out.  What do you think?  Good?  Bad?  Indifferent?

(Hat tip:  TT!)