Old Hackney's to Be Re-Branded "Hax" and Supposedly Opening This Month

Last week we posted about a reader who noticed activity at the old Hackney's (733 S. Dearborn).  Today another reader sent us a link about the chain and a blurb about this location (from the Daily Herald):

The family is renovating and changing the name of its Chicago location, Hackney's in Printer's Row, at 733 S. Dearborn St.  

To be called Hax, the eatery is expected to reopen within the month and will cater to a younger crowd. "It will be quick, more of a fast-casual location," Landri said.

We knew it was going to be a faster concept, but the name Hax is new information to us.  Even better, glad to see they're hoping to open later this month!

(Hat tip:  JJ!)

Suspected South Loop Target Carjacker Apprehended in Atlanta

Remember that carjacking at Target back in January during the middle of the day?  Yeah, that was scary...

Anyway, the suspect has been apprehended in Atlanta (via DNAinfo):

A man suspected of carjacking a BMW in the parking garage of the South Loop Target is in custody in Atlanta, according to federal authorities and the neighborhood's alderman.  

Carnell King is also accused of firing shots during a Jan. 10 crime spree that included at least one other carjacking.

How Much Concrete is Needed for a 76-Story Foundation?

A reader sends us the following picture checking in at the 76-Story high-rise coming to Roosevelt and Indiana:

Armada of Trucks delivering cement to be poured in Foundations. May be 25 trucks.

(Hat tip: CL!)

#ShotsAroundTheSloop: Morning Zen

(Hat tip: JH!)

Workers Apparently Ready to Move Inside Old Post Office

According to Curbed Chicago:

A new permit from the city has signaled that workers are preparing to move inside Chicago’s massive Old Main Post Office structure to begin rehabbing the Art Deco building’s lobby. Workers were first spotted on the scene back in October of last year to begin exterior facade repair and restoration. Having stood vacant for over 20 years and suffered through multiple fires and the neglect during that time, the overhaul of the building is expected to be a $500 million undertaking.

Everyday (and weekend) it seems like there is significant action at the building.  Last weekend we saw a helicopter actively buzzing around moving stuff around.  Good to see some progress at this place!

New 39-Story Marriott Marquis on Cermak "Topped Off"

Curbed Chicago checks in on the new Marriott on Cermak:

Crews working on the largest Chicago hotel project in years have hoisted the final piece of the upcoming Marriott Marquis’ structural steel into place, effectively “topping off” the 39-story hotel. When it opens this summer, the dark blue tower will deliver a staggering 1,205 guest rooms to the recently rebranded McCormick Square entertainment and hospitality district flanking the McCormick Place convention center. 

According to the hotel’s official website, the Marriott Marquis Chicago will feature a large ground floor restaurant/food court and a pair of 25,000-square-foot ballrooms for a total of 90,000 square feet of meeting space. An indoor/outdoor rooftop bar on the eastern setback of the tower’s 33rd floor is also rumored to have been added to the mix.

We recently were driving down Cermak and have to admit that the hotel design is sleek and striking.  Obviously it's bringing a lot of rooms to the area and should aide in bringing more foot traffic as well (which is desperately needed if the city's grand ambitions for this area are to be realized).

The indoor/outdoor rooftop bar is a nice addition also.

The post on Curbed also calls out two other big development projects coming to this stretch of Cermak - a 22-story hotel and retail development on the Southside of Cermak between Indiana and Michigan and a hotel/apartment complex at the NE corner of Cermak/Wabash.

Assuming all three of these projects are fully completed it's easy to see how they could supercharge the area.  There is definitely a smattering of restaurants and businesses in the area, but it's pretty sparse.  Maybe these developments will help change that.

Checking In at the Old Hackney's Space (733 S. Dearborn)

A reader writes:

Sorry for the terrible pic, but thought folks would like to know there are "Coming Soon" signs in the windows at Hackney's Printers Row. They've been pretty active with construction, so hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

That's good to hear, because it does feel like there is something missing in Printers Row with Hackney's not open.

As a reminder, in September of last year we posted about the news that Hackeny's was re-concepting.
The group that owns Hackney's successfully launched Flaco Tacos which is just a couple storefronts north of this space and is also working on Gordo's Handmade Ice Cream (which hasn't opened yet).

(Hat tip:  AH!)

Pizano's Pizza Officially Opens at 2106 S. Indiana

A reader tipped us to this, but it looks like Pizano's at 2106 S. Indiana is officially open: 

Another iconic Chicago pizza spot officially has a presence in the Sloop!  Welcome!

For those interested, we've updated the business counter.

(Hat tip:  TG!)

1001 S. State Provides Balance of Work & Play for Residents

Sponsored Post

Spring is nearly upon us, and Chicagoans across the city are once again beginning their quest to find the perfect new home. South Loop Renters in search of innovation and style need not look far. 1001 South State, located in the Wabash Arts Corridor, is a pet-friendly, luxury apartment building which incorporates the best of technology and creativity.

In the same cutting-edge spirit that energizes the neighborhood, 1001 seeks to provide residents an ideal balance of work and play by offering amenities unlike any others available in Chicago.

1001’s unique Makerspace is the perfect resource for residents whether they need to prototype their new ideas or just need space to complete a project. In addition to the stimulating atmosphere, the Makerspace offers cutting-edge technical tools to bring ideas to life, including the easy-to-use Nomad 833 Pro CNC milling machine and the Glowforge 3D Laser Printer. Residents will also enjoy the Living Biowall which features a vertical garden of fresh herbs and the Aqua Lounge located near the pool and fitness areas.

Venturing throughout the city is made easier with charging stations for electric vehicles and custom-branded shared bicycles with a compatible reservation app. 1001 will also save residents travel time by providing refrigerated storage for grocery deliveries as well as dry cleaning and package delivery notifications, which are sent automatically, allowing for 24/7 pick-up.

Exciting apartment features await residents such as keyless entry, stainless steel appliances including a full-size washer and dryer, a Wi-Fi and smartphone-compatible thermostat, and 1GB internet connectivity.

All of this combined with stunning views of the Chicago skyline, Lake Michigan, and the South and West loop neighborhoods make 1001 South State an ideal choice for creative thinkers looking for a like-minded community.

To find your new home – and to take advantage of up to 2 months free rent – contact the leasing office at 312-283-3776 or leasing@1001southstate.com.

Chicago Tribune Food Critic Ranks Acadia #11 and Everest #14 in His Top 50 Restaurants in the Area

Chicago Tribune's food critic - Phil Vettel - just released his current top 50 restaurants in the Chicagoland area.  It's pretty sparse on the South Side - which probably isn't super surprising to most readers here.

The two spots that register for our neighborhood are Everest (440 S. LaSalle) coming in at #14 and Acadia (1639 S. Wabash) coming in at #11  

Unsurprisingly, the West Loop continue to be regarded as the dinning mecca of the city.

Acadia - where food is Art (via Chicago Tribune)

#ShotsAroundTheSloop: Quidditch Anyone?

Old Union Station Power House on Top 7 List of Chicago Endangered Buildings

Old Union Station Power House on the Chicago River, just North of Roosevelt

We were frankly surprised to see a picture of the Union Station Power House featured as one of the city's 7 most endangered buildings by a group called Preservation Chicago.

Why?  Just take a look at the building!

It feels like a misplaced, cartoonish version of something that was built for a movie to showcase how "old energy" was created.

Curbed Chicago explains:

Union Station Power House While the power house at Union Station has not been active since 2011, Preservation Chicago says that the building is notable for a number of reasons. First, its stoic and austere Art Moderne design from Graham, Anderson, Probst & White is an important work of architecture. However, the building also represents Chicago’s might and importance as a rail hub during the twentieth century. According to Preservation Chicago, Amtrak, the building’s current owner, is exploring various options for the site, including demolition.

It's such a comical looking building in our mind, we kinda would like to see it stay - just for the novelty of it.  That being said, it's presumably pretty valuable land and wouldn't shock us if it's sold.

What do you think?  Do you want it to go or do you want it to stay?

Chicago Fire Filming Today Around 23rd and 24th Street

Chicago Fire fans trying to grab a glimpse of the show, here is your chance:

Popular Chinatown Spot, MingHin Cusine, Coming to 1234 S. Michigan?

Late last week we posted about some potential activity at 1234 S. Michigan (former home of Ma & I).  The rumor was that an Asian restaurant might be moving in.

In case you missed it a reader did some additional digging and apparently found out the following:

For those not familiar, MingHin Cuisine is a pretty popular Chinatown spot and actually was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand ranking this past year.

The restaurant seems to be expanding and has 4 locations (Chinatown, Loop, Naperville and Rolling Meadows).

We'll be curious to see how this plays out and whether it's the same "brand" or a variation.  While we wouldn't be shocked if it's another MingHin, it's pretty close to Chinatown so seems a little excessive.

As we mentioned before Ma & I seemed to have solid business around the neighborhood, so we would imagine this restaurant would also do well at this location.

What still isn't clear is what is in store for the rest of the building.  Ma & I only took a small portion of the building.

(Hat tip:  REMO!)