Crave Cafe Closes; Could be Yours for $74K

Another one bites the dust at 1250 S. Michigan.  Crave Cafe and Lounge has apparently closed at 1250 S. Michigan.  Upon recently walking by the place was pretty much empty.  No TVs on the walls, no liquor behind the bar - a chaotic and abrupt stop to business.

To further put the nail in the coffin a reader recently sent us a $74,000 listing for the retail space via Loopnet:

Newly built out cafe/lounge located in the heart of South Loop. Features a 50' wrap around marble bar. Includes a full kitchen with top-of-the-line equipment: convection oven, grill ice maker, dishwasher, griddle, soup chaff, espresso maker, shake machine and more. No existing black iron. Attract South Loop dwellers any time of day from morning to night. Operating business. Do not disturb employees or management.  

South Loop- Next to Roosevelt Red Line The South Loop is home to a thriving community of young professionals, students of nearby colleges, and Chicago' s very own former Mayor, Richard M. Daley. The neighborhood features notable historical landmarks that include the 1836 Clarke House, one of Chicago' s oldest residences; a diverse dining scene; blues clubs and other nightlife options; and the convenience of the Museum Campus and Loop a short stroll away.

Obviously the Richard M. Daley comment is a little dated, but whatever.

As a reminder, Crave opened in September of 2013.  Closed for a brief remodel in June of 2014.  And apparently closed for good in July.  Before that, Karamela Cafe had a brief stint in 2013 and before that Winestyles also had a go in the space.

Who's up next?

(Hat tip:  KB!)

Build-out for Aurelio's "Flagship" Location Begins?

Judging by the picture above it appears that the build-out has begun for Aurelio's "Flagship" Pizza location in the Sloop at 1212 S. Michigan.

Back in late February word came down that Aurelio's, the popular mostly suburban pizza chain was going to be opening up what was termed a "flagship" location in the Sloop.

The good news is that it appears that this is moving forward.  The even better news, is that it also appears that they are completely redoing the inside and outside of the space - which is great since it wasn't exactly a good looking space from the outside.

Hopefully this build-out brings a little more character to this prominent gateway in the Sloop.  It's gotta be an improvement from what it was.

Nike Air Pop Store Opens at 900 S. Wabash

Work in progress at Nike Air Pop-up Store (900 S. Wabash)

Just last week a reader emailed us about brown paper on the windows at the retail space at 900 S. Wabash.  He thought it might be in conjunction with an Obey mural that was being painted just south of the retail space.  As suspected it isn't.

The retail space at 900 S. Wabash seems ripe for a permanent tenant, but apparently no one wants to lock it down.  It is usually a Halloween pop-up store every year.  However, last year it served a pop-up studio for artist Hebru Brantley during and around Lollapalooza.

This year, it appears that a bigger brand, Nike Air, is taking the space over.  While it appears that Nike goes big when they do a store, it's not a permanent store (we walked in and asked).  The store will be open throughout the week.

We tried to do some searching on the interwebs, but surprisingly didn't find much.  No press release, no dedicated web page, nothing (or at least we couldn't find much).  What we did find was a smattering of social media pictures and shoutouts.  This one is actually from the @NikeChicago handle:

Limited gear. Limited time. Drop by 900 S. Wabash and experience the @NikeSportswear pop-up shop. pic.twitter.com/WkmK1IjfPw
— Nike Chicago (@NikeChicago) August 8, 2014

It would appear that we're not in the know on this topic, but a couple thoughts: One it sounds like this may be in conjunction with the popular South Loop sneaker shop, Succezz (1329 S. Michigan).

Don't forget to stop by the @succezzthestore pop-up @Nike store today! #wbfchi #WinCity ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/hWogndI9Ga
— DJ SEAN MACNIFICENT (@TheKidSeanMac) August 9, 2014

A reader actually did find something and sent us this from a website called modern-notoriety (which also has a ton for pictures from inside):

Nike World Basketball Festival is just a few days away and what better way to celebrate the occasion, by opening up a Pop Up shop in Downtown Chicago where all WBF festivities will be taking place. The Shop is located at 900 S. Wabash and is a one stop shop for gear, customizations on Tees, Jerseys and Sneakers, and a good spot to interact with local personalities. Make sure you stop through and pick up some gear for WBF.

Anyway, if you're into sneaker culture or are just interested to see how Nike "does it", head on over to the store this week.  It's pretty amazing that they put this much money and energy into a pop-up store.  They must be doing something right.

(Hat tip:  RB, NP, MI, MR, JR, TR, MW!)

Volunteers Needed for 2014 Bash on Wabash

The Bash on Wabash is coming up (August 23 & 24th) and the Greater South Loop Association is calling for volunteers:

Hi everyone, 

Hopefully you already know that the Bash on Wabash is coming up on August 23 and 24 (www.bashonwabash.org)... if you didn't, now you do. 

There is a lot going on this year - A LOT - in an attempt to make the festival more lively, entertaining, engaging, exciting, and so on. Better bands and food, yes, but also a South Loop chef demo table, a 5k run, a 10mi bike ride, street entertainment (i.e. karate demos from a local dojo, BMX riders, the DePaul basketball team), beer tastings, a massive Kids' Bash, and so on. 

I hope you'll come, but I also hope you'll consider volunteering some time as well. A couple of perks come with volunteering - 1) Attend our Bash kick off party at Roosevelt Collection on August 7, with food from Porkchop and live music. 2) Get a free pint at Vice District Brewing in August if you wear your Bash shirt. 3) And get to meet some new South Loop neighbors! 

There are lots of ways to volunteer, lots of time slots, etc. Follow this link to see your options and sign up: http://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/365338866076 

Please also feel free to share this with neighbors, your building e-mail list, churches, etc. Thanks in advance!

(Hat tip: JE!)

Shots Around the Sloop: UFO

From a reader:

UFO? What are these lights I'm seeing the the sloop?

(Hat tip: CPM!)

Netflix's "Sense 8" Filming in the Sloop This Weekend

Looks like a new Netflix series is shooting in the Sloop this weekend (via Chicago Tribune):

“The series follows eight characters around the world who, in the aftermath of a tragic death, find themselves linked to each other mentally and emotionally,” “Sense8” co-showrunner J. Michael Straczynski told Deadline. “They can not only see and talk to each other as though they were in the same place, they have access to each other’s deepest secrets. Not only must they figure out what happened and why and what it means for the future of humanity, they must do so while being hunted by an organization out to capture, kill or vivisect them.”

Movie Trailers on Wabash just south of 14th

From the Tribune article sounds like the show is scheduled to debut in 2015.

Chopstick Chinese and Sushi Replaces Yang's at 28 E. Roosevelt?

We noticed this as well:

As I walked to the red line yesterday I noticed that Yang Noodle is now Chopstick Chinese and Sushi. Do you know if this is simply a rebranding of Yang, or did Yang close down and this is a whole new restaurant? I peeked in the window really quick and it seemed to look the same inside as when it was Yang. Yang's website is still up and operational: http://www.yangrestaurant.com/

Old sign for Yang's

I don't know if it's the same owner but regardless, the new sign is UGLY compared to the more subtle Yang's.

Hopefully the new restaurant is an upgrade, because we were never really fans of Yangs (even though it was the first meal we ever had in the Sloop).  We remain skeptical especially given that there are so many other great Asian options in the neighborhood and that Chinatown is so close to us.

Does anyone have the scoop on this?

Update from a Reader:  We were regulars at Yang, probably eating there 2-3 times a month. Mr. Yang decided to retire and sold the business a few months ago. The new owner undertook the recent remodelling and, apparently, has renamed it as well. Per a conversation about a month ago with the staff, they are planning to add sushi and smoothies to the menu.

(Hat tip:  JM and BW!)

Ameritalia Opens in the Former Panozzo's Space at 1303 S. Michigan

Back in April, we heard from the owners of Ameritalia that they had indeed rented out the retail space at 1303 S. Michigan (the old Panozzo's space).  At the time they were shooting for a June opening, but like most restaurants and businesses it takes some time to navigate the city buearcracy and what not.

But don't fret, because they are opening today!  We got this from Holly West, one of the owners:

Would you mind making the announcement that Ameritalia will have a Grand Opening Thursday at 4? The full menu will be available for dine in or carry out and people are welcome to bring wine or beer for dining in.

They have some big shoes to fill, but we are optimistic.

Great news about the BYOB.  There aren't enough options like that in the Sloop!

Best of luck to them and looking forward to trying out some of their grub!

Mayor Emanuel Looking for Ideas to Improve Access to Museum Campus

Underpass to Museum Campus (via Chicago Sun-times)

There continues to be a lot of debate on whether or not the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art should be just south of Soldier Field.  Regardless, Mayor Emanuel is apparently now looking for ideas on how to make the museum campus more accessible (via Chicago Sun-Times):

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has asked policy experts and lakefront stakeholders to propose “transportation enhancements” to ease a museum campus bottleneck that will get worse with construction of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. 

The site selection committee that chose to give movie-mogul George Lucas 17 acres of free lakefront land between Soldier Field and McCormick Place East has already laid out the enticing possibilities. 

They include:
◆ Extending bus rapid transit to the museum campus.
◆ Creating a “dedicated trolley service” to and from the Loop and West Loop commuter rail stations.
◆ Adding bike paths.
◆ Upgrading 31st Street.
◆ Offering water access via Burnham Harbor.
◆ Upgrading the 18th Street entrance and exits to McCormick Place and the museum campus, as well as the Roosevelt Road interchange. 

__Further Down in Article__ 

Now, Emanuel’s chief operating officer Joe Deal and Metropolitan Planning Council President Mary Sue Barrett will co-chair a task force to consider those options and more over the next 90 days.

This is bound to be a controversial item for residents in the Sloop.  Some people in the neighborhood like that it's hard to access parts of the Sloop.  Others hate that the city's "grid" is pretty chopped up in certain areas (see dearborn park 1 and 2 as well areas east of Michigan south of Roosevelt.

What do you think?  Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

The Container Store Build-out Underway at Roosevelt Collection; Opening November 15th, 2014

Looks like The Container Store at Roosevelt Collection is planning on opening in November:

Dear Sloopin:
I snapped a picture of this yesterday at the RC. The Container Store will be directly north of WhiteHouse BlackMarket and should open 11/15/14 per the sign.

(Hat tip:  KD!)

Four New Murals Added to Wabash Arts Corridor Including Piece from World Renowned Street Artist Shepard Fairey

Obey mural - 916 S. Wabash

A reader writes:

Just a heads-up that paper has been put up on the storefront windows if 9th and Wabash. It has long been vacant with only Halloween stores using the space. Adjacent to that property is a huge banner for Obey Records. It faces north on the building just south of the 9th and Wabash. Perhaps they are connected?

While that would be great if Obey was doing something inside the building at 9th and Wabash, we highly doubt that's the case.

Obey is the product of world renowned street artist and creative guru Shepard Fairey - probably most famous for his iconic "Obama Hope" poster.

Upon doing some more investigation we found that in fact the huge "banner" is actually a mural that Fairey was creating in conjunction with various other artists as part of the Wabash Arts Cooridor (from his blog):

The crew and I arrived in Chicago three days ago to begin the setup for The Provocateurs art show and to start painting my mural. My mural wall is a killer spot at Wabash and 9th on one of Columbia University’s buildings. There will be several other murals going up in the same corridor by artists from The Provocateurs show including POSE, RETNA, and Cleon Peterson. The majority of the fine art is now in our gallery space safely and we are arranging the display for your viewing pleasure. Thanks to Jon Furlong for the awesome photos, and to my crew of Nic Bowers, Dan Flores, and Rob Zagula for assistance on the mural. Stay tuned for wall art updates from both indoors and outdoors.

If you're into these types of things we HIGHLY suggest you head on over to his blog to take a look at some amazing pictures (post 1, post 2 and post 3) - both highlighting how this was created as well as various other shots around the neighborhood.

As Fairey stated in his post, there were some other artists that were contributing and we found the following press release from Columbia College:

Columbia College Chicago has teamed up with Shepard Fairey (OBEY series, Obama HOPE) and three other Art Alliance: The Provocateurs artists to showcase their work in the Wabash Arts Corridor as part of the exhibition with Lollapalooza. Four of the top names in subversive street art—Shepard Fairey, Cleon Peterson, POSE, and RETNA—will use the corridor as their “living urban canvas,” injecting provocative, large-scale artworks into one of Chicago’s major emerging art scenes.

• Shepard Fairey: Latest in his OBEY series “We Own the Future,” 44’ x 44’, 916 S. Wabash, north wall 

• Chicago-based POSE: Bold-colored, pop-art inspired narrative graphics, 120’(w) x 25’(h), 72 E. 11th on the west and north walls 

• Cleon Peterson: Dystopian brutality in black and white, 40’(w) x 14’(h), 634 S. Wabash (Warehouse Liquors), south wall 

• RETNA: Free-hand graffiti/glyphs, 43’(w) x 62’(h), 33 E. Congress, south wall

This is some pretty amazing stuff and some great additions to the Sloop.  We loved the idea of the Wabash Arts Cooridor and these current installations take it up a notch in our book.  Here are some other shots of the other artists:

Cleon Peterson: Dystopian brutality in black and white
40’(w) x 14’(h), 634 S. Wabash (Warehouse Liquors), south wall

RETNA: Free-hand graffiti/glyphs
43’(w) x 62’(h), 33 E. Congress, south wall

Chicago-based POSE: Bold-colored, pop-art inspired narrative graphics
120’(w) x 25’(h), 72 E. 11th on the west and north walls 

I don't know about you but this is pretty Rad!  Walking down the street on Wabash is like walking down a hallway in a museum - except much more interesting than most museums.

For some of our older coverage on the this topic click - Wabash Arts Corridor Sounds Promising or Some New Art for Wabash Arts Corridor.

Oh and in regard to Fairey, you may be saying "his mural looks like another one I've seen in the Sloop?" Well you're right, because back in 2011 he did another installation next to Code of Conduct at 11E 14th Street (underneath the El):

Now that we've gone off on an arts tangent (hopefully an interesting one), that brings us back to the original question - what's going on in the storefront at the corner of 9th and Wabash?  Anyone got the scoop on that?

(Hat tip:  RH!)

Shots Around the Sloop: Sharknado

The Sloop gets caught up in the #Sharknado buzz:

(Hat tip: CD!)

Kids and Company Officially Opens at 1255 South State

Kids and Company has officially opened at 1255 S. State.  Their website provides this info:

Kids & Company South Loop is scheduled to open May 2014 offering early childhood care for children six weeks through age six. 

Our full and part-time services provide families with high quality care, education and flexibility. Open Monday - Friday 6:30a.m. - 6:00p.m. 

We are currently accepting waiting list applicants for all classrooms. For more information or to tour our West Loop facility and learn more about the Kids & Company philosophy please contact us at chicagosouthstatestreet@kidsandcompany.com or 480.707.7259.

As a reminder, they replaced JTA Schools.  For more background we did a post in April with background on Kids and Company.

JTA Schools has since moved to 80 W. Harrison in Printers Row.

Business Counter is updated.

YoChicago: Is the Sloop Experiencing a Rental Bubble?

New AMLI Lofts which will be rentals

Not the most in depth analysis, but YoChicago does pose a relevant question:

When the condo market hit the skids in the latter part of the last decade the South Loop was one of the neighborhoods with the greatest imbalance between supply and demand.

It took years to work off the excess inventory, some of which is still on the market in developments that were taken over by Related Midwest. South Loop developments that were built as condos converted to rentals, including Astoria Tower, Burnham Pointe, The LEX, Terrazio and Roosevelt Collection. Many South Loop condo owners, unable to sell, became “accidental landlords” and condo developers placed blocks of units into the rental market.

The South Loop is currently in the early stages of a boom in rental construction. AMLI Lofts, 398 units at 850 S Clark, is nearing completion and construction recently began on 469 units at 1000 S Clark. Golub & Company has yet to begin construction on its planned 392 units at 901 S State, a number of other large projects are in the rumor stage, and smaller projects have recently added several hundred units to the South Loop rental market.

(__futher down in the post__) 

Can the South Loop absorb several thousand new rental units at a time when 1,000s of units are being added annually in other neighborhoods? What impact will all the new rental units have on condo resales?

It does seem like the neighborhood is being built up pretty quickly again (and mostly in the form of rentals).  From an overall neighborhood development standpoint, it seems like this is a better problem to have then a glut of condos.

More people in the neighborhood means local businesses will have more patrons which will hopefully spawn more retail and as a result more reason for people to move to the Sloop...or at least that's our logic.

What do you think?  Is this a problem or a good thing?  Or is it too difficult to predict?