Restaurants & Bars
Illinois Restaurants That Closed Permanently In 2023
Several Illinois eateries shut their doors in 2023 in Joliet, Plainfield, New Lenox and elsewhere. We remember them in this roundup.
JOLIET, IL — In 2023, there were a number of restaurants across the Chicago area that turned off their lights and locked up their doors forever for various reasons.
Here are some of the Illinois restaurants that shut their doors permanently during 2023.
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On Jan. 3, Joliet Patch reported that Syl's Restaurant and Lounge in Rockdale, which has been a Joliet area fine-dining restaurant institution since 1946, faced an uncertain future after Maura Williams announced that Syl's is now closed under current management. "It is with a heavy heart that we share that we are closing our doors under the current management. We thank you for allowing us to be such a special part of your lives over the years. We hope the memories shared with us will live on in your hearts," Williams announced on the Syl's Facebook page.
Fast-forward to Dec. 4. Joliet Patch revealed that efforts to find a new buyer for the empty Syl's Restaurant and Lounge on Moen Avenue in Rockdale have remained unsuccessful.
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As a result of the cold reception from prospective buyers, Caton Commercial Real Estate Group has lowered their asking price to $999,990.
On February, Joliet Patch reported that just six weeks after Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk issued a seven-day suspension for the Cajun Boil and Bar at the Louis Joliet Mall, the restaurant and bar has gone out of business.
A sign on the door informs would-be customers, "Sorry this location went out of business." People are urged to drive from Joliet to Orland Park, Oak Brook and Oak Park, where the remaining three locations to Cajun Boil & Bar continue to operate.
Back in December, Joliet Patch broke the news that Cajun Boil & Bar improperly held a "Friday After Next Christmas Party" featuring "Santa's Bottle Baby Niya Monae" on Dec. 16, "Twerk Joliet vs Chicago" featuring "25 twerkers (boarding a) party bus from Chicago" on Dec. 17, with music by TMAC WTF, Dre Wicked and Aintchuleek.
Skooters Calls It Quits: Goodbye Shorewood
In August, on a Friday night, Skooter’s made a stunning announcement that it will no longer be open, ever again. "Skooters is permanently closed. Thanks for 10 great years of memories," the Facebook page message read.
Skooters was located at 700 West Jefferson Street in Shorewood.
Then, on Dec. 12, after months of remodeling, Corrigan's Pub opens its doors at the former Skooter's Roadhouse. In November, Patch reported that family members affiliated with Jameson's wanted everyone to know that one of the former owners of Skooter's is gone, and has been replaced with a new owner.
Country music is out, and Corrigan's Pub will be focused on Irish food, and it will be a family-friendly atmosphere, the Jameson's family rep stressed. One of the signature meals will be their Reuben sandwich, and the corned beef pasta will become of the staples of Corrigan's Pub, he predicted.
Corrigan's Pub is going to be "a scratch kitchen," he said, and he expects the food, including their burgers, will be a major draw for their customer base. Corrigan's will also feature bread from one of Joliet's most beloved businesses, Milano's Bakery on South Chicago Street.
MyGrain Brewing In Joliet Closing After 6 Years Of Drinks, Food
In August, one of Joliet's microbreweries, MyGrain Brewing, located in the historic Union Station in downtown Joliet, announced that it is going out of business this weekend. MyGrain made the sad announcement after being in business since September 2017.
"I am extremely sad that after six years we will be closing our doors permanently on August 19. It's been a long and fun journey for us, we loved being part of the Joliet community and helping the downtown area grow," the Facebook post read. "Unfortunately, we never fully recovered from the setbacks we experienced during covid and I do not want MyGrain Brewing Company to continue operating if we cannot bring you the service, food and brews that you have come to expect from us. Our customers and our employees deserve more than we can currently provide in these conditions."
'We Are All Heartbroken': Romeoville's Metal Monkey Brewing To Close
In July, Patch reported that for several weeks, Dan Camp and his fellow owners of Metal Monkey Brewing felt they had a survival plan in place that would allow the Romeoville craft beer emporium that has established a loyal following over the past 7 ½ years to keep its doors open.
But when the prospective sale of two fermenters fell through and the hopes of opening a small kitchen in the taproom didn't pan out, everything changed.
Metal Monkey announced in a social media post over the weekend that it will be closing its taproom doors in August. Since then, the business has seen traffic at the taproom grow as customers eager to spend time in the brewery’s inviting space before it closes have made their way to Metal Monkey.
Oswego Brewing To Shut Down: 'We Are A Casualty Of COVID'
COVID-19 has claimed another business: Oswego Brewing Co. The beloved downtown establishment will serve brews for the last time Sept. 2, management announced in August.
In a message to its community on Facebook, management said the statewide shutdowns during 2020 and 2021 "severely damaged our income model." Their taproom attendance "never returned to pre-COVID numbers," and the distribution revenue didn't rebound to numbers seen before March 2020.
"To keep our doors open in 2020, we took out loans to get through, but those new loan payments, the original loan payments, the increasing cost of materials & labor, and a weak economy have become too much for us to sustain operations," the letter reads.
Joliet Restaurant Announces Permanent Closure
On July 12, just days after announcing Joliet's 1st Stop Cafe would be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday for personal reasons, restaurant owner Patrick Fanning informed his Facebook restaurant followers that his dine-in restaurant along South Chicago Street will not be coming back. "I am sad to say I will not be reopening, thank you all for your support," Fanning shared on Facebook."
Joliet Patch produced a handful of articles on Joliet's 1st Stop Cafe since Fanning opened on April 1, 2021, at 318 South Chicago Street. Fanning said he can have a Monday of $16 in sales and a Monday with $300 in sales. "You just don't know. You never know here," he told Joliet Patch. "People love the breakfast sandwiches. It's on Milano Bread and everybody loves Milano's."
Fanning was known for out of the box thinking, and he offers different daily specials such as the $6 breakfast sandwiches or the $5.99 cheeseburger and fries.
On Oct. 27, the sad news was announced by one of Joliet's long-standing incredibly well-liked neighborhood restaurants in the Cathedral Area: Thayer Brothers Deli is closing permanently in the coming days. "Our hearts are broken sorry to say Thayer’s Bros deli will be closed for good, our last serving day will be Saturday, November 5. We thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts for coming in and supporting us we will miss all of you," Thayer's posted on Facebook.
According to Joliet Patch news stories, Rick Thayer has been in Joliet's restaurant industry for more than 30 years. Back in the day, he was involved in the popular TnT's restaurant on West Jefferson Street, starting around 1987.
Rick Thayer likes to think that Thayer Bros. Deli offers the best soups in Joliet.
"We go through a lot of soup," he remarked during a 2022 interview with Joliet Patch. "We also give a cup of soup away with every meal."
In October, Joliet Patch reported that Joliet's Fireman Ted's Bar and Grill at 2771 Black Road didn't make it. After opening in 2020, the business closed for good this past weekend.
Fireman Ted's was on its second ownership team. Now, the property is Black Road and it faces an uncertain future.
Back in June 2020, Joliet Patch reported that Ted Peszynski, a recently retired firefighter for the Cicero Fire Department, had opened the Fireman Ted's and that he had high hopes for success at his new Joliet bar and restaurant near the corner of Black Road and Infantry Drive.
"We're a local community neighborhood style bar. I'm trying for the adult crowd," he said at the time. "I love it. It's a great location. I found this (property) on the Internet. I was looking for a bar to buy. We have a full bar, draft beer, bottled beer and a full complement of cocktails. The theme of the bar is based on firemen and policemen and military."
In May, Larry's Diner, a longtime Plainfield staple, has permanently closed its Lockport Street doors. But, according to the family restaurant's owners, when one door closes, another opens. In the announcement, the owners said they are planning to relocate to a new location — but did not specify where or when.
“Thank You all for supporting our business, but as we all know all good things must come to an end,” the owners said.
First opened in 2000, Larry's Diner offered both breakfast and dinner in a cozy, family-friendly space. The menu featured everything from pancakes, waffles and crepes in the morning to broiled New York strip steak, burgers and pasta in the evening.
New Lenox Chicago Dough To Close, Mexican Restaurant Coming Soon
On Dec. 20, Patch reported that the Chicago Dough Company owners will shutter the pizza makers' New Lenox location at the end of the month, with a familiar name and a new concept already preparing to move into the space.
Set to debut in the storefront at 1080 E. Lincoln Highway is Don Jose's Cantina and Taqueria—a dine-in Mexican restaurant to be brought to fruition by Anthony Nardo, owner of Joey's Red Hots. Nardo is joined by longtime friends Nick Iozzo of Mokena and brothers Ryan and Chris Kucala of Frankfort. The partners have dreamt up an affordable, authentic sit-down Mexican restaurant separate from the Joey's name and concept, Nardo said.
"This is a place we want everyone to feel comfortable coming to with family, or on a date night—whatever the scenario may be," Nardo told Patch.
'Little Place That Felt Like Home': New Lenox's Songbird Café Closes
In April, Patch reported that a New Lenox café has closed its doors, leaving many fans heartbroken to see their favorite go. Songbird Café, 21950 Howell Dr., announced its closing via social media April 6. Its last day open was April 15. The breakfast and lunch spot was open five years.
"Thank you for always knowing we gave you the best renditions of our homemade recipes, cooked to your liking," owner Maria Kopulos shared on social media. "Thank you for always coming by to share in your story, which became 'our story.' Thank you for smiling and making our days better and brighter for knowing you all. Thank you for always being you, being truthful and being honest."
Hinsdale Area Chain Restaurant Closing
In late January, Patch reported that the Starbucks in downtown Clarendon Hills is closing in the late spring. In a memo, Village Administrator Kevin Barr said the village confirmed the planned closing. He said the staff discussed the situation with the Seattle-based chain and the property owner.
"We will continue to work with the relevant parties towards a positive result for this property," Barr said in the memo.
Vie Restaurant, which started in Western Springs 19 years ago, is closing its doors, the restaurant announced Thursday on Facebook. Vie Restaurant, 4471 Lawn Ave., said it plans to close after 19 years because of differences with its landlord.
Vie said the reason was "irreconcilable differences and dissatisfaction with our landlord." It did not give a specific day it will close, urging customers to make reservations.
"DON'T PANIC," the restaurant said. "We will be re-opening at another location in Western Springs soon, more details to come."
In June, Darien residentes learned that a deli is replacing the longtime Uncle Mao's Chinese Restaurant in the Darien Plaza. Tony and Tina's Deli is set to open at 8133 S. Cass Ave. in the shopping center that includes Q Bar. The Darien City Council approved a beer and wine license for the new restaurant. An opening date was not given.
At the meeting, Mayor Joseph Marchese explained the Uncle Mao owner's reason for closing. "He's retiring. He's not being kicked out," the mayor said.
Downtown La Grange Restaurant Closing
In November, Patch reported that Hot Dog and Burger Company, 76 S. La Grange Road, plans to close for good at month's end. After 13 years in business, the restaurant announced on Facebook last week that the time has come to close.
It is moving because the La Grange Theatre is expanding into space that includes both the restaurant and Prime Cuts.
"While our passion for hot dogs has always been a driving force, our business was founded on the vision of crafting experiences that bring people together," the restaurant said on Facebook. "That vision continues to live on as we now welcome the LaGrange Theatre to utilize our space and bring even more excitement to the community!"
The restaurant's last day was Nov. 30.
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