American Flatbread Still Coming to Lincoln Square, Officials Say

Lincoln Square residents are still waiting for an American Flatbread restaurant, originally scheduled to open almost two years ago.

The chain aims for local ingredients in their wood-fired pizzas and has locations in Vermont and New York. Representatives signed a lease for a location in Giddings Plaza in 2010. Since then, paper has covered the windows at 4743 North Lincoln Ave.

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Construction began for an April 2011 opening date, the Center Square Journal reported.

The lease was between American Flatbread partner Fred Gale and Fountain View LLC, who owns the condominiums above the space.

Ben Ranney, owner and manager of Fountain View LLC, confirmed that Gale still had a lease for the restaurant.

The two have regularly communicated, he said, and are hoping for a spring 2013 opening.

“It’s a great location for a restaurant,” Ranney told Patch. “I think it’s a very good fit for the neighborhood and people who moved in here were already talking about it.” 

Chicago Eater reported that the delay was due to American Flatbread, which is based in Vermont.

Building permits for the location expired in November. A permit was issued Dec. 17, 2010 for the restaurant and that same permit was reissued in May 2011 to reflect changes in contractors and plumbers, according to city records. Those permits last for 18 months, a Buildings Department spokesperson said.

Attempts to reach both Gale and American Flatbread representatives were unsuccessful.