Longtime Western Springs Restaurant Returning

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – The longtime Vie Restaurant in Western Springs, which closed in October, is expected to reopen soon with a new focus and a slightly different name.

The village government confirmed Wednesday that Petite Vie is planning to open at 909 Burlington Ave.

This was where Hash Stacks Café & Market was before it closed in November 2022. It was in business for three years at the location.

In an email to Patch, village spokeswoman Selmin Cicek said Western Springs approved an interior demolition permit for Petite Vie in December and a build-out permit last week.

Last year, Vie Restaurant announced it was closing after 19 years because of "irreconcilable differences" with its landlord.

At the time, it promised to reopen at a new location in town, but didn't give details.

Paul Virant was the owner and executive chef of Vie Restaurant. He has the same role for Vistro Prime steakhouse in Hinsdale and Gaijin, a Japanese restaurant in Chicago.

Earlier this week, Virant appeared on NBC Chicago's "Chicago Today," which reported on his recent nomination for the Jean Banchet Chef of the Year award.

Virant referred to Vie as his flagship restaurant, telling the show's hosts that it was moving. He did not give an opening date.

"It's going to be smaller," Virant said. "We're going all French, café, brasserie. A lot of my formal training in the past was French food, so it's kind of fun to have a chance to go back to my roots."

An Italian restaurant is expected to move into Vie's old location at 4471 Lawn Ave. It is set to open in the spring, according to its website.