As it stands, the U.S.’s official death toll far outpaces its contemporaries like Canada and Australia, with 339,000 lives lost here as of December 30. And experts say the deaths may be undercounted.
Millions of people — 10.7 million, to be exact — are still without steady employment, according to the December report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nationwide, more than 163,000 businesses have closed, according to Yelp’s Local Economic Impact Report, and nearly 60% of those closures will be permanent.
In Chicago, that’s meant the loss of important neighborhood resources, delicious restaurants, favorite bars — some of the places that held pieces of our collective history. And for local business owners, it’s meant the loss of a sole source of income or a passion project.
Chicago’s closed businesses will be remembered for hosting the gatherings that defined our city. Some were in operation for decades, changing and growing with the city as time went on, providing a backdrop for our lives. Others were only opened within the last year or two.
This list serves as a snapshot of some of the storefronts we said goodbye to this year.
ALBANY PARK
Ay Ay Picante
4569 N. Elston Ave.
Opened in 2007
ANDERSONVILLE
Candyality
5225 N. Clark Street
Opened in 2015
Hamburger Mary’s
5400 N. Clark Street
Opened in 2006
Passerotto
5420 N. Clark Street
Opened in 2017
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
Arlington Cake Box Bakery
1617 W. Campbell Street
Opened in 1949
Rack House Kitchen and Tavern
222 E. Algonquin Road
Opened in 2012
BELMONT TERRACE
Tinto y Tapas
7958 W. Belmont Ave.
Opened in 2019
BEVERLY
Jimmy Jamm Sweet Potato Pies
1844 W. 95th Street
Opened in 2008
BOYSTOWN
Patrons sitting in front of Little Jims at 3501 N Halsted St. in Boystown in June 2020.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Little Jim’s Tavern
3501 N. Halsted St.
Opened in 1975
BUCKTOWN
Danny’s Tavern
1951 W. Dickens Ave.
Opened in 1986
Mable’s Table
1655 W. Cortland Street
Opened in 2016
Luella’s Gospel Bird
2009 N. Damen Ave.
Opened in 2018
Toast
2046 N. Damen Ave.
Opened in 1996
Gigi’s Kitchen
1954 W. Armitage Ave.
Opened in 2019
CHATHAM
Harold’s Chicken Shack #55
87th Street and the Dan Ryan Expressway
Opened in 1992
EDGEWATER
Income Tax
5959 N. Broadway
Opened in 2016
Wing Hoe
5356 N. Sheridan Road
Opened in 1971
Unicorn Cafe closed its doors to the Evanston community in September after nearly 30 years.
Sun-Times file photo
EVANSTON
Unicorn Cafe
1723 Sherman Ave.
Opened in 1990
La Macchina Cafe
1620 Orrington Ave.
Opened in 2013
Stained Glass & the Cellar
1735 Benson Ave.
Opened in 1999
Burger King
1740 Orrington Ave
Opened in 1976
FULTON MARKET
City Mouse at the Ace Hotel
311 N. Morgan Street
Opened in 2017
GLENVIEW
Mesa Urbana
3566 Milwaukee Ave.
Opened in 2016
GOLD COAST
Morton’s The Steakhouse
1050 N. State Street
Opened in 1978
The Grill on the Alley
909 Michigan Ave.
Walton Street Kitchen and Bar
100 E. Walton Street
Opened in 2018
Pippin’s Tavern
806 N. Rush Street
Ditka’s Chicago location closed in May, 2020.
Google Maps
Ditka’s
100 E. Chestnut Street
Opened in 1997
The Windsor
160 E. Huron Street
Opened in 2015
Southern Cut Barbecue
198 E. Delaware Place
Opened in 2017
HUMBOLDT PARK
Cafe Marie-Jeanne
1001 N. California Ave.
Opened in 2015
Dante’s Tavern
1938 W. Chicago Ave.
HYDE PARK
Vanille Patisserie
5229 S. Harper Ct.
Opened in 2017
IRVING PARK
Pitchfork Food and Saloon
2922 W. Irving Park Road
Opened in 2009
Finom Coffee
4200 W. Irving Park Road
Opened in 2018
LA GRANGE
La Buona Vita
15 Calendar Ave.
Opened in 2014
LAKEVIEW
Emerald City Coffee
3938 N. Sheridan Road
Opened in 1994
Devour 312
1450 W. Webster Ave.
Opened in 2017
Schoolyard Tavern
3258 N. Southport Ave.
Opened in 2001
Southport Lanes was just two years shy of turning 100 years old when they closed permanently in early December.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Southport Lanes
3325 N. Southport Ave.
Opened in 1922
Khyber Pass
3113 N. Halsted Street
Opened in 2015
Machu Picchu Restaurant
3856 N. Ashland Ave.
Opened in 2008
Stone Creek Coffee
939 W. Belmont Ave.
Opened in 2017
Anatolia Kitchen and Bakery
3151 N. Broadway Street
Opened in 2017
LINCOLN PARK
Devil Dawgs
2147 N. Sheffield Ave.
Opened in 2010
Mundano
1935 N. Lincoln Park W
Opened in 2020
Grand Trunk Road
1417 W. Fullerton Ave.
Opened in 2018
Rickshaw Republic
2312 N. Lincoln Ave.
Opened in 2012
Fahlstrom’s Fresh Fish Market
1258 W. Belmont Ave.
Opened in 2014
Simply It
5525 N. Broadway Ave.
Opened in 2006
Chopo Chicken
2460 N. Clark Street
Opened in 2017
LINCOLN SQUARE
Taco in a Bag closed after 10 years on Oct. 30, 2020.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Taco in a Bag
4603 N. Lincoln Ave.
Opened in 2015
The Huettenbar
4721 N. Lincoln Ave.
Opened in 1985
Chubby Wieners
4652 N. Western Ave.
Opened in 2005
Vosges Haut Chocolat
951 W. Armitage
LITTLE ITALY/TRI TAYLOR
Francesca’s on Taylor
1400 W. Taylor Street
Davanti Enoteca
1359 W. Taylor Street
Opened 2010
LOGAN SQUARE
Fat Willy’s Rib Shack
2416 W. Schubert Ave.
Opened in 2000
Crown Liquors Taproom
2821 N. Milwaukee Ave.
THE LOOP
Caffe Baci
2 N. Lasalle Street
Opened in 1992
Pieriogi Heaven
169 N. Wells Street
Opened in 2010
U.B. Dogs
185 N. Franklin Street
Opened in 2010
Ronny’s Original Chicago Steakhouse
100 W. Randolph Street
Opened in 1963
Kroll’s South Loop
1736 S. Michigan Ave.
Opened in 2005
Jason’s Deli
195 N. Dearborn Street
Bridgeport Coffee Company
73 E. Jackson Blvd.
A closed sign in the window at Trattoria No.10 at 10 N. Dearborn St. in the Loop, in July 2020.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Trattoria No.10
10 N. Dearborn Street
Opened in 1990
MARQUETTE PARK
Quick Stop Food & Liquor
2424 W. 71st Street
MONTCLARE
Old Country Buffet
6560 W. Fullerton Ave.
NEAR NORTH SIDE
Blue Agave Tequila Bar & Restaurant
1050 N. State Street
Opened in 1992
NOBLE SQUARE
Habana Libre
1440 W. Chicago Ave.
Opened in 2007
NORRIDGE
Basilico Ristorante
4701 N. Cumberland Ave.
Opened in 1970
NORTH CENTER
Big Bricks Pizza & Barbecue
3832 N. Lincoln Ave.
Opened in 2012
One of the few vegan pizzerias in the city, The Chicago House of ‘Za closed in May 2020.
Chicago House of ‘Za
1939 W. Byron Street
Opened in 2019
Jeri’s Grill
4357 N. Western Ave.
Opened in 1963
Monty Gael’s Tavern & Grill
4356 N. Leavitt Street
Opened in 2013
NORWOOD PARK
Congas Restaurant
7021 W. Higgins Ave.
Opened in 2015
Mo Dailey’s Pub & Grill
6070 N. Northwest Hwy.
Opened in 2011
White Steeple Preschool
5849 N. Nina Ave.
Opened in 1977
OLD TOWN
Two Lights Seafood & Oyster
227 W. North Ave.
Opened in 2018
ORLAND PARK
Gatto’s Italian Restaurant & Bar
8801 W. 143rd Street
Opened in 2014
PILSEN
Step Down Cafe Coffee Shop
2023 South Racine Ave.
Opened in 2018
Taqueria Sabor y Sazón
2018 S. Blue Island Ave.
Opened in 2013
Fran’s Beef
2021 S. Blue Island Ave.
Opened in 1995
Furious Spoon
1316 W. 18th Street
Opened in 2017
PORTAGE PARK
El Gordo Restaurant
5746 W. Belmont Ave.
Opened in 1992
Family Bar
6430 W. Irving Park Road
Opened in 1998
RAVENSWOOD
The world’s first-ever Michelin-starred brewpub Band of Bohemia sits closed in Ravenswood.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Band of Bohemia
4710 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Opened in 2015
La Catedral Cafe & Restaurant
4544 N. Western Ave
Opened in 2015
Fountainhead
1970 W. Montrose Ave.
Opened in 2010
Erick’s Tacos
1967 W. Lawrence Ave.
Opened in 2006
Baobab BBQ
2301 W. Foster Ave.
Opened in 2018
Nami Sushi
1828 W. Montrose Ave.
Opened in 2015
RIVER NORTH
Artisan Cellar
222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza
Opened in 1998
Hutch American Cafe
416 W. Ontario Street
Opened in 2016
Beacon Tavern
405 N. Wabash Ave.
Opened in 2016
Barton G. The Restaurant
415 N. Dearborn Street
Opened in 2019
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
431 N. Dearborn Street
Opened in 1993
Imperial Lamian at 6 West Hubbard St. closed in May 2020.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Imperial Lamian
6 W. Hubbard Street
Opened in 2016
Lawry’s The Prime Rib
100 E. Ontario Street
Opened in 1974
Rainforest Cafe
605 N. Clark Street
Opened in 1997
Brunch
644 N. Orleans Street
Opened in 2010
Ironside Bar & Galley
546 N. Wells Street
Opened in 2016
Bottled Blonde
504 N. Wells Street
Opened in 2015
Zed451
739 N. Clark Street
Opened in 2008
Farmhouse Chicago
228 W. Chicago Ave.
Opened in 2011
Kiki’s Bistro
900 N. Franklin Ave.
Opened in 1990
25 Degrees
736 N. Clark Street
Opened in 2011
Pepper Canister
509 N. Wells Street
Opened in 2003
Monty’s Tap
600 W. Chicago Ave
Opened in 2018
Yolk closed this location at 747 N. Wells St. in June 2020.
Dom Najolia/Sun-Times
Yolk
747 N. Wells Street
Opened in 2010
Katana
339 N. Dearborn Street
Opened in 2017
Nacional 27
325 W. Huron Street
Opened in 2014
Elements
706 N. Wells Street
Opened in 1986
ROGERS PARK
Pub 626
1406 W. Morse Ave.
Opened in 2015
Twisted Tapas
1146 W. Pratt Blvd.
Opened in 2013
ROSEMONT
Gene & Georgetti
9421 W. Higgins Road
Opened in 2015
SOUTH LOOP
Wabash Tap
1233 S. Wabash Ave.
Opened in 2002
Giglio’s State Street Tavern
825 S. State Street
Opened in 2019
Happy Chinese Kitchen
80 E. Cermak Road
Opened in 2015
Bridgeport Coffee Company
150 W. Roosevelt Road
A post the former owners of Tantrum, one of the few Black-owned lounges in the city, uploaded saying goodbye to patrons when Tantrum closed its doors at the end of June.
@tantrumchicago/Instagram
Tantrum
1023 S. State Street
Opened in 2008
South Coast Sushi
1700 S. Michigan Ave.
Opened in 2007
The Scout
1301 S. Wabash Ave.
Opened in 2011
STREETERVILLE
Ramen Misoya
213 E. Ohio Street
Opened in 2015
Mity Nice Bar & Grill
835 N. Michigan Ave.
Opened in 1993
TINLEY PARK
Tin Fish
18201 S. Harlem Ave.
Opened in 2002
UKRANIAN VILLAGE
Bite Cafe
1039 N. Western Ave.
Opened in 1995
UPTOWN
3 Squares Diner
1020 W. Lawrence Ave.
Opened in 2018
Nick’s Uptown
4015 N. Sheridan Road
Opened in 2017
Uptown Arcade
4830 N. Broadway Ave.
Opened in 2016
WASHINGTON PARK
Miss Lee’s Good Food
203 E. Garfield Blvd.
Opened in 1998
WEST LOOP
The beloved Michelin-starred restaurant Blackbird, at 619 W. Randolph St. in the West Loop, sits closed.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Blackbird
619 W. Randolph Street
Opened in 1997
Maude’s Liquor Bar
114 N. Green Street
Opened in 2011
La Sardine
111 N. Carpenter Street
Opened in 1998
Eden
1748 W. Lake Street
Opened in 2017
Bad Hunter
802 W. Randolph Street
Opened in 2016
WEST PULLMAN
RadioShack
11613 S. Halsted Street
WEST RIDGE
Mysore Woodlands
2548 W. Devon Ave.
WEST ROGERS PARK
Three Legged Tacos
7210 N. California Ave.
Opened in 2020
WEST TOWN
TWO
1132 W. Grand Ave.
Opened in 2012
Bar Biscay’s bright blue sign
Brian Rich/Sun-Times
Bar Biscay
1450 W. Chicago Ave.
Opened in 2018
WICKER PARK
Cafe Cancale
1576 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Opened in 2019
Northside Bar & Grill
1635 N. Damen Ave.
Opened in 1989
Clever Rabbit
2015 W. Division Street
Opened in 2017
Links Taproom
1559 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Opened in 2014
The Delta
1745 W. North Ave.
Opened in 2017
Fifolet Cajun & Cocktails
1942 W. Division Street
Opened in 2016
Furious Spoon
1571 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Opened in 2015
WILLOW SPRINGS
Greco’s
8550 Archer Ave.
Opened in 1990
WRIGLEYVILLE
Redmond’s Ale House
3358 N. Sheffield Ave
Guthrie’s Tavern
1300 W. Addison Street
Opened in 1986
Starbucks Reserve
3649 N. Clark Street
Opened in 2017
