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What's the shortest timespan a restaurant has been open?

What's the shortest timespan a restaurant has been open?
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  • What's the shortest timespan a restaurant has been open?

    Post #1 - May 1st, 2018, 10:18 am
    Post #1 - May 1st, 2018, 10:18 am Post #1 - May 1st, 2018, 10:18 am
    Just looking for a little trivia here. Other than pop-ups, what's the shortest time you've heard of a local restaurant being open? It's gotta be like maybe only a few weeks? I've personally seen ones that had "opening soon" signs, that never did open.

    I guess I'll also ask, what's the longest time a local place has been continuously open? I know Berghoff's has been around a long time.

    And..... Thanks.
  • Post #2 - May 1st, 2018, 10:41 am
    Post #2 - May 1st, 2018, 10:41 am Post #2 - May 1st, 2018, 10:41 am
    Cantina 1910 was a pretty brief timespan, especially given all the work done to build out the space.
  • Post #3 - May 1st, 2018, 10:43 am
    Post #3 - May 1st, 2018, 10:43 am Post #3 - May 1st, 2018, 10:43 am
    Bunny the Micro Bakery?
    Steve Z.

    “Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.”
    ― Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Post #4 - May 1st, 2018, 10:50 am
    Post #4 - May 1st, 2018, 10:50 am Post #4 - May 1st, 2018, 10:50 am
    If you'd posed this question a couple weeks ago, I would've claimed that Pho Phu Linh in Skokie on Main just east of Skokie Blvd was a very serious contender for shortest run ever.

    They were only open for 1 week last summer. I don't have a concrete narrative, just problem after problem (inventory, utilities, etc.). However, ironically, they've reopened (possibly/likely new ownership and cooking team) in the last 2-3 weeks, so I suppose they forfeited their eligibility for this infamous recognition.

    Pho Phu Linh
    4741 Main St
    http://www.phophulinh.com
  • Post #5 - May 1st, 2018, 11:06 am
    Post #5 - May 1st, 2018, 11:06 am Post #5 - May 1st, 2018, 11:06 am
    stevez wrote:Bunny the Micro Bakery?


    This would have been my guess. I think it was operational for maybe 2-3 months before they closed and Tadros put in the original Budlong there.
  • Post #6 - May 1st, 2018, 11:09 am
    Post #6 - May 1st, 2018, 11:09 am Post #6 - May 1st, 2018, 11:09 am
    Ethyl's Beer & Wine Dive which took over the old Stanley's on Racine spot has to be a contender here
  • Post #7 - May 1st, 2018, 11:25 am
    Post #7 - May 1st, 2018, 11:25 am Post #7 - May 1st, 2018, 11:25 am
    If you include Northwest Indiana as being "local" then TMIP might take 1st place; only open a week. A shame too; had such an amazing experience there.
    Twitter: @Goof_2
  • Post #8 - May 1st, 2018, 2:10 pm
    Post #8 - May 1st, 2018, 2:10 pm Post #8 - May 1st, 2018, 2:10 pm
    adipocere wrote:I guess I'll also ask, what's the longest time a local place has been continuously open? I know Berghoff's has been around a long time.

    Technically, the Berghoff might not qualify, since it was closed for a couple of months in 2006. But it's been around since 1898.

    Most sources I've seen say that Schaller's Pump in Bridgeport is the oldest restaurant in Chicago, since 1881. Second place goes to Daley's on 63rd, which opened in 1892 to feed workers building the World's Fair. Berghoff is third.
  • Post #9 - May 1st, 2018, 2:58 pm
    Post #9 - May 1st, 2018, 2:58 pm Post #9 - May 1st, 2018, 2:58 pm
    Gonzo70 wrote:If you include Northwest Indiana as being "local" then TMIP might take 1st place; only open a week. A shame too; had such an amazing experience there.

    What was TMIP?

    Thanks!

    Regards,
    Cathy2
    Cathy2

    "You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
    Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways,
  • Post #10 - May 1st, 2018, 3:14 pm
    Post #10 - May 1st, 2018, 3:14 pm Post #10 - May 1st, 2018, 3:14 pm
    Cathy2 wrote:What was TMIP?

    Health Department Shuts Down Brandon Baltzley's TMIP

    =R=
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #11 - May 1st, 2018, 5:40 pm
    Post #11 - May 1st, 2018, 5:40 pm Post #11 - May 1st, 2018, 5:40 pm
    I did a project in Greektown that lasted under 2 wks a couple yrs ago. Note to owners: staff and vendors need to be paid for your doors to remain open. It's your dream, not theirs.
    "In pursuit of joys untasted"
    from Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata
  • Post #12 - May 1st, 2018, 7:13 pm
    Post #12 - May 1st, 2018, 7:13 pm Post #12 - May 1st, 2018, 7:13 pm
    Jazzfood wrote:I did a project in Greektown that lasted under 2 wks a couple yrs ago. Note to owners: staff and vendors need to be paid for your doors to remain open. It's your dream, not theirs.



    That was a shame. We liked what we tried but never even got the chance to go once it opened.
  • Post #13 - May 1st, 2018, 7:25 pm
    Post #13 - May 1st, 2018, 7:25 pm Post #13 - May 1st, 2018, 7:25 pm
    We were there (as were a bunch of other LTHers). Food was excellent. Only weird thing was the banquettes along the wall were fairly high up — much higher than the chairs, which made dining a bit awkward.
  • Post #14 - May 1st, 2018, 7:55 pm
    Post #14 - May 1st, 2018, 7:55 pm Post #14 - May 1st, 2018, 7:55 pm
    I believe Schaller's closed last year.
    "I live on good soup, not on fine words." -Moliere
  • Post #15 - May 2nd, 2018, 5:59 am
    Post #15 - May 2nd, 2018, 5:59 am Post #15 - May 2nd, 2018, 5:59 am
    I think the Aloha Poke expansion locations rank high on this list.
  • Post #16 - May 2nd, 2018, 6:34 am
    Post #16 - May 2nd, 2018, 6:34 am Post #16 - May 2nd, 2018, 6:34 am
    chainey wrote:I think the Aloha Poke expansion locations rank high on this list.


    Firefin. Aloha's still expanding. Firefin closed up all its locations several days after it it opened their newest one.
  • Post #17 - May 2nd, 2018, 1:23 pm
    Post #17 - May 2nd, 2018, 1:23 pm Post #17 - May 2nd, 2018, 1:23 pm
    Agree with Firefin on Belmont. Time from open to close was about a week.
  • Post #18 - May 2nd, 2018, 1:44 pm
    Post #18 - May 2nd, 2018, 1:44 pm Post #18 - May 2nd, 2018, 1:44 pm
    Does this include online restaurants/catering? Literally saw one open and close within a week down the street from me...
  • Post #19 - May 2nd, 2018, 2:26 pm
    Post #19 - May 2nd, 2018, 2:26 pm Post #19 - May 2nd, 2018, 2:26 pm
    Marija wrote:Agree with Firefin on Belmont. Time from open to close was about a week.


    Hard to understand why. The startup and operating costs were a fraction of a typical restaurant's.
  • Post #20 - May 2nd, 2018, 8:47 pm
    Post #20 - May 2nd, 2018, 8:47 pm Post #20 - May 2nd, 2018, 8:47 pm
    bw77 wrote:I believe Schaller's closed last year.


    Yeah, it was the oldest bar and restaurant in Chicago, but it closed on April 30, 2017.
  • Post #21 - May 3rd, 2018, 11:21 am
    Post #21 - May 3rd, 2018, 11:21 am Post #21 - May 3rd, 2018, 11:21 am
    Cubano Latin Street Food at like 176 N. Wells lasted shorter than the annoying song still in place on their website

    https://www.cubanostreetfood.com/
    Bill-Plainfield
  • Post #22 - May 3rd, 2018, 3:09 pm
    Post #22 - May 3rd, 2018, 3:09 pm Post #22 - May 3rd, 2018, 3:09 pm
    I don't know about restaurants, but wasn't there a Porn themed bar in Rogers Park called the Money Shot? I remember that lasted less than a month or something?

    I cannot believe that was granted a license with that name, to be honest.
  • Post #23 - May 4th, 2018, 7:27 am
    Post #23 - May 4th, 2018, 7:27 am Post #23 - May 4th, 2018, 7:27 am
    Indianbadger wrote:I don't know about restaurants, but wasn't there a Porn themed bar in Rogers Park called the Money Shot? I remember that lasted less than a month or something?

    I cannot believe that was granted a license with that name, to be honest.

    There was a thread devoted to this topic.

    Regards,
    Cathy2
    Cathy2

    "You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
    Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways,
  • Post #24 - May 4th, 2018, 9:07 am
    Post #24 - May 4th, 2018, 9:07 am Post #24 - May 4th, 2018, 9:07 am
    There was a thread devoted to this topic.


    thanks for wasting (enjoying) a 1/2 hour of my day... :D :D great read, really make ya set aside the real world for a few and just have a chuckle... :lol: :lol:
    I love comfortable food, and comfortable restaurants.
    http://pitbarbq.com
    http://thebudlong.com
    http://denveraf.com
  • Post #25 - May 4th, 2018, 10:08 am
    Post #25 - May 4th, 2018, 10:08 am Post #25 - May 4th, 2018, 10:08 am
    Isn't there a Money Shot bar in Budlong Woods (Lincoln just north of Foster)?
  • Post #26 - May 4th, 2018, 11:17 am
    Post #26 - May 4th, 2018, 11:17 am Post #26 - May 4th, 2018, 11:17 am
    The bar referred to by Cathy2 was at 5695 N Lincoln.
  • Post #27 - May 4th, 2018, 11:54 am
    Post #27 - May 4th, 2018, 11:54 am Post #27 - May 4th, 2018, 11:54 am
    ekreider wrote:The bar referred to by Cathy2 was at 5695 N Lincoln.


    That's the place then. Definitely not Rogers Park.
  • Post #28 - May 4th, 2018, 11:58 am
    Post #28 - May 4th, 2018, 11:58 am Post #28 - May 4th, 2018, 11:58 am
    spinynorman99 wrote:Isn't there a Money Shot bar in Budlong Woods (Lincoln just north of Foster)?

    Yes! That was the spot that ran out of fries when I had my one and only lunch there.
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard
  • Post #29 - May 13th, 2018, 6:48 am
    Post #29 - May 13th, 2018, 6:48 am Post #29 - May 13th, 2018, 6:48 am
    Mutz, a hot dog centric stand in Wicker Park on Division St (next to Picante), was open for about 2 weeks last summer. They built a fancy hot dog figure on top of the restaurant too. The figure and signage are still up but the restaurant has been dark for almost 10 months. Every time we walk by, we comment on our surprise that they bothered to invest in the giant hot dog figure on top of the stand, and that it’s still there.

    https://m.facebook.com/mutzchicago/

    Closure reported here (See August 9): https://chicago.eater.com/2017/8/9/1611 ... sures-2017

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