Edgewater/Andersonville - Tap Into Your Community

• Commander Cool

  lol, what a dump

• Frank Sokolowski

  Giordano’s, in my opinion, is not like what it was when I was a kid growing up on the south side of Chicago. I remember getting their pizza’s from their very first location, 63rd South California. It was a little trailer, hole in the wall of a place, but the pizza was the best in the neighborhood. Shame how they lost that charm. I agree with the sentiment of how the Swedish tradition and main stay of Ann Sather’s is closing.

  • StopBullyingMe Waaaaaaaahhhhhh

    From what I overheard from the 40-something hipsters in Starbucks the other day, the entire city of Chicago “is not like it was” when they arrived 20 years ago and “the city is good for younger people now and that’s about it” (verbatim). Things change. Get over it.

• Neighbor

  Oh no! Boo! Really? Say it isn’t so. That’s a big step down for the neighborhood, which has been making great strides toward being a destination spot for quality food and culture.

• mcquake01

  Svea is still there and it’s fabulous.

  • Frank Sokolowski

    I totally agree. Svea’s is excellent.

• Flank Steak

  I don’t understand the constant negative comments about business development in Andersonville/Edgewater. Would everyone prefer that the building sit vacant? Be happy that businesses are investing in the area and quit complaining.

  • Douche Bags Everywhere

    These aren’t complaints. Opinions like yours, right/wrong or indifferent. Good grief! Just let people to write their opinions and leave it as it is. NOT one previous comment written thus far mentions how they want it to be left vacant. You’re an idiot for bringing it up. Jus’ say’n.

    • Flank Steaker

      I’m speaking in general based on recent history. People complained when Papa John’s came in, filling a previously vacant building. Same thing with the announcement of the new Pizza Hut. I’d rather have a business in the neighborhood (local or otherwise), creating jobs for local residents and contributing to the local economy, and filling vacant buildings.

      If you want locally-owned businesses to fill these vacant spaces then put up the capital, take the risk, and start it yourself. Otherwise, be glad that someone is willing to invest their hard-earned money in YOUR neighborhood, corporate or otherwise. Jus’ say’n.

  • StopBullyingMe Waaaaaaaahhhhhh

    Vacant or another very mixed review establishment.

• Van DeLisle

  Restaurant’s come and go all the time in Andersonville. At least it’s not a Papa John’s!

  • StopBullyingMe Waaaaaaaahhhhhh

    Grand Opening/Grand Closing.

• Guest

  done hearing how “Svea is the same thing”. No. It is not. Sure, it is tasty, but it is not the same.

  Ann Sather: Locally owned business. Hurray! Swedish Pancakes, many omelet options, other menu items that change often to mix it up, terrific cinnibuns, and enough seating that you can go with a group and not wait forever AND be seated together. OH, and they take credit cards and never had an issue asking for a split check. Nice staff.

  Svea: Locally owned business. Hurray! Smaller menu, smaller portions
  (I was surprised at what I got for my money), no giant cinnibuns to take home for a snack for later. Not enough seating for heavy breakfast and brunch crowd, so hurry up and eat so they can get the next group seated. Not as nice staff, in fact I had a really grouchy waitress that couldn’t even figure out how to split a table of two people to give them two separate checks. Refuses to enter the 1980’s (and later) and take credit cards. (raising prices or charging a small fee to take Square will NOT the out of business unless there is shady hiding of profits to avoid taxes happening)

  Maybe it is just me, but Competition creates quality. Without another “Swedish” breakfast and brunch place I have a feeling Svea will never, ever change.

• AC

  done hearing how “Svea is the same thing”. No. It is not. Sure, it is tasty, but it is not the same.

  Ann Sather: Locally owned business. Hurray! Swedish Pancakes, many omelet options, other menu items that change often to mix it up, terrific cinnibuns, and enough seating that you can go with a group and not wait forever AND be seated together. OH, and they take credit cards and never had an issue asking for a split check. Nice staff.

  Svea: Locally owned business. Hurray! Smaller menu, smaller portions

  (I was surprised at what I got for my money), no giant cinnibuns to take home for a snack for later. Not enough seating for heavy breakfast and brunch crowd, so hurry up and eat so they can get the next group seated. Not as nice staff, in fact I had a really grouchy waitress that couldn’t even figure out how to split a table of two people to give them two separate checks. Refuses to enter the 1980’s (and later) and take credit cards. (raising prices or charging a small fee to take Square will NOT put them out of business unless there is shady hiding of profits to avoid taxes happening)

  Maybe it is just me, but Competition creates quality. Without another “Swedish” breakfast and brunch place I have a feeling Svea will never, ever change.

• Resident of Andersonville

  Not thrilled about this news. Would rather have a new restaurant that stands out instead of a chain sort of spot. :(

  • StopBullyingMe Waaaaaaaahhhhhh

    OMG another Chicago based “chain” restaurant in Andersonville!!! There were no complaints about Ann Sather on your island.

    You also have no complaints about those “chain” cell phone stores in your neighborhood. Gotta have those or how would we complain?

  • Anonymous

    Agreed, a neighborhood economy like Andersonville is about local quality. It’s our role as a community to bring people to our restaurants and encourage the owners to be a draw for those outside of the neighborhood. Giordanos isn’t helping achieve that, it’s moving backwards. This is very sad news.

• yabbadabbadoo

  glad to see it going…

• OnTheEdge

  Isn’t there an Anne Sather on Broadway and Granville? Many times small businesses close because the landlord increases their rent when their lease is up. Maybe they are doing better at a closer location and don’t need them both. Maybe there is no family owner willing to run the business. There’s always a lot of factors that go into decisions about closing a business. We should at least be happy that the restaurant taking its place is from our great city and the money spent there stays in our local economy.

  • AC

    Yes there is. However, Andersonville is THE Swedish community of Chicago. Losing a swedish inspired place for ANY Italian place is a little bit sad. Besides, who really goes to Grandville to window shop and browse? Other than a few antique stores there is not much to “DO” at Granville other than Thug and Mug. Maybe that will change though as time goes on, but for the moment Aville is a lot “safer” for brunch.

    • lisa b

      More and more establishments are opening up a granville & bway. Anne sathers is ALWAYS packed. I’m assuming they’re benefiting from a fresh customer base and a growing but not overly competitive area.

    • urbaneddie

      aville is safer for brunch? i wasn’t aware that i was in such peril in broad daylight on granville! thank you for your uninformed opinion.

      btw, granville is reaching critical mass with more going on there than you may realise. metroplis coffee (going on 10 years there), summer thai, pete’s, gino’s north, m henrietta (spawn of m henry), ann sather’s, the cupcake shop, dak wings, plus a few other spots as well who’s names escape me. not to mention the antique shops on broadway & a host of other dining options there as well.

    • PedroMugg

      Thug and Mug? on Granville? Really.. LOL You just lost all credibility

• Brendan

  Their main product is more popular with boomers and outta towers.

  http://www.wbez.org/chicago-still-deep-dish-town-fuhgeddaboudit-109417

  I believe Jon Stewart said it best that stuffed/deep-dish/Chicago-style pizza is “an above ground marinara swimming pool for rats.” It’s awful.

• Brendan

  If anything, I think the main complaint about it becoming a Giordano’s is that it tends to make Andersonville less unique and more suburban.

  • Anonymous

    +1

• Brian

  Anne Sather’s was a dirty roach infested restaurant so we’re not exactly trading down, but Giordano’s…zzzzzzzzzzzzz. Since it’s owned partly by Derrick Rose perhaps it will tear it’s meniscus the first week of opening and then close down.

• Anonymous

  Save the façade! I really hope they demonstrate exceptional care in maintaining the gorgeous façade of the Ann Sather building, by using subdued tones and artisanal styles, not their traditional signage. If they ruin the façade… well, vote with your dollars. Too bad this isn’t going to be a charming European café. Sad face.

• Scott 5145

  I will be at Svea after Ann Sathers closes and if I want Italian, it will be Calo…Giordano’s really ?….that strip is losing all personality…

• Pizza lover

  C’mon!!! Why not Malnatti’s??? Where’s the fairness of this all?