Lincoln Square loses Barba Yianni and Hidden Cove amid Chicago closures
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Justin takes his Axios Local colleagues to experience a late night of karaoke at Hidden Cove in July. Photo: Courtesy of Kim Bojórquez/Axios
Several Chicago businesses and restaurants closed this summer, citing labor costs and changing customer habits.
- The list is so long that the Tribune announced Chicago has a "restaurant crisis."
Here are some notable closures:
Get your song on the list: The Hidden Cove, one of Chicago's first karaoke bars, announced that it is closing on Sept. 15. Unlike other nearby spots, this popular late-night dive at 5336 N. Lincoln skipped the private rooms for good old-fashioned performances in front of the entire bar.
- The owner of the property tells Block Club he plans to redevelop the building.
Opa no more: Barba Yianni Grecian Taverna was abruptly shut down by the Cook County Sheriff's Office earlier this month after 36 years operating in Lincoln Square.
- Neighbors were surprised to see the doors and windows abruptly boarded up.
Can it change back? The Yeti store in Wicker Park closed in August after six years on Milwaukee Avenue. While this may not be a huge surprise for a retail chain, it does leave the once-hallowed Double Door space empty again.
- Also, Dimo's Pizza nearby on Damen Avenue is closing, moving to the Victory Grill Space in Logan Square.
West Town wrecking ball: The bakery Aya, just down the street from the Twisted Spoke, shuttered its doors in August. Its former owners had been involved in a high-profile bankruptcy last year, while Aya Fukai, the bakery's namesake, left the bakery in 2023.
- Aya and Twisted Spoke's departures will have a sudden impact on the dining scene along West Grand Avenue.
Other notable closings: Belle Up Boutique (Beverly), Smarty Cup Cafe (Portage Park), Paisan's (South Loop), Unforgettable Edibles (Belmont Cragin), Murray Bros. Caddyshack (Rosemont) and Artis (River North), which closed after the mass shooting in July.