The news of Abercrombie & Fitch has been one of the biggest commenting events on our social media platforms, and one of the highest views on the blog. However, many of you have commented about chain stores taking over and that you would rather shop small. Here’s some of the favorite small businesses on Southport Avenue in Chicago. Which one is your favorite(s)?
Tag: Restaurants, Bars and Cafe’s
Damen, Armitage and Southport are changing. Can their quirky vibes be maintained?
Article from The Chicago Tribune, 2017
Chicago Sugar Daddy Patisserie now open
Guthries Tavern is back open!

Finally! Guthries Tavern is back open with new ownership after closing last summer due to Covid-19. From Guthries:
Continue reading “Guthries Tavern is back open!”Small fire at Cafe Tola
There was a small fire at Cafe Tola Southport on Thursday, September 23. Thankfully it was not major, and on Friday, Cafe Tola was back open. Support small businesses!
Southport is open!! Worked super late last night so we can open this morning 💜 show us what you like to get at Cafe Tola by tagging us in your pictures/videos 🙂 pic.twitter.com/VmdXC4umFG
— Cafe Tola (@cafetola) September 24, 2021
From Yesterday:
Hello everyone, thank you for your concerns! We will keep you guys updated on what will be going on. Please feel free to visit our Addison, California, and Logan Square locations to pick up your Tola needs! 💜 #firesucks pic.twitter.com/mEjY2YOUyU
— Cafe Tola (@cafetola) September 23, 2021
Photos were documented on Instagram by @jaclynackergarland:
Southport’s Annual Holiday Cocktail Crawl is Friday, December 3, 2021

Southport’s Holiday Stroll and Cocktail Crawl will be back for 2021, after being cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19.
Continue reading “Southport’s Annual Holiday Cocktail Crawl is Friday, December 3, 2021”Zia’s Lago Vista’s last day is October 3, 2021
Zia announced via Facebook that their last day is October 3, 2021. The space located at 3817 N. Ashland Avenue will be replaced by a Transit Oriented Development (aka, TOD). Rumors are still swirling they may take over the former Blue Bayou space on Southport.
Continue reading “Zia’s Lago Vista’s last day is October 3, 2021”A restaurant deal is in the works at the old Blue Bayou space

How fast a decade flies by. Blue Bayou closed in 2012 and had been marketed for lease for the past several years. The property has been foreclosed on and we finally have heard through the real estate rumor mill that a restaurant is looking to move into this space.

One rumor is that Zia’s Lago Vista is looking at the space as their current location is being torn down and will be turned into a new development.
Story developing…

Sam of the S&G (Sam and George’s) passed away

We just learned that Sam of the S&G (Sam and George’s) passed away. The S&G has been at Southport and Wellington for well over 50 years. Back in the day, you had to go down to Wellington to get Breakfast- pre Starbucks. The restaurant is still in the family.
Rest in peace, Sam.
#TBT – Justin’s Bar & Grill
RIP, Justin’s bar & Grill. What former bar do you miss most on Southport Avenue?
Touring Chicago’s Southport Corridor – Addison to Grace Street
A tour around Lakeview’s Southport Corridor neighborhood in Chicago during the Early Fall of 2021
Tour Time! Shopping, eating and playing between Addison and Grace Streets along Southport Avenue during the early Fall of 2021.

The Guild 
5411 Empanadas 
Ayman Hair Studio – Kid Create Studio 
Ayman Hair Studio – Kid Create Studio 
Bentley Pet Stuff – 2×10 Nails 
Big City Optical – Big City Dental 
Blaine Elementary School 
Bodega Sur 
Bombastic Cafe – The Former Blue Bayou 
Bombastic Cafe 
Cafe Tola 
Candyality 
Click Shoes – Baby Dolls 
Coalfire Pizza 
Ouizi Mural – CVS Pharmacy 
Ouizi Mural – CVS Pharmacy 
Dairy Queen 
dog-a-holics 
Tango Sur – 312 Estates – Bodega Sur- Cafe Tola 
Dona Tola 
El Marcado Food Mart 
European Wax Studio 
Fifth Third Bank 
Mercury Theater and Venus Cabaret 
Growing Smiles 
Jewel-Osco 
Julius Meinl 
Julius Meinl 
Massage Envy – Bank of America 
Mercury Theater and Venus Cabaret 
Music Box Theatre 
Music Box Theatre 
New Development 
New Retail coming from Chris Irwin 
Steingold’s Bagels 
Sushi Mura 
Suvarna – Sushi Mura 
312 Estates 
The Former Blue Bayou 
The Former Blue Bayou 
TS Organic Nails – Subway 
Two Penny Blue 
Unique Brow
MK NOODLE now open

New restaurant alert!
Vietnamese restaurant MK Noodle Pho opened in early August with an expansive menu ranging from egg rolls and “doughnut shrimp” (made with taro and coconut powder) to banh mi, pho, and fried rice, according to the Tribune.
Dalgona milk tea, Vietnamese iced coffee, and other beverages are also available.
MK Noodle Pho, 3341 N. Lincoln Avenue, Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

















































