Latest news with #Lem
Eater
25-06-2025
- Business
- Eater
5 Recent Chicago's Restaurant Closures to Know
Chicago's restaurant scene is rapidly changing, and the city is used to seeing places come and go. It's a tough real estate market out there, and the rising costs of doing business do not favor restaurant owners. Sometimes the grind gets too much, other times it's time to pull the curtain on a long run. Of course, customers may not always love the food that's being served either. The Shutter, a regular roundup of Chicago's restaurant closures, is your resource to find out what's on its way out. The list is by no means comprehensive. Have information on another closing? Send all tips to chicago@ . BUCKTOWN— Mable's Table has closed at 1655 W. Cortland Street. In a world where 'neighborhood gem' is cliché, the phrase is actually applicable in this case. The restaurant opened in 2017, filling the big shoes left after the 22-year run of Jane's ended in the same space. Saturday, June 21, was Mable's last day of service. GARFIELD RIDGE— After 26 years, Oak Mill Bakery has closed its South Harlem Avenue location. While the bakery at 5747 S. Harlem is closed, its four suburban locations, including one in Harwood Heights on North Harlem, remain open. JEFFERSON PARK— Gale Street Inn, a neighborhood restaurant that epitomized North Side barbecue thanks to its ribs, is closed. The sudden announcement ended a 62-year run across the street from the CTA's Jefferson Park Blue Line Stop. Gale Street's ownership blamed challenges finding workers, and media reports began shifting blame at Chicago's move to ban the tipped minimum wage, which goes into effect on July 1. But as it's hard to predict the ordinance's impact other than to see how it impacted Washington, D.C. Perhaps Gale Street's closure is a referendum on Chicago's barbecue scene, which is marketably different from six decades ago. Lem's Bar-B-Q just won a James Beard Award. Smoque BBQ is in the headlines over a trademark dispute with Weber Grills. Gale Street was also trapped in the past. Who can forget their '90s spots on sports radio, bragging about never playing hip hop in their dining room? Regardless, Gale Street was a pillar of the Northwest Side community since 1963 and a place for special occasions, including first dates, birthdays, and graduation parties. WEST TOWN— Vegans were dealt a big blow as Liberation Kitchen has closed at 2054 W. Grand Avenue. Operated by Vegan food company Upton's Naturals, Liberation Kitchen has served the public for 12 years with veganized versions of Chicago dogs, doughnuts, and more. Ownership says they'll continue to host vegan farmers markets and want to focus more on Upton's. WICKER PARK— Milk & Honey, once considered an anchor along Division Street, has been closed since May after the city suspended the cafe's business license. New owners have run the cafe at 1920 W. Division Street since 2022, and they've faced some challenges over the years. Management describes the closure as a temporary move, but there haven't been updates in five weeks. See More: Chicago Restaurant Closings Chicago Restaurant News
Axios
17-06-2025
- General
- Axios
Lem's Bar-B-Q award puts Chicago on barbecue map
Monday night, Chicago barbecue finally got its due as Lem's Bar-B-Q scored a James Beard American Classics award. Why it matters: The honor may finally elevate Chicago on a national barbecue map that has long been dominated by Texas, Kansas City, Memphis, St. Louis and North Carolina. Dig in: Chicago's signature barbecue style revolves around tender rib tips cooked in an aquarium smoker with tempered glass walls. Myles and Bruce Lemons popularized the cut at Lem's on 59th where they set up after arriving here in 1954 from Indianola, Mississippi. In the late '60s, their brother James joined them and opened another location on 75th that his daughters Lynn and Carmen and grandson, William, still run today. What they're saying:"I just want to continue the legacy of my father and uncles and their hard work, Carmen Lemons tells Axios. "Now we're training up our nephews because as the business gets older, we're getting older too." What's next: Carmen says they will keep making their meats the old fashioned way in an aquarium smoker with "real charcoal, hickory wood and fire."
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Woodburn: Dear new graduates, be ‘Stonecatchers'
With graduation season upon us, I would like to share with the Classes of 2025 an excerpt from my novel 'The Butterfly Tree.' 'Where're we going, Grandpa?' 'It's a surprise,' Tavis told his nine-old twin grandsons riding in the backseat. 'Give us a hint,' Moswen pleaded. 'What're we gonna do when we get there?' Lemuel joined in. 'Catch stones,' Tavis said, sunshine in his voice. 'You're gonna be Stonecatchers.' 'That sounds dangerous,' Lem said warily. 'And fun!' Mos animatedly added. Tavis glanced in the rearview mirror at the boys; their smiles contagiously jumped to his lips. 'Grandpa, are you a Stonecatcher?' 'I try to be,' Tavis said. 'Do you catch the stones with a baseball mitt?' 'We didn't bring our mitts.' 'You won't need your baseball gloves,' Tavis assured. 'Who throws the stones?' 'Do they throw 'em hard?' 'Are the rocks big?' The questions came like pitches in an automated batting cage with too little time between for answers. 'Time out, time out!' Tavis interrupted. 'Listen up and I'll tell you all about the mysteries of being a Stonecatcher.' Mos and Lem leaned forward against the restraint of seatbelts, eager to hear a magical tale. 'Stonecatchers don't actually catch stones,' their grandpa began. 'Well, I suppose a long, long time ago they did and that's where the name comes from. When someone hurled a stone at a person who was unable to defend him or herself, the Stonecatcher jumped in and caught the flying rock. 'But nowadays a Stonecatcher is someone who helps another person who is defenseless or in need – like protecting them from a bully, or buying a homeless person a meal, or donating blood to save someone who's ill. You can think of a Stonecatcher as a Good Samaritan. 'Lem – Mos – you boys come from a long proud heritage of Stonecatchers.' 'We do?' they said in stereo. 'Oh, yes,' Tavis resumed. 'Your many greats-great-grandfather, Dr. Lemuel Jamison, was a Stonecatcher who adopted identical twins when they lost their mother and father. He had actually saved the twins' lives when they were born and thus they were named Jamis and Lemuel – your namesake, Lem – in his honor. 'Those twins' real father, Tamás – that's where your middle name comes from, Mos – was a Stonecatcher by helping your five-times-great-grandfather, Sawney Jordan, escape from slavery on the Underground Railroad. Sawney, in turn, was a fearless Stonecatcher because he swam into bullet fire trying to rescue Tamás who had been shot. 'Yes, the Jamisons and Jordans have been filled with Stonecatchers. Your Grandpa Flynn was a Stonecatcher for America in the Vietnam War. And Grandma Love was a Stonecatcher for your daddy when he was young and lost and needed a roof over his head – and, most of all, needed some love. 'I'm definitely proud of the Stonecatchers your parents are. They're always helping others in big ways and little ways – sometimes it's the small acts that turn out to be the biggest ones. 'For example, it's hard to imagine a simple Hello, how're you doing today? being important. But to someone who's having a bad day, that small gesture can mean the world. 'I read a story about a boy who was planning to run away from home because he had no friends. That very day at school, during lunch, a classmate saw him sitting off by himself and went over and ate with him. They had a nice conversation and the dejected boy changed his mind because he no longer felt so lonesome. You see, being a Stonecatcher doesn't always require bravery – sometimes kindness is all that's needed. 'Mos – Lem – I expect you boys to be Stonecatchers. I want you to go sit with the person who's all alone. I want you to cheer for the teammate who rarely gets off the bench. I want you to stand up to the bully who picks on others. 'And right now, I want you to help me paint the kitchen for a lovely elderly lady. Her name is Jewell. That's how we'll be Stonecatchers today.' *** Dear newly minted graduates, as you venture out into the world and pursue your dreams, please be Stonecatchers along the way. Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@ His books are available at This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Woodburn: Dear new graduates, be 'Stonecatchers'
