By Edward M. Bury, APR, MA (aka The PRDude)
The news yesterday that a near century-old Chicago entertainment venue with a storied history closed due to the financial crush brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic will more than likely be followed by more sad business news in the months to come.
But what’s often lost these days is the shuttering of less iconic, less well-known establishments across the metropolitan region — and certainly around the world.
As noted in this Chicago Tribune article, the owners of Southport Lanes in the Lakeview neighborhood announced the place will serve its last customers September 27. Read the Trib piece to get full history of the property, originally built as a Schlitz tavern.
Southport Lanes is located in one of the desirable neighborhoods in Chicago, and pre-pandemic I trust the place was packed and profitable. Come on! It had manual pin setters. How cool is that?
The image here shows a much different retail property, one now closed due to a loss of business since restrictions were enacted in March.
This storefront housed La Cocina, a no-frills but delightful Mexican restaurant located three blocks from our home in Avondale. Like many small restaurants, the team at this corner spot tried to survive with take out service.
That lasted a few months. Then, on a walk the other day, I saw the store darkened, the “For Rent” sign on the door.
Over the years, we visited La Cocina periodically for their dollar Taco Tuesday and other specials. The food was fresh and good, and the manager, a smiling young man named Danny, made every visit a pleasure.
Did La Cocina have “The Best Tacos in Town,” as noted on window? That’s debatable. But it was a modest fixture in Avondale for a decade or so. Its loss is certainly measurable.
I trust there will not be much — if any — reporting on the loss of this little restaurant. That’s what inspired this post today.