I look forward to this. I enjoyed Grace O Mally's but they seemed to have declined somewhat the last two years or so. I hope the new place is a well needed shot in the arm to the hood. We need a new business that compliments the neighborhood. Let's cross our fingers this isn't another failed business plan and execution like Donna's Cafe and all of the failed businesses in Utopia/Exposure/Ole Harwood.
People - let's remember that Donna's just opened less then two weeks ago and it's not even her "official" opening. It's a little premature to be lumping Donna's in with exposure/utopia/ole hardwood.
This could be really exciting - I love the space (including the unused, large upstairs). I just hope they keep the bar section, we don't have a lot in the South Loop.
South loop is starting to make a case for its night life... not quite there yet but budding. This can only be good news for the neighborhood. Hope they do well.
Grace O' Malley's was a perfect example of a place where management didn't give a hoot about the place. They never had any specials, never promoted anything to get people in, and the instability of the managers' position had all the employees (and patrons) wondering who was running the place. Customers see these things. Hey they ran out of most beers the night the Hawks won the Cup. Worse they tried to get away with one bartender. People just don't come back. I spoke with one of the owners who said they were losing money. Huh? They owned the building so they didn't pay rent. How can they be losing money? I could get into this in much more detail but I'll leave it at that. I think they should just sell the place to someone who cares.
The closing of Grace's is sad but hardly surprising given the lack of consistency in the food and service over the past few years. I hope someone else tries and succeeds with an Irish pub in the sloop. Maybe something similar to Paddy Long's up north.
Instead of a sign out front saying "thank you," they should have hung a sign apologizing for the crappy food and service over the past two years. I've said it here before, and I'll say it again, the ONLY reason Grace's lasted this long was because of the utter lack of any viable options in this hood. A place of this quality would have been shuttered years ago in Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Bucktown, River North, etc.
Noooo! :'(
ReplyDeleteI look forward to this. I enjoyed Grace O Mally's but they seemed to have declined somewhat the last two years or so. I hope the new place is a well needed shot in the arm to the hood. We need a new business that compliments the neighborhood. Let's cross our fingers this isn't another failed business plan and execution like Donna's Cafe and all of the failed businesses in Utopia/Exposure/Ole Harwood.
ReplyDeletePeople - let's remember that Donna's just opened less then two weeks ago and it's not even her "official" opening. It's a little premature to be lumping Donna's in with exposure/utopia/ole hardwood.
ReplyDeleteGive her a break and a chance to succeed!
This could be really exciting - I love the space (including the unused, large upstairs). I just hope they keep the bar section, we don't have a lot in the South Loop.
ReplyDeleteSouth loop is starting to make a case for its night life... not quite there yet but budding. This can only be good news for the neighborhood. Hope they do well.
ReplyDeleteSaying that Grace O'Malley's had "declined" the past couple years is a MASSIVE understatement. The place was a wreck, from the food to the service.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope the "new concept" really is "new," and not just a fresh paint job.
wow, a month before St. Paddys Day? They are in a baaaad way if they feel the need to pass on that weekend's profits!
ReplyDeleteGrace O' Malley's was a perfect example of a place where management didn't give a hoot about the place. They never had any specials, never promoted anything to get people in, and the instability of the managers' position had all the employees (and patrons) wondering who was running the place. Customers see these things. Hey they ran out of most beers the night the Hawks won the Cup. Worse they tried to get away with one bartender. People just don't come back. I spoke with one of the owners who said they were losing money. Huh? They owned the building so they didn't pay rent. How can they be losing money? I could get into this in much more detail but I'll leave it at that. I think they should just sell the place to someone who cares.
ReplyDeleteThe closing of Grace's is sad but hardly surprising given the lack of consistency in the food and service over the past few years. I hope someone else tries and succeeds with an Irish pub in the sloop. Maybe something similar to Paddy Long's up north.
ReplyDeleteInstead of a sign out front saying "thank you," they should have hung a sign apologizing for the crappy food and service over the past two years. I've said it here before, and I'll say it again, the ONLY reason Grace's lasted this long was because of the utter lack of any viable options in this hood. A place of this quality would have been shuttered years ago in Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Bucktown, River North, etc.
ReplyDeleteAnother place closes in the neighborhood. Any business failing around here isn't good news.
ReplyDeleteFYI, just tried Donna's Cafe - It's AWESOME! So glad to have a new indie coffee shop/cafe in the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteRe: Donna's - was this before they installed the grandma curtains!? Donna - think Modern.
ReplyDelete