Monday, April 16, 2012

Introducing the 2012 Sloopin Business Counter

Over the years, many debates have raged on whether or not the neighborhood is moving backward or forward with respect to retail development. While it seems that people have different views on this, we thought it would be a good idea to try to monitor the net amount of businesses that have opened up in the South Loop for the year.

With that said, we have added the 2012 Sloopin business tracker on the right side of our site to monitor the amount of businesses that have either opened up shop or closed down this year. As of now, we know of the following:

UPDATED: 4/16 - 9:45PM
Opened in 2012
1. Brasserie by LM (800 S. Michigan)
2. Lofty Aspirations (1934 S. Wabash)
3. Velvet Lounge (67 E. Cermak)
4. Metropolitan Veterinarian Clinic (1556 S. Michigan)
5. Pet Grooming (1400 S. Michigan)
6. Papa Johns (80 E. Cermak)
7. Cardinal International (71 E. 16th)
8. Put it On (1319 S. Michigan)
9. The Foundry (730 S. Clark)
10. Chicago Whole Wellness Center (1845 S. Michigan)

Closed in 2012
1. Three Peas Art Lounge (75 E. 16th)
2. Marble Slab Ice Creamery (1241 S. Michigan)
3. House of Sole (1237 S. Michigan)
4. New City Bank (900 S. Michigan)
5. Britten Chicago (1420 S. Michigan)

Did we miss any? If so please email us. We're going to do our best to monitor this throughout the year, but as always we're going to rely on our loyal Sloopin readers to help us keep track.

Since we're talking lists, here are some other businesses that may or may not open up in 2012:
Square One (1400 S. Michigan)
Karamela (1250 S. Michigan)
Spanglish (555 S. Wabash)
City Tavern (1416 S. Michigan - old Grace O’Malley’s)
America’s Dog (1221 S. Wabash)
Pita Belly (600 S. Wabash)
Urban Grocers (State and Polk)
Sprout (1454 S. Michigan)
Mariano's (17th and Clark)
Broad Shoulders Brewery (2337 S. Michigan)
Cheap Trick Chicago (2245 S. Michigan)
Roosevelt Collection Retail (150 W. Roosevelt)
1355 S. Michigan (TBD – Alain’s)
1150 S. Wabash (next to Bongo Room)
1440 S. Wabash (TBD - Dentist)

Stay tuned!

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

The holistic spa finally opened at 1845 S. Michigan

Anonymous said...

I don't think Britten should be included.

MarkChicago said...

Put It On is now open.

Anonymous said...

if this holistic spa is just another sleezy rub joint i am going to be soooo upset

Anonymous said...

I don't know if it is just a relocation, but a new florist looks like it is going into the building that has the south loop community church, the alderman's office, and a childcare center. It's on State between 13th and 14th I think.

Anonymous said...

btw this is a great idea since it will add an element of objectivity to the discussions of the economic health of the community.

Anonymous said...

To be opened you could add Mariano's (grocery - 16th/Clark) and even potentially the new second tower at the Hyatt considering it is hiring hundreds of more employees. For ones that opened up some cut missed the cut from 2011 (trader joes, waffles, the scout).

Anonymous said...

If you want to get really technical, several of these new businesses fall below 18th street, outside of how the south loop is defined on this site. Personally, I think that cermak or even the Stevenson is a truer southern boundary. Or you can simply acknowledge that we will be discussing businesses in the near south side area too; however, you will have to include closings there to be fair.

Anonymous said...

The Foundry's basically already open. I was there this morning for a workout.

Fit Guy said...

I was at foundry as well...it is great

Mao said...

clearly by the timing of the posts anon at 1258 and fit guy at 114 are the same person. most likely affiliated with the foundry

josh said...

Mao exactly what kind of gratification do you get from posting stupid things like this?

Mao said...

How is that stupid? Identifying false advertising is normally appreciated by people.

Anonymous said...

The florist that was on Wabash between 8th and 9th, next to the Chocolatier, is moving to the Alderman's building.

Matt said...

Sloppy, thanks for doing this, I think it's great to be able to add facts to the conversation.


The florist going in on state IS a relocation from 850 s wabash

Mao, you didn't identify false advertising. You speculated about a secret agenda. Correct or not, your comment had no more integrity than that of those you questioned... So in that spirit...

Based on the random and wildly speculative and unprovable comment you made, it's clear that you are opposed to the foundry because you actually represent a competitor, most likely la boxing or make a trainer at xsport

Anonymous said...

Sorry Mister Mao, I'm anonymous, not Fit Guy. I'm no shill, dude. Just stating some good old-fashioned fact about what's open and what's not.

Anonymous said...

I also think this "barrometer of the south loop" is good idea. Well done Sloopy!

Also, does the Holistic in the name "holistic spa" imply that a tug comes with the rub?

Anonymous said...

Anyone know what is happening in the old Wine Styles space? It's papered up today.

Anonymous said...

did velvet lounge reopen because i was there a few years back and don't recall seeing anything about it closing up...

Anonymous said...

Old wine styles spot is going to be a high-end ink/tattoo spot.

Much needed I would add.

Anonymous said...

Velvet Lounge closed after Fred died and family disputes.. new owners are from La Cantina / Pizzeria Brandi. Much nicer spot now (more open, long bar, variety of music - DJ & live).

Anonymous said...

velvet lounge is in a sketchy area---pass

Anonymous said...

Sloopy: you should add a bit of a disclaimer to this thread about "new" places actually just replacing previously shuttered establishments or re-opening elsewhere or under a new name.

For example, Ginos replacing Edwardos. New O'Malley's pub replacing old O'Malley's pub. Karmela replacing wine styles. Alians replacing entourage. Brassiere LM replacing Tribute. Vet Clinic replacing WaMu bank. Cardinal International replacing Urgent Care Center. Velvet Lounge simply a redux of old place. Etc.

When you have to lose a business to gain a business. It is not progress.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know if any store will lease the closed Office Depot and the space next to DSW shoe store in the South Loop Market Mall in 2012/2013?

Anonymous said...

Anon 7:47,

Old winestyles is Karmela, unless they are doing crepes, coffee, and tattoos. maybe that is high end ink

Anonymous said...

Did Doctor's Choice medical supply store close in 2011 or 2012?

Anonymous said...

Anon @ 9:39 AM - Excellent point!

Anonymous said...

I don't think that suggested disclaimer that a business or replaced is at all true. Not all businesses are the same, employee the same number of people, pay the same, or make the same revenue. Would you rather have wamu who ships their profits out of state or a local vet who keeps profits here for example? And things change overtime and it's naive to thing all businesses should be a permanent and should stay that way, if that was true then you would have that terrible burger king on s Michigan for life instead of progressing to something better for the neighborhood like a new local nice restaurant.

Matt said...

Anom 3:01 - sorry, but that wasn't an excellent point. It IS progress when a restaurant or bar is updated to a new concept. It also indicates that the owners had earned enough to have funds to re-invest AND that they saw enough potential in the neighborhood to spend that money to stay for the long term.
Progress!

Anonymous said...

The old Office Depot spot was going to be leased by Office Max but they gave up on it due to cost and competition from Staples just around the corner. Now they are saying the spot is going to be a mass market, low-end tattoo spot for those mainstream suburban types to get ink done.

Much needed.

Lofty Aspirations said...

Dear Sloopin'
Thanks for the mention of our new consignment shop LOFTY ASPIRATIONS, and the link to our website! We love our location and plan on staying--wind, rain or snow. Again, your mention of us on the site is greatly appreciated. Stop in on May 12th for our Mom's Day fun!
Barb at Lofty

Anonymous said...

Sorry, but I agree with the argument that many of these "new" openings should contain a caveat.

Replacing Edwardos with Ginos East is not progress. Replacing old grace omalleys with new grace omalleys is not progress (especially since the former has been shuttered for over 15 months!) Velvet lounge simply re-opening is not progress. Brassiere LM replacing Tribute is not progress. Etc.

Progress would be see the giant gaping hole in the middle of sloop's restaurant row on Wabash being filled with something. Or at least ONE commercial opening in the Roosevelt Collection over the past three YEARS.

Anonymous said...

Still zippo confirmations regarding any Roosevelt Collection openings?

Anonymous said...

8:34 - it's only April/May, we still have atleast a couple months before announcements.

Tony said...

Looks like Five Guys is confirmed for 1146 S Wabash (http://www.fiveguys.com/locations.aspx?fAddress=60605&radius=5&units=mi). Don't know if there will also be a cafe/restaurant owned by the Artists Cafe owners, too?

UnFitguy said...

WONDERFUL.....

They should change the name to Fat Guys

MarkChicago said...

Nice to have another quick lunch option, great news.

Eat it Michelle Obama!