Friday, June 3, 2011

Another New Mexican Restaurant?

It appears that Uptown may be getting another Mexican restaurant. We got the tip from Buena Park Neighbors:

Buena Park Neighbors is calling a meeting June 13th at 7:00pm at Michael's Pizzeria to get input on a proposal to open a new restaurant at the corner of Belle Plaine and Broadway. It will be an authentic Mexican restaurant that will also serve beer and wine. The owners are the same people who own and operate Michael's Pizzeria. The plan is to renovate the existing building which is currently a cleaners. Alderman James Cappleman has asked for this meeting to uphold a campaign promise that he will get input from residents of the ward for any proposed economic development. If you have an opinion and cannot make the meeting, just fill out this short survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NKF72LG

It's encouraging to see several new businesses decide to open in Uptown over the last two months, and kudos to Alderman Cappleman to reaching out to the community to get their input before approving a new liquor license.

11 comments:

  1. Hey, I take my shirts to that cleaners! Why do they have to drive out an existing small business to make their new restaurant? Why not the recently vacated Arnold's at the corner of Broadway & Irving Park?

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  2. Because they own that building and the cleaners are tenants. They now want to use it for themselves - which they have every right to. I'm very much looking forward to a nice, clean restaurant to bring more outside business to the neighborhood, though I agree, it would be wonderful to have something go into the old KFC or Arnold's spaces.

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  3. While I love the idea of a new restaurant, I don't think there's any lack of Mexican food in the area. Something different would be nice.

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  4. I agree with Oedipa Regina. It would be great to have something go in where the KFC is because it's sad to see it constantly needing to be a target of the BPN clean up efforts year after year.

    Besides, what kind of clean up needs to happen to get rid of the toxic chemicals/fumes/residues from a dry cleaning facility? Doesn't sound tasty to me.

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  5. I don't even know that I would have thought about the chemicals. Eek! Good call FALIS!

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  6. Chemicals won't be an issue since they don't do chemical cleaning on site. They send clothes out for the dry cleaning, as do most storefront facilities.

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  7. @OR: Well in that case I'd feel better. I knew they had same day service so I figured they did it on site.


    I still know that when I walk by there I get a strong chemical whiff so again there may be residue etc.

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  8. What you're smelling is the auto body shop across the street which has pretty powerful paint odors emanating from time to time.

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  9. i would very much like something positive to be done about the old kfc. whether its another fast food joint, restaurant or, i donno maybe a walgreens, that would be great. just no banks or condos please lol.

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  10. @Sports: I agree. I've thought it would be nice if a Walgreens (or CVS) would open up either there or, probably better for parking: On Irving Park at Sheridan. There's the big empty lot along with the former gas station across the street that would be perfect for it.

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  11. Calling it a restaurant is misleading. It's a late-night bar that will serve food - a bar open to 2 a.m. The owner said it would not be a high-class place because he believes the neighborhood will not support a high-class restaurant. (Ever hear of Fornello's?) Getting the bar approved will probably necessitate reversing the 1995 vote that created a dry precinct - apparently. (Owner is trying to bypass the referendum process.) This bar will create a lot of problems - more late-night noise, trash, and rats. I was hoping we'd have a new opportunity to make the area beautiful - not litter the area with more awnings advertising liquor.

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