According to a recent article from Block Club Chicago, Floreen’s owners will create a new concept that will occupy what was Kal’ish at 1313 W Wilson Ave.
A representative of Floreen’s and the new restaurant concept was not immediately available for commentary upon What Now Chicago’s request.
While a name for the new concept nor an opening date has yet to be confirmed, according to the article, the new concept would “potentially be a to-go breakfast spot styled after New York City’s bodegas.”
Andy Kalish and Gina Marino Kalish embarked on a culinary adventure when they introduced the world to Kal’ish, a plant-based dining destination, in 2016. Situated on the bustling 1300 block of West Wilson Avenue, the couple’s initial venture would be the first of many in the years to come.
Their culinary journey on this block continued with the birth of Longacre, a pizzeria, located next to Kal’ish in 2017. In the fall of 2018, Longacre underwent a temporary closure and reboot, returning with a focus on Midwestern-style tapas. Unfortunately, the challenges persisted, leading to the closure of both Longacre and Pizza Squared by Longacre by the fall of 2019. Fast forward a year, and the Kalishes unveiled Sam & Gerties, a vegan Jewish deli, in the former Pizza Squared space in 2020.
Timing is crucial, and the breakfast spot is expected to open after the bustling fall season at the Ravenswood Events Center, an events and catering business owned by the Kalishes.
Addressing concerns from skeptical neighbors, Kalish remains committed to creating spaces where the community’s voice plays a significant role in the success of his ventures. By voting with their dollars, customers and neighbors can influence which businesses become lasting fixtures in this ever-evolving culinary landscape, according to Block Club Chicago’s article.
