Pompei in River Forest closes.

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Permalink Reply by OakParkGirl on December 28, 2009 at 10:15am

I'm anti-Target, mostly because we have half a dozen within 15 minutes in any direction. We also have more than enough coffee shops, grocery stores, and cell phone outlets (IMHO). I think we're have just about a perfect mix of everything I could want between Oak Park and Forest Park. If another restaurant opens, I'd hope for it to be another non-chainy place. I'd love to see Morroccan, Vegan, something we don't already have in spades. I suppose a microbrew type place wouldn't be bad since right now the only option in that immediate area is Bar Louie and the food is not really that good.

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Permalink Reply by Bryan Radtke on December 28, 2009 at 10:43am

My immediate reaction was that it would be an ideal opportunity for Potbelly. That's one franchise that I would expect to land in Oak Park at some point.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Plain on December 28, 2009 at 11:45am

If it ends up being a chain, I'd definitely take a Potbelly's!

That being said, it's a fairly large space, so I would say it is much likely to be a chain than not. I think (if memory serves correct) everything else in that plaza is a chain as well.

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Permalink Reply by Russ M on December 28, 2009 at 12:05pm

I can definitely see a PotBellys in that spot although I would prefer a unique local restaurant open that isn't Italian or Thai...

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Permalink Reply by J Chyna on December 28, 2009 at 12:17pm

I'd rather it not be a Target, since we've already got a few within a short drive of OP. And I don't use Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware very often--and with a Pier One and Bed Bath and Beyond within walking distance of that corner, a housewares store probably wouldn't be the best choice. I like the idea of a restaurant that offers something that we don't already have in the area--like a microbrew-type place, as OakParkGirl suggested.

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Permalink Reply by jpb74 on December 28, 2009 at 12:32pm

i agree, no more italian or thai! we also have a good amount of sushi places around. not enough places to sit and chill. not a fan of the ale house or poor phil's (bad food!) and wish there were more places like marion street or maya.

Russ M said:

I can definitely see a PotBellys in that spot although I would prefer a unique local restaurant open that isn't Italian or Thai...

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Permalink Reply by John Metzger on December 28, 2009 at 1:55pm

There have been several restaurants in that location since it opened, and not one of them has worked out. Whatever opens there has to fit with the community without being redundant.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Malley on December 28, 2009 at 2:30pm

I agree that a pottbelly would be great. It is, however, my understanding that the pottbelly people do not think that OPRF is a big enough market to open a store. And as evidence by the lack of success that other restaurants have had in the very same location it would probably only confirm their(pottbelly's) suspicions.

It is a great corner, from traffic/viewing stand point, the parking lot is a little tough to navigate...i say this as frequent as a frequent whole foods and pet store customer. I wonder if the Red Hen people are going to be kicking themselves? This would have been an ideal spot for them...from a customer stand point... with parking and a patio to sit and enjoy a quick snack. My bet is some chain fast food/coffee shop,. Maybe Caribou moves across the street? I don't know much about homemade pizza co. but could see them staring to cook some pizza in the Pompeii spot as well as serving up to go uncooked pizzas.

If I were King I would move Whole foods to the former Linen & Things spot. I have been to some massive whole foods, North Shore, and they are great. Plenty of room to move around the aisle and lots of prepared foods. Not sure what would replace the current whole foods though.

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Permalink Reply by John Metzger on December 28, 2009 at 4:33pm

I don't know if Red Hen would work there. Whole Foods has its own bakery. Trader Joe's sells bread too and is just down the street. If I was in need of bread, I'd pick it up at either of those two locations while I was there, rather than make another stop (and have to move my car in that insane parking lot).



Jason Malley said:

I agree that a pottbelly would be great. It is, however, my understanding that the pottbelly people do not think that OPRF is a big enough market to open a store. And as evidence by the lack of success that other restaurants have had in the very same location it would probably only confirm their(pottbelly's) suspicions.

It is a great corner, from traffic/viewing stand point, the parking lot is a little tough to navigate...i say this as frequent as a frequent whole foods and pet store customer. I wonder if the Red Hen people are going to be kicking themselves? This would have been an ideal spot for them...from a customer stand point... with parking and a patio to sit and enjoy a quick snack. My bet is some chain fast food/coffee shop,. Maybe Caribou moves across the street? I don't know much about homemade pizza co. but could see them staring to cook some pizza in the Pompeii spot as well as serving up to go uncooked pizzas.

If I were King I would move Whole foods to the former Linen & Things spot. I have been to some massive whole foods, North Shore, and they are great. Plenty of room to move around the aisle and lots of prepared foods. Not sure what would replace the current whole foods though.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Plain on December 28, 2009 at 5:39pm

If I could wave my fingers and make it happen (and an independent brewpub wasn't an option...), I would put in a YardHouse.

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Permalink Reply by Becca on December 28, 2009 at 5:48pm

Hmmm ... I'm not sure what I'd like to see in that space. There used to be a cool coffee shop in that location (or maybe it was where the Boston Market is). They had live music and on the weekends and it seemed like a fun place.

Ooh, you know what I'd like? A Reza's restaurant. I miss the kabobs from their Andersonville location. So affordable and tasty. I'm sure the space is too small for Reza's, but it a girl can dream, can't she?

I'm surprised we don't have a Potbelly yet. They seem to go hand-in-hand in areas with Chipotle.

And yes, no more Thai or Italian. We've reached maximum capacity.

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Permalink Reply by Becca on December 28, 2009 at 5:51pm

One of my Twitter friends just suggested a Noodles & Company. I'd like to see them come to Oak Park too.

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