Old Chicago closed?
What’s the deal with Old Chicago? For several days the deep-dish pizza restaurant next to Arby’s on the Walmart property has a sign on the door saying it is closed due to “technical difficulties.” Now there’s a large orange sticker on the window from Ecolab, makers of restaurant dishwashers, warning anyone who might consider dismantling the place that there is leased equipment inside.
Business was generally light at Old Chicago any night of the week. Could it have suffered the same fate as the Bennigan’s which previously occupied that site?
There’s nothing on the company’s Web site indicating the restaurant is permanently closed. Parent company Rock Bottom, Inc. hasn’t posted new news releases about company operations since December.
If you had a gift card to use, you may want to try using it in Wilmington, the chain’s only other North Carolina location.
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First of all, I don't know if they are permanently closed or not, but this will likely be a fatal blow if they were planning to stay open. It is unfortunate to see any business fail, although they cannot honestly blame the economy. I was a loyal customer for a couple of years and I finally stopped going. It was not because of any single issue, but because it was clear that I cared more about the success of the place than the employees. Most of them simply didn't care and it was almost like the business and its customers were more of an inconvenience than a way to pay their bills. I genuinely enjoyed the place until I realized that they were resistant to customer advice and oblivious to the competition around them and now literally across the street. It was a good and relatively inexpensive lesson for me about opening a business. No one will ever care as much about the place as an owner.
37
June 3, 2009 at 7:01 am
My dad actually called me to ask if I wrote the comments posted below (2:01 PM on 06/03). I very well could have, because our experiences have been nearly identical.
We've been faithful patrons for over two years. In fact, I just finished my second tour a few weeks ago. The first sign of trouble for us was the fact that the owner wouldn't spring for the baseball package this year. Penny wise, but pound foolish. They may not advertise themselves as a sports bar, but clearly 80% of the traffic at the bar on any given weeknight or Sunday afternoon is there to watch a game. The cost of a baseball package is nominal for most bar owners and is easily offset by the revenue of regular customers coming to watch the games.
What sealed the deal for us, though, was the lack of courtesy and professionalism shown by the owner. The managers and bartenders all seemed to agree with us–that the package was a no-brainer. They encouraged us to call the owner, and we did. Several times. He would not return our calls.
If he had had the courtesy to call us back and state his case, that would have been perfectly acceptible to us. He chose instead to make it clear that he didn't value our business, so we stopped offering it.
The only thing that breaks my heart is not seeing Al behind the bar. Al is easily the best bartender in the county! If anyone knows how to get a hold of him, I'd appreciate it if you'd email me. I'd make it a point to visit him no matter where he's tending bar.
Me And Chi
June 3, 2009 at 10:23 am
did anyone hear anything further? I only went there twice, but I enjoyed the food. I really sucks to see businesses failing.
Torip66
June 23, 2009 at 4:46 am
The phone number for the restaurant is no longer in service. Looks pretty official.
Me And Chi
June 23, 2009 at 6:11 am
I sure will miss the pizza rolls. Those things were the best!
hebert
June 28, 2009 at 6:44 am