After 85 years, beloved Chicago diner Palace Grill in the Near West Side is closing its doors and putting the property up for sale. Located at 1408 W. Madison St., just down the road from the United Center, The Palace Grill had been a popular pre- and post-stop for audiences attending events at the arena for decades. In particular, The Palace Grill was known to be a Blackhawks institution, welcoming both fans and players alike, with the restaurant being decked out floor to ceiling in jerseys and other hockey memorabilia.
According to CBS News, the closing of operations at the Palace Grill was kicked off two years ago after a fire caused by a lightning strike broke out at the establishment, leaving catastrophic destruction, including charring and water damage. In the same release, it was reported that owner George Lemperis, who has held the restaurant in his family for nearly 70 years, recently hired a firm to help list and sell the 19,000-square-foot property.
Fans of the diner had hoped for a reopening after the incident, even going so far as to start a crowdfunding campaign that raised $49,000 to help with renovations, per Blockclub Chicago. However, in the end, the project proved too significant, and ultimately Lemperis decided to pursue retirement, which coincided with the property being put up for purchase.
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The sale aligns with big changes in the neighborhood as the $7 billion 1901 Project, a development initiative backed by the Bulls & Blackhawks owners, eyes 55 acres around the United Center, according to the company’s website. Similar to the Ricket family’s investment surrounding Wrigley Field, The 1901 Project aims to bring more entertainment and commerce to the surrounding area, including music venues, retail, hotels, green space, and 5,000 mixed-income homes.
As the Near West Side evolves and the Palace Grill’s site transforms, we say goodbye at the end of an era. However, there remains a city full of people with fond memories of the diner, memories that will live on long after the restaurant’s famed striped canopies are taken down and the last of the Patrick Kane jerseys are removed. And for an establishment as ingrained in Chicago history as The Palace Grill, that might be the greatest final compliment it can receive.