{"id":964385,"date":"2026-07-28T10:30:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T10:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/964385\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T10:30:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T10:30:29","slug":"restaurant-news-ann-sather-opens-new-flagship-in-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/964385\/","title":{"rendered":"Restaurant news: Ann Sather opens new flagship in Chicago"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ann Sather, the historic Swedish restaurant in Chicago best known for its beloved cinnamon rolls, just opened a new flagship on the border between East Village and Wicker Park on Friday, July 24<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Owner, operator and former Ald. Tom Tunney had closed the last Belmont Avenue location after 81 years in Lakeview on June 28<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight before COVID<\/a>, I got an offer to sell everything that I had on Belmont, which I did,\u201d said Tunney. \u201cThey\u2019re redeveloping the property.\u201d<\/p>\n

He sold for $10 million<\/a>, a spokesperson told the Tribune in 2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t need to worry about working anymore,\u201d said Tunney recently. \u201cBut I decided for the brand and the employees and the attractiveness of this particular location on Division that this would be a really good retrofit of the Belmont atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n

That atmosphere starts with the bakery case full of cinnamon rolls.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight as you walk in,\u201d said the restaurateur. \u201cJust like Belmont.\u201d<\/p>\n

They\u2019re gooey, he added, and the frosting is unique.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not sour cream frosting,\u201d said Tunney. \u201cAnd they\u2019re loaded with brown sugar and cinnamon.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Tribune published a recipe for Ann Sather\u2019s cinnamon rolls<\/a> in 2004, including the powdered sugar icing that uses a touch of milk.<\/p>\n

Ann Sather<\/a>, the legendary woman, originally bought what was called the Swedish Diner in 1945. She moved it a few doors down and changed the name to Ann Sather\u2019s in 1955<\/a>. Tunney worked with her and then took over the business at 925 W. Belmont in 1980. When the lease ended, he purchased the adjacent building at 929 W. Belmont in 1984.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a funeral home,\u201d Tunney said. \u201cMy older clientele was a little uncomfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n

So he kept both restaurants open for about nine months, until August 1985. The new space was open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with alcohol.<\/p>\n

\u201cI became alderman in 2003,\u201d said Tunney. \u201cOne of the sacrifices of being alderman is that Illinois law did not allow elected officials to own liquor licenses.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TomTom Tunney at his new Ann Sather restaurant on July 23, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

That prompted him to cut to breakfast and lunch only in 2004. He moved again to 909 W. Belmont<\/a>, after Panera bought the former funeral home building in 2007. And now the popular Swedish pancakes with Swedish meatballs have made the move to East Village\/Wicker Park.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do bang-up breakfast omelets and burritos too,\u201d said Tunney. \u201cAnd people really talk about our fresh turkey.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s served in hot turkey sandwiches and a classic turkey club.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople have been coming for generations,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re very disappointed about Belmont, but they understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

They\u2019ll find familiar fixtures on Division Street, and not just tables and chairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI took everything out of Belmont,\u201d said Tunney. \u201cThe chandeliers, those are over 100 years old, they were actually from the old funeral home.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also the Norwegian folk art, including individually stenciled ceiling tiles. The late Ann Sather was Norwegian American. Her portrait hangs near the new bakery case. The space was last a Yolk breakfast restaurant. There are also two other Ann Sather locations, one in Edgewater and another in Lakeview.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd 90% of our staff is coming from Belmont,\u201d including manager Clara Smith, Tunney said. \u201cShe\u2019s been our cashier since the \u201980s.\u201d<\/p>\n

The longest-employed cook, Carlos Calzada, will be in the kitchen.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been here probably 44 years,\u201d said Tunney, who also cooks. \u201cI have a number of chefs, and I tend to be in the middle of all the chaos on the weekends.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe new Ann Sather restaurant located in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood on July 23, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

The new Ann Sather is still first come, first served. Reservations are available for parties of six or more. The dining room seats 140 inside. The sidewalk patio out front will eventually seat another 35 or 40 outdoors, but not until later this summer. Hours are daily 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 365 days a year, including holidays.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, we\u2019re really busy,\u201d said Tunney. \u201cPeople like our turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberries, just like grandma used to make.\u201d<\/p>\n

BYOB is permitted. The restaurant is not serving alcohol at this point. There are nonalcoholic beverages.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur favorite is a blend of orange, strawberry and banana,\u201d said Tunney. \u201cAnd a lot of people like the Swedish coffee with nutmeg, allspice and whipped cream.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of the \u201cyoung kids\u201d came up with the hot and sweet drink about five years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s a little too foo foo for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

1819 W. Division St., 773-348-2378, annsather.com<\/a><\/p>\n

More new openings, in alphabetical order:<\/p>\n

Doughboy\u2019s:<\/strong> The home of the world-famous Spagedough<\/a> has moved. Doughboy\u2019s just reopened in the Woodlawn neighborhood on July 1<\/a>. Chris \u201cDoughboy\u201d Fryison is serving up his signature saucy spaghetti with turkey, and a vegetarian variation called Veggidough, along with wings and catfish.<\/p>\n

501 E. 61st St., 773-571-9426, doughboyschicago.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Drama Club:<\/strong> Scofflaw<\/a>, the gin-focused bar in Logan Square, has a new sister focused on agave. Drama Club began pouring in Humboldt Park on July 9<\/a>. Behind the orange velvet curtains you\u2019ll find $12 cocktails plus a $6 Baby Marg and nonalcoholic drinks including the Self Care mixed with Ritual zero proof agave spirit alternative.<\/p>\n

819 N. California Ave.,\u00a0dramaclubbar.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Gilda:<\/strong> A trio of chefs has just opened a Basque\u00a0cuisine-inspired\u00a0restaurant named for a classic pinxto. Gilda debuted in West Town on July 20<\/a>. Chefs Jeremy Leven, Rafael Esparza<\/a> and Anthony Baier are indeed making the namesake snack on a stick with pickled piparra pepper, anchovy and olive, plus seasonal Basque cheesecake and much more to pair with drinks by beverage and culture director In\u00e9s de Haro.<\/p>\n

1421 W. Chicago Ave., gildarestaurant.com<\/a><\/p>\n

In closing news:<\/p>\n

Beatrix:<\/strong> The mini chain of neighborhood-style restaurant meets coffeehouse meets market by Lettuce Entertain You closed the Fulton Market location on July 15<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Washington Hall:<\/strong> The food hall formerly known as Urbanspace closed permanently in the Loop on June 27<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In reopening news:<\/p>\n

Magnolia Bakery: <\/strong>The chain, founded in New York City and best known for banana pudding, reopened its Loop location on July 21. That Chicago location had closed after city health inspectors found high-risk infestations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

108 N. State St., 312-346-7777, magnoliabakery.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Do you have notable restaurant news in the Chicago area? Email restaurant critic Louisa Kung Liu Chu at lchu@chicagotribune.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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