Almost a year later I got a Rueben at Chicago Joe's in North Center

Chicago Joe's restaurant earlier this month (Photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty).

Last December Curbed Chicago reported on a zoning application submitted for the Chicago Joe's restaurant location at 2250-2256 W Irving Park Road.    Joe's is to be torn down to develop a larger mixed use residential building. I am here to say that Chicago Joe's is as of yet still operational and I had the Reuben sandwich (with fries) last week. My contractor associate ALWAYS gets the blackened salmon.

An original mixed use building and newer condos across the street on the south side of West Irving Park Road.

A larger residential building would do well in this North Center location. The property frontage on North Oakley would add value to those units.  However, it's never a comfortable thing to see long standing neighborhood establishments go.  It's a distinct building and business.  I imagine some of us old schools will be lunching there until the the bulldozer shows up.