Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to more accurately describe the status of the proposed “Legacy Evanston” development.
On Tuesday, Found Kitchen owner and founder Amy Morton announced on Facebook the restaurant will permanently close on Oct. 2.
“We’ve had an incredible 10-year run thanks so much to all of you!” Morton wrote. “Each of you who have graced our space, dined and wined with us, have become an extension of our ‘Found Family,’ which has made us who we are and for this we are forever grateful.”
The contemporary American restaurant at 1631 Chicago Ave. first opened in November 2012 and has maintained a standout identity in the decade since. Morton told the RoundTable she credits its success to the “soul of the restaurant,” which came from the community that formed in the “quirky, windy, old space.”
“Everything about Found was about the people, the people who work there, the people who dined there,” Morton said. “It revolutionized dining on the North Shore, which I’m incredibly proud of.”
Found is closing because its lease is ending and the property’s owner, Horizon Realty Group, plans to demolish the building and develop a new high-rise in its place. Morton said she unsuccessfully tried to extend the lease “even just through January.” The proposed development, named the “Legacy Evanston,” received a heated response from residents at a recent community meeting.
Morton said she’s grateful for Evanston’s support for Found over the years, and will enjoy seeing people in the next two months for their last visits.
“I’m really excited to see people come back in and enjoy and experience Found before we wrap things up over there,” Morton said. “I think it might be better than it’s ever been, so we’re going out on a high!”
The Legacy Evanston proposal has been neither approved nor denied by the City of Evanston at this time. Horizon COO Jeffrey Michael was supposed to appear before the Land Use Commission for a public hearing on the proposal Wednesday evening, but ultimately did not appear; the hearing has been rescheduled to the commission’s Sept. 14 meeting.
Wow! So sad to hear of this restaurant closing. Even more surprised that the owner of the building wouldn’t extend the lease through the end of the year, as most restaurants make a high percentage of their profit during the holiday season.
I remember when I was getting my paralegal certificate I had to go to court and observe a civil and a criminal court case. For the civil, I chose a bankruptcy case. It just happened to be a restaurant going out of business due to being bankrupt. The owner’s attorney requested that the restaurant be allowed to stay open through the end of the year so it could make those profits, and for the staff to be able to earn their incomes. The judge didn’t hesitate to grant and no one objected. Good for thought…if the owner of building that houses Found happens to read this…just saying…
The CoE rejected the plan for the high rise