NEAR NORTH SIDE — After 15 years at State and Chestnut streets, Johnny's Grill will flip its last burger patties on Wednesday.
The restaurant at 838 N. State St. didn't want to close, but co-owner Tom Vassos said Johnny's Grill lost its lease with the building owner, who operates Harry's Gold Coast Shoe Repair below Johnny's.
Yelp reviews of Johnny's Grill are mostly glowing.
"The perfect greasy spoon," one reviewer wrote. "Amazing burgers! Definitely better than Five Guys," wrote another. A recent post noting the Wednesday closure date said "a piece of the Gold Coast will be gone."
"Thank you for your years of service with a smile," wrote the commenter, who called the place his "Sat[urday] morning hangout" when he lived nearby.
Building owner Peter Koris said he and Johnny's Grill's owners couldn't come to a leasing agreement when the previous contract expired.
Koris said he'll be looking for new tenants for the Near North Side storefront soon.
