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Storefront Company Shutters, Shred415 Expands to Wicker Park

By Alisa Hauser | February 11, 2014 10:50am
 In recent weeks, both Storefront Company and The Mercury Method have closed their doors.  Storefront Company was a fine dining restaurant inside of The Flat Iron Building and The Mercury Method was a fitness studio.
In recent weeks, both Storefront Company and The Mercury Method have closed their doors.  Storefront Company was a fine dining restaurant inside of The Flat Iron Building and The Mercury Method was a fitness studio.
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DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser

WICKER PARK —  Just a month shy of its two-year anniversary, a fine dining restaurant inside of Wicker Park's historic Flat Iron Building has shuttered, and up the street, a fitness studio known for its hot 98-degree workouts has closed, too.

Storefront Company, 1941 W. North Ave., opened in March 2012 and is owned by Claudia Gassel and Steve Harris, who also own the Debonair Social Club bar around the corner from the restaurant in the Milwaukee Avenue-facing side of the landmark building.

The restaurant had announced it was on a winter break in January. When it did not reopen in February, Harris confirmed to Eater.com that Storefront Company was permanently closed. 

 A sign in the window of The Mercury Method informs customers that Shred415 is coming next.
A sign in the window of The Mercury Method informs customers that Shred415 is coming next.
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DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser

The building's owner, Bob Berger, could not be reached for comment, nor could Gassel. However, a source from the Berger Realty company said the lease was still intact and Gassel, and Harris "might be doing something different" in the space.

Up the street, Shred415, a Chicago-based franchise specializing in a 60-minute high intensity workout, will take over The Mercury Method's studio at 1444 N. Milwaukee Ave. this spring, according to a sign in the window.

The Mercury Method opened in November 2012 and was led by Lara Hudson, a DVD fitness video and Pilates star who hosted her last workout on Feb. 1. 

"I take my final bow, you've made me a better teacher, a little sadness; immense," Hudson tweeted, posting a photo of her final fitness class.

A sign in the window of the studio says, "It's been both an exciting and deeply challenging year for the Merc, and we're sad to say we must close the doors to our business and bid a bittersweet adieu to Chicago."

Hudson is encouraging fans to follow her on Facebook/listentolara and Twitter at @Listentolara.

Shred415 is owned by Bonnie Micheli and Tracy Roemer, both personal trainers who have other Shred415 outposts in Old Town, 230 W. Division St., and Lincoln Park, 2156 N. Clybourn Ave.

The Shred415 program alternates between treadmills and weights and is designed to target all muscle groups. The workout is "guaranteed to shred your body," according to the company's Facebook page.

Shred415 will honor the cash equivalent of any unused and active Mercury Method class credits.  Any Groupon or Gilt City deals must be worked out with those providers.

"We love the neighborhood and are excited that we have the opportunity to be part of the Wicker Park community," said Matt Micheli, a spokesman for Shred415.