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Between Lounge in Wicker Park Sold, Caribou Coffee on Damen Shutters

By Alisa Hauser | July 7, 2014 8:47am | Updated on July 7, 2014 9:02am
 Between, a Peruvian cafe and lounge and Caribou Coffee both closed last week in Wicker Park
Between Cafe and Lounge, Caribou Coffee in Wicker Park
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WICKER PARK  — Between, a family-owned tapas restaurant and cocktail lounge in Wicker Park's southern corridor, was recently sold to new owners, while a Caribou Coffee near the area's main hub has permanently shuttered.

"We want to thank everyone for your business over the last eight years. It was such a pleasure serving each and everyone of you. Unfortunately all good things have to come to an end," says a sign posted to the window of Between, located at 1324 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Featuring a dark interior with magenta booths and light fixtures with feathers over them, Between's last day was June 27. The lounge served Peruvian food and cocktails and was owned by Carl Anderson and his wife, Lu Lu Anderson.

A sales listing, removed a few days ago, billed the property as a chic restaurant and bar with a "below market lease."

Kudan Group broker Juan Carlos Gomez could not immediately be reached for comment to discuss the sale, nor could Between's landlord Jimmy Seidenberg. Baker Ali, owner of Falafel and Grill at 1317 N. Milwaukee Ave. said the lounge was sold.

Ali, whose Middle Eastern restaurant is across from Between, said he met the new owner but does not know much else about plans for the storefront, which faces the Wicker Park Commons, a shopping complex that some real estate experts consider to be the "anchor" for a strip of Milwaukee Avenue that is seeing rapid changes.

Elsewhere in the neighborhood, Caribou Coffee at 1511 N. Damen Ave, just north of the busy Milwaukee, Damen and North avenues intersection has closed, according to a sign in the window.

Flanked by two smiley-face emoticons, the sign thanks customers for "three great years."

A spokeswoman for Caribou could not be immediately be reached for comment. But the owners of the Caribou chain also own Peet's Coffee and have been converting the shuttered shops.

Though an employee at Peet's in Lincoln Park said the change from Caribou to Peet's in Wicker Park will happen within the next six months, a spokeswoman for Peet's later said there are no longer plans to do so.

"After more evaluation, Peet’s does not feel that the 1611 N. Damen Ave. store will meet sales expectations. Instead, Peet’s is shifting its investment to focus on the other stores that will open this year across Chicago, providing more features at these locations including new store design elements, fresh, locally-made food, and new beverage choices such as light roast," the spokeswoman said.

Last April, Caribou permanently shuttered two shops in Lincoln Park and the Near West Side.

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