LINCOLN PARK — The breakfast restaurant Yolk opened a new location on the border of Lincoln Park and Lakeview Thursday with a ceremonial cracking of an egg.
The restaurant opened for business at 6 a.m. Friday morning at 501 W. Diversey Ave. after a soft opening Thursday afternoon.
It is the fifth location of Yolk, which was founded by Taki Kastanis, and possibly the most meaningful as 501 W. Diversey was home to his family's restaurant for 25 years.
Kastanis remembers running around Granny's Restaurant as a child. The restaurant, named after his grandmother, operated from 1978 to 2003.
"I knew the space. I grew up with my grandma here and everything, so it's fun," Kastanis said.
The new 125-seat Yolk is the smallest in the chain, and the first neighborhood location outside downtown.
When Granny's Place closed after 25 years, The Grove moved in. Eventually Isabel's Restaurant, an Italian diner with a twist, took over in January 2012, but closed in October 2013.
"As soon as Isabel's was closing down, I figured, 'Hey, it's a great corner. It's a great spot. Let's take over and do it,'" Kastanis said.
The other Yolk locations are in the South Loop, River North, Streeterville and West Loop.
Kastanis said he's ready for the first "neighborhoody" location of his popular breakfast chain.
"We are excited. It's going to be good," he said.
