ARMOUR SQUARE — Farewell, Mr. Spanky.
The sandwich joint at 335 W. 31st St. has closed its doors.
"Closed up for good," said chef John Schultz, who first announced the news Tuesday on the restaurant's Facebook page. "I appreciate everybody's support and their business. I'm not leaving Chicago and I'm not falling off the face off the earth. My bacon is still available."
Schultz, a former chef with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus, opened the sandwich shop to rave reviews in 2012 after hawking his wares — homemade hummus, fruit salsas, sausages and bacon — at several suburban farmers markets.
With fresh sides and low-price sandwiches made from a daily roasted, braised or smoked meats, Mr. Spanky's quickly found a niche with the lunchtime crowd.
Earlier this year, Schultz closed the shop in an effort to "reset" his restaurant while working his full-time catering gig, then reopened a few months later with a scaled back menu.
But he said juggling the catering job, preparing his applewood smoked bacon for retail and running the show at the sandwich shop all proved to be too much.
"My focus is compromised because I worked at the restaurant. I've gotta focus on like one thing. I'm doing like 80 things and I have to choose my battles and focus on the bacon," he said.
Fans of Mr. Spanky's bacon can still order packages through the online delivery service ArtiZone or through the Mr. Spanky's website. Schultz also said he will continue to cater the Mr. Spanky's menu.
