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The Spoke and Bird Takes Flight in South Loop

 A sneak peek at the South Loop's newest brunch spot: Spoke & Bird. 
Spoke & Bird
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SOUTH LOOP — At long last, The Spoke & Bird is boozing and cruising in the South Loop.

The cyclist-centric restaurant at Indiana Avenue and 18th Street had a "soft" reopening Tuesday after securing a liquor license and undergoing extensive renovations. 

South Loop residents Scott Golas and Alicia Bird acquired the restaurant in the Chicago Women's Park & Gardens building last year after the owner of its prior tenant, Cafe Society, decided to close. Golas and Bird closed the restaurant in October to prepare the new concept. 

The Spoke & Bird name is not only a nod to Bird's surname, but also the couple's passion for cycling. Golas and Bird, who live across the street from their new restaurant, have already won aldermanic approval for a new, nearby bike corral and are continuing to lobby for a Divvy rack by the new cafe.

"We think it's our responsibility," Golas said. "You have to own the corner."

For now, The Spoke & Bird only serves breakfast and lunch. The menu includes an oyster mushroom omelette for $8, and a roast pork sourdough sandwich with horseradish, arugula and aioli for $11. Spoke & Bird also features draft beers from local brewers such as Metropolitan, and will also serve mimosas and other breakfast cocktails.

Space is tight in The Spoke & Bird, with seating for just 26 people inside. But the restaurant's real draw, an 110-seat outdoor patio abutting the landmarked Glessner House on Prairie Avenue, will open later this year.

A new grocery store is coming to this corner of Michigan Avenue and Cermak Road (DNAinfo/David Matthews)

The Spoke & Bird is the latest business to open in the rapidly changing South Loop. Elsewhere, South Loop Market co-founder Jamil Kanan confirmed the grocery will open a new store in The Lex apartment tower at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Cermak Road. Kanan hopes to open the new store around Aug. 1.

La Haven Coffee is also opening in the former Crave space at 1250 S. Roosevelt Road. A message left with La Haven Coffee was not returned Tuesday afternoon. 

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