LAKEVIEW — As Lakeview enters its third month without world-famous Clarke's burgers and late-night breakfast binges, one must ask: How long can a couple layers of paint take?
Since April, Clarke's Diner, 930 W. Belmont Ave., has been shuttered, with papered-up windows and a sign declaring it "closed for painting."
While the phone line for the 24-hour diner has been disconnected, employees at two other Clarke's locations have promised the Belmont Avenue diner will reopen after renovations.
As one suspicious Yelp reviewer notes, Clarke's is either closed for good or it's the "world's longest" paint job.
But it turns out, the longtime Belmont Avenue diner has closed permanently, Ald. Tom Tunney's office (44th) confirmed on Thursday.
A new restaurant has already filed for a city license and should be opening in the next few weeks, contingent on passing its health inspection, said Erin Duffy, 44th Ward director of community outreach.
Ariel Cheung says neighbors have been skeptical about the paint sign:
While most nearby restaurants renewed their licenses in February, Clarke's was not among them, Duffy said. Multiple requests for more information from Clarke's have not been answered.
It wasn't until last week that Tunney's office had an answer as to whether Clarke's was closed for good. During a May 21 meeting, Duffy told Hawthorne Neighbors they hadn't heard anything from the owner or landlord.
Clarke's Diner locations in Lincoln Park, 2441 N Lincoln Ave., and Evanston, 720 Clark St., remain open.
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