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Erickson's Deli Evicted: Is This the End of an Era for Decades-Old Fixture?

By Josh McGhee | September 1, 2015 2:14pm
 An eviction signed was posted on the door of Erickson's Delicatessen, 5250 N. Clark St.
An eviction signed was posted on the door of Erickson's Delicatessen, 5250 N. Clark St.
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DNAinfo/Josh McGhee

ANDERSONVILLE — After years in limbo, it seems Erickson's Delicatessen may not be opening its doors again — at least not anytime soon at its longtime home at 5250 N. Clark St.

A big green eviction notice appeared on the front door of the Scandinavian deli this week. The notice, dated Monday, warns of a $500 fine or 30 days in jail for trespassing on the premises.

The deli, a longtime neighborhood staple and a holiday fixture for many families, has struggled to stay open in Andersonville since 2013, when they said they needed nearly $20,000 to stay afloat. In December 2013, Ann-Mari Nilsson and her daughter Ann-Britt Nilsson launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for the store, which has been in their family since 1978.

About a year later, the store was officially shut down by the city of Chicago after the city's Department of Public Health found four critical violations during an inspection of the deli, including a refrigeration issue with display coolers, cheese and salami kept at improper temperatures and an "infestation of rodent droppings."

Ann-Britt Nilsson said her family made a conscious decision to keep the shop temporarily closed after it was shut down by the city.

“Everything has hit at the same time. It’s been a trying time,” Nilsson said at the time.

Nilsson said her mother, who is in her 90s and survived a stroke years earlier, had been suffering from additional health problems. Her mom's health began deteriorating over the summer and “everything went south from there,” Ann-Britt Nilsson said in December.

Erickson's could not be reached for comment about the eviction notice Tuesday.

A Facebook post from the deli Aug. 8 stated the business would be reopening in the near future. Community members replied to their Facebook post wishing the family well and expressing their eagerness for the deli to reopen.

yes we will be opening in the near ,future watch for updates. it's been a long long year.Ann Mari is better and more...

Posted by Erickson's Delicatessen on Saturday, August 8, 2015
 An eviction signed was posted on the door of Erickson's Delicatessen, 5250 N. Clark St.
An eviction signed was posted on the door of Erickson's Delicatessen, 5250 N. Clark St.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Josh McGhee

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