UKRAINIAN VILLAGE — Old Oak Tap, a neighborhood bar and restaurant known for its cozy rustic interior and beer garden has been closed for the last week, alarming fans who've taken their concerns to its Facebook page.
"Why are you still closed?? I'm getting worried!" a resident posted on Old Oak Tap's Facebook page earlier this week, while others on a private neighborhood Facebook page assumed that the closing, which appeared to have begun on New Year's Eve, could be permanent.
Just west of the Chicago and Damen avenues intersection, Old Oak Tap, 2109 W. Chicago Ave., opened in 2008. Set back from the street, the building was originally an auto repair shop, according to the property's owner Seyed M. Firozabad.
After calls and emails to the restaurant were not returned, DNAinfo contacted Firozabad, who said new ownership would likely be taking over the space from longtime owners Chris and Susan Ongkiko.
"The new owner, who is a partner there now and already works there, wants to remodel it. Maybe it could be a matter of days before it reopens. They have to do paperwork," Firozabad said.
Chris Ongkiko declined to comment on any possible sale.
There is no information on the restaurant's website or voicemail greeting about the current closure.
Firozabad praised Ongkiko for doing "a great job" with the Old Oak Tap.
One online reviewer describes Old Oak Tap as "a hidden gem in the otherwise mundane uke village [sic] brunch experience" and a Metromix listing touts the restaurant's "super-spicy fish tacos and thick homemade pretzels with Guinness-spiked cheese dip. "
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
