CHICAGO — The owners behind the wildly popular Old Town restaurant Alinea are purchasing Moto, the forward-thinking West Side restaurant whose chef died last year.
Alinea owners Nick Kokonas and Grant Achatz confirmed the news in a post on Alinea's Facebook page, saying the purchase was "bittersweet" because it signals the end of one of the city's "pioneering" restaurants.
"We have a great deal of respect for Moto, chef [Homaro] Cantu and all of the great chefs and service professionals who worked there over the past 12 years," they said in the post.
Special announcement from The Alinea Group:
Posted by Alinea on Friday, January 22, 2016
Moto, opened in 2004, will have its last day of service on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, according to Eater Chicago. Kokonas and Achatz said it is too early to say what will happen to the space.
The Alinea group already owns Next and will be opening Roister in the same block as Moto, in the 900 block of West Fulton Market, according to Chicago Tribune. The Alinea group will essentially control the entirety of the block, according to the Tribune and Eater.
Cantu's widow, Katie McGowan, said in a statement to Eater that the decision to sell didn't come easy but that the business will be in trusted hands.
"I am inspired by their innovation and pioneering spirit, and wish them all the best with their new project," McGowan said in the statement. "I can't wait to see their vision and thank them for taking over the space as I begin a new chapter."
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