LAKEVIEW — Asian-inspired Flat Top Grill closed its Lakeview location after 18 years — and days before the chain was sold to another company Monday.
Flat Top Grill, 3200 N. Southport Ave., closed Jan. 26, the company said in a release. The company opened its first store on Chicago's North Side in 1995.
"To make saying Good Bye a little easier," the company offered $5 coupons to customers for use at other locations. Most are in Chicago suburbs or other cities in Illinois and Indiana, but there is a Loop location at 30 S. Wabash Ave.
Flat Top Grill specializes in customized stir-fried menu items grilled to order. Last year, the chain expanded its offerings to include burritos, lettuce wraps, sandwiches and tacos. At that time, it had 13 locations. Its website now lists eight.
On Monday, fellow stir-fry restaurant bd's Mongolian Grill announced the purchase of the Flat Top Grill chain. Both will maintain their names and individual concepts and "can look into each other's strength and best practices," said Joe Phraner, president and chief operating officer of bd's.
The Minnesota-based chain has 27 locations in 11 states, plus one franchise in Mongolia.
With Flat Top Grill closing in Lakeview, the strip of retail that housed it was slammed with a corner vacancy one year after losing another restaurant. At the opposite end, 3208-10 N. Southport Ave., The Burger Boss closed in January 2015 after two years in business, according to Eater Chicago. Around the corner, Zachi, 1406 W. Belmont Ave., remains open.
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