HYDE PARK — Clarke’s Diner is being evicted by the University of Chicago after not paying 10 months of rent.
Calmetta Coleman, a spokeswoman for the university, said the diner at 1447 E. 53rd St. has only made one rent payment since November and the university expects an eviction notice to be served in the coming days.
“For the past several months, Clarke’s diner on 53rd Street has been operating its business in violation of the terms of its lease agreement, including its failure to pay rent,” Coleman said. “In addition, the operators are now in violation of a [Cook County] Circuit Court order that called for the diner to vacate the space by July 29.”
Clarke’s owner Tom Tsatas declined to answer questions, saying Friday afternoon that he would release a full statement early next week and did not expect the restaurant would close.
"I can promise you the community is in store for quite a surprise. Stay tuned," Tsatas said in an email.
There were signs in early May the restaurant was struggling, when a sign went up saying the location was closing permanently — only to reopen three days later. Tsatas told the Hyde Park Herald at the time that it was due to a disagreement between the then-manager and the university and would remain open under new management.
The university lured Clarke’s to the neighborhood in 2011 as a 24-hour restaurant that was expected to cater to students.
Coleman said the university expects to announce a new tenant for the space in the coming weeks.
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