LAKEVIEW — Diner fans, rejoice: Clarke's is back on Belmont.
After The Belmont Cafe shut its doors amid a pile of lawsuits, its predecessor is back with its original, 1960s-style decor and diner menu.
Clarke's could reopen as early as noon Tuesday at 928-930 W. Belmont Ave., said owner Pepe Avila.
Avila partnered on the original Clarke's locations — including the Belmont Avenue diner, which opened in 1997, he said. After parting ways with the Clarke's brand several years ago, he helped open The Biograph Diner in Lincoln Park in November.
RELATED: The Biograph Diner Replaces Clarke's Bar And Grill In Lincoln Park
Then the landlord of the shuttered Belmont Cafe called and asked Avila if he'd be interested in taking over the lease.
"I miss it a lot," Avila said Monday evening. "And I know a lot of people are missing Clarke's."
Pepe Avila was one of the original co-owners of Clarke's on Belmont, which opened in 1997, he said. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]
While Avila sold the rights to the brand, he reached a deal with the new owner to use the name at the Belmont location once more. Along with the name, he's bringing back the original menu and the 24-hour schedule.
While he is helping with operations at The Biograph Diner, the Lakeview restaurant will be his sole main business for now, Avila said.
On Monday, work was underway inside, where walls have been repainted in popping shades of orange, teal and green. Flat-screen televisions and a rough-hewn wood bar help shape the long-closed bar side of the restaurant, while black-and-white photos of racehorses and old-school sporting events hang on the diner side.
Also back in place is the beloved Clarke's sign, in which a smiling woman declares, "Oh my, you should eat!"
The Belmont Cafe opened at the end of June 2015, replacing Clarke's on Belmont. The 24-hour diner — under different ownership than Avila's revival — supposedly "closed for painting" in April of last year, but never reopened.
After a quick remodel featuring brightly colored walls and a rough-hewn bar, Clarke's will reopen as soon as this week in Lakeview. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]
Bright pops of color and 1960s touches are among renovations at Clarke's, which will reopen at 928-930 W. Belmont Ave. in the coming days. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]
Former Clarke's general manager Nicolas George remodeled and opened The Belmont Cafe, but soon struggled to pay the bills and his employees, according to multiple lawsuits and a claim of unpaid wages filed with the state.
RELATED: Shuttered Belmont Cafe And Owner Accused Of Owing $32K To Vendors, Staff
By August, George owed thousands to vendors and staff, they alleged. He quickly sold the business and said he planned to pursue other ventures.
"The guy didn't know what the hell he was doing," Avila said. "He didn't make it, so we're coming back."
