BOYSTOWN — Two trendy food chains will replace a trio of shuttered clubs in Boystown, marking a big chance for the corner of Belmont and Halsted that has long been home to a series of gay bars.
Furious Spoon, a popular Chicago ramen chain that began in Wicker Park in 2015, will open its first Lakeview location in the summer at 3200 N. Halsted St.
The Tokyo-style restaurant will share the space with FireFin Poké Shop, which announced its plans for Lakeview last week. Known for its Hawaiian-style poké bowls, FireFin will also open a location in Wicker Park this spring after starting off seven months ago at 10 S. LaSalle St.
RELATED: FireFin Poke Shop To Open Wicker Park, Lakeview Restaurants This Spring
The two eateries will replace SEVEN Nightclub, The Den and Manhole, three bars catering to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities that opened at the corner in 2015.
But the venue is likely best remembered as Spin Nightclub, which ran for more than 15 years before owner David Gassman put it up for sale in 2014.
"Spin was our Cheers, our Lobo, Chubbie's Famous and The Max all rolled into one," one longtime fan said in a Facebook farewell to the bar.
The 9,000-square-foot building suffered "an unfortunate series of events" after Spin's closure, as one developer phrased it.
One month after Spin closed, new owner Jason Zilberbrand opened Whiskey Trust and '80s-inspired dance club Chloe's.
LKH Management — the team behind Boystown hotspots like Hydrate, Elixir and Replay — assumed management of the bar and nightclub at the end of August 2014 and rebranded Chloe's as Manhole.
The original Manhole dance club was located at 3458 N. Halsted St. and closed in 2002, at which point LKH converted it to Hydrate.
Gassman, reacquired the 3200 N. Halsted St. location after Whiskey Trust and Manhole abruptly closed in late 2014. Gassman and LKH Management partnered for the reopening.
The three bars born from the partnership — a renewed Manhole, SEVEN and The Den — closed in November. Gassman wanted to pursue "other options for this prime real estate location," LKH Management said in a statement.
Instead of another run at the bar scene, the space will introduce some new competition for the ramen and somewhat-newer poké scene in Lakeview.
Furious Spoon will be open late and have room for 80 customers in its 2,000-square-foot space. The menu will be the same as that of other Furious Spoon locations, along with a selection of beer, sake and cocktails.
As with other Furious Spoons, guests will order at the front counter before finding seats at the full bar or long communal tables.
“Furious Spoon has upped the ramen culture in Chicago,” said chef Shin Thompson. “It’s time for Lakeview to see what we are all about.”
The popular ramen stop has restaurants in Wicker Park, Logan Square and Revival Food Hall, with a fourth location opening at 1316 W. 18th St. in Pilsen in the spring.
FireFin Poke Shop is a rapidly growing Chicago-based chain of eateries serving salad and rice topped with fresh fish.
FireFin Poke Shop serves more than 10 varieties of Hawaiian-style poke bowls, costing between $8.95 - $15.95. Two bestsellers are “Tuna on Fire” and the “Rainbow Bowl”.
Both the Wicker Park and Lakeview locations will seat between 30 and 40 patrons and stay open 7 days a week, with delivery and catering menus.
