MORGAN PARK — Snappers Seafood & Chicken will soon close at 11500 S. Western Ave. in Morgan Park.
Owner Danny Maali said Monday the official closing date has not been determined but will happen in the coming days as his cousins, brothers Joe and David Maali, already have moved back to Florida.
The two brothers learned the seafood business from family members who operate about 13 Snappers restaurants in and around Miami. They sought to mirror that success in Chicago, possibly expanding the chain throughout the market.
However, the restaurant serving conch, chicken wings and fried snapper served whole never quite caught on here.
Snappers replaced Nicky's Drive-Thru, a gyro and hot dog stand that occupied the high-traffic corner of 115th Street and Western Avenue for 21 years. Snappers debuted there Nov. 7, 2015.
Maali also hoped Snappers could take advantage of traffic from the new Morgan Park Sports Center. The indoor ice rink and gymnastics facility at 11505 S. Western Ave. opened across the street Sept. 1, 2015.
The restaurant also briefly added breakfast to the menu and had several promotions aimed at boosting business.
"We tried," Maali said.
