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Cemitas Puebla Pop-Up In Logan Closes As Owner Searches For Permanent Digs

By Mina Bloom | September 28, 2017 3:01pm
 The Cemitas Puebla pop-up in Logan Square served its final customers Wednesday, according to owner Tony Anteliz.
The Cemitas Puebla pop-up in Logan Square served its final customers Wednesday, according to owner Tony Anteliz.
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DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay

LOGAN SQUARE — The Cemitas Puebla pop-up in Logan Square served its final customers Wednesday, according to owner Tony Anteliz.

But fans of the famous Mexican sandwich joint needn't worry too much: The Humboldt Park native closed the pop-up restaurant at 3129 W. Armitage Ave to concentrate on finding a permanent location in the area.

The pop-up, he said, was never designed to be permanent, though it did last more than a year longer than anticipated.

"I loved where we were at, but I always knew that wasn't home. That space wasn't ours," Anteliz said.

Anteliz is now on the hunt for a property to buy in either Humboldt Park or Logan Square so he can re-establish Cemitas Puebla as a permanent fixture on the Northwest Side.

"The next spot we go ... that's going to be home. I really want to be there for a long time," he said.

Over the course of its 13-year run, the original Humboldt Park restaurant, famous for its cemitas sandwiches and tacos, earned rave reviews from locals and foodies alike, including Guy Fieri of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," before closing in 2015 due to a landlord dispute. Anteliz opened the pop-up as a way to stay connected to the neighborhoods.

There's no timeline for the permanent location. Anteliz said he wants to take it slow and evaluate all of his options before putting down roots. 

"I'm not in any rush. I tend to get really excited, like, 'Oh I want it, I want it.' As I've gotten older, I've learned patience. Wherever we open, it'll be very well thought out," he said.

But there's no question Cemitas Puebla will return to the area once Anteliz lands on the perfect property.

"To me, Logan Square and Humboldt Park have always been very intertwined. But I'm a Humboldt Park boy. I always tend to lean [there]. In a perfect scenario, I'd love to do Humboldt Park, but the lines are blurry. Logan Square is awesome right now. You couldn't pick a better time to get into it," he said.

In the meantime, folks can visit either the Hyde Park location at 1321 East 57th St. or the West Loop location at 817 W. Fulton Market.

Eater was first to report the closure.