Update from DTA Manager Jeff Serran:
The Downtown North Bay board and its members congratulate the Eng family on their retirement. They will be missed as part of our family, and we are confident that this location will bring further enjoyment to upcoming entrepreneurs.
-----
The Chicago Cafe, located at 167 Main St. West has ceased operations.
Owners Ed and Helen Eng have decided to pursue other interests, leading to good wishes from patrons and friends on the restaurant's Facebook page after posting this notice there and on the business website:
We are closed, but thank you for visiting.
We have been blessed with your encouragement, and others' support throughout the years. It has been our pleasure to serve you, and earn your patronage; so it is with a heavy heart that we have decided to close this business indefinitely to focus on other projects.
Thank you, again, for all your support and loyalty!
The Chicago Cafe Team
The building on Main West housed the Old Chicago Cafe for decades and was known for its Chinese food menu. The rebranded current restaurant was billed as "Asian Fusion fine dining cuisine."
The eatery is another in a long line of downtown businesses that had been in existence for generations that have closed or relocated.
It is not clear what will become of the space. Although the owners posted that the business will be closed "indefinitely," patrons responding to the notice on Facebook were treating this as a farewell. Attempts to reach the owners were unreturned at the time of publication.
Cindy Bethune wrote "Wishing you well, and thanking you for your incredible service. The Chicago has been a landmark in North Bay for generations and will be sorely missed."
"So sad to hear you are closing, but so sure that you both deserve to retire. Good luck to you Ed and Helen on all of your future plans!! You now have time to visit the rest of the world!! I do hope you keep us posted with your travel photos!!" posted Mary Jane Walsh.
Anya Page posted simply, "An end of an era."
