Korean Restaurant bopNgrill Closing Lakeview Location Ahead Of New Development On Belmont
Business Closures
bopNgrill Closes Lakeview Location
The fast-casual Korean restaurant bopNgrill has closed its Lakeview location a year earlier than expected due to a 200-unit apartment building being developed on Belmont Avenue.
Why the Closure?
Will Song, the founder and owner of bopNgrill, said he suspected he would one day have to move his restaurant’s location at 921 W. Belmont Ave. after Mavrek Development bought the property before the pandemic. Once the pandemic hit, development plans on Belmont came to a halt, which then gave bopNgrill a few more years to operate at its Lakeview location. Four years later, Mavrek Development and the city are moving ahead with plans to redevelop the building at 925 W. Belmont Ave. — which now houses Ann Sather and Belmont Army Vintage — into a 10-story apartment building with ground-floor stores and a sleek glass facade.
Reopening in Evanston
Although the project still needs approval from Ald. Bennett Lawson (44th), the city’s Zoning Committee and City Council, Song believes it will eventually be approved and is making proactive plans to relocate. “With that looming over our space in Lakeview, I decided to shut down a little bit earlier than expected,” Song said. “I probably could have gotten another year out of it, but now at least I can salvage the equipment and inventory and ship it to our new location.”
While bopNgrill is closing its Lakeview space, Song is opening a new spot in Evanston, where the restaurant previously had a location that closed in 2012. The original bopNgrill in Rogers Park remains open.
Timing and Logistics
Throughout the pandemic, bopNgrill thrived due to deliveries and carry-outs, Song said. The restaurant is well-known for its fast-casual Korean staples like bibimbap plates, kimchi fries, and burgers. Over the past few years, he’s kept busy managing both restaurants while also helping his protégé Andrew Oh open Eggs With Benefits in Rogers Park.
Once Song heard that the plans for the 10-story apartment building were picking up, he decided to make a move, he said. “With the Evanston shop opening and the timing of everything, I figured I could save $20,000, $30,000 worth of inventory and save on storage space and close a little early,” Song said. “I’m sure rent in that area is going to go up by two or three times what it is now because everything is becoming brand new, unfortunately. It kind of sucks, but it was inevitable.”
Impact on the Neighborhood
Renderings of a proposed 10-story apartment complex at 925 W. Belmont Ave. Credit: Provided/Mavrek Development
The project at 925 W. Belmont includes 9,000 square feet of retail on its ground floor and will stretch from Ann Sather on the east to Belmont Army Vintage on the west. Standing nearly 109 feet, the proposed building would include a mix of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, according to the plans. At least 30 of its apartments would be rented out at an affordable rate, a requirement for projects needing a rezoning. The proposal would require an up-zone from B3-3 to B3-5, Lawson previously told Block Club.
The new development will be great for many businesses in the area, Song said. More people means more foot traffic, which is always good, he said. However, the development will undoubtedly change the neighborhood in drastic ways.
“I think Ann Sather is a monster for breakfast,” Song said. “They do a ton of volume and eventually they may have to relocate. Then you have Belmont Army Vintage, the Gallery Bookstore, Strings Ramen — I think they’ll all have to relocate sooner or later.”
Conclusion
bopNgrill’s closure is a result of the proposed apartment building development on Belmont Avenue, which will lead to increased rent prices in the area. While this may be a challenge for existing businesses, the development is expected to bring more foot traffic and potentially new opportunities for entrepreneurs.
FAQs
* Why is bopNgrill closing its Lakeview location?
+ The restaurant is closing due to the proposed apartment building development on Belmont Avenue, which will lead to increased rent prices in the area.
* What is happening to the current businesses on Belmont Avenue?
+ The development plans include a mix of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, with at least 30 apartments to be rented out at an affordable rate. The proposal would require an up-zone from B3-3 to B3-5.
* Will existing businesses be able to remain in the newly built complex?
+ It is unclear if businesses like Ann Sather and Belmont Army Vintage will be able to remain in the newly built complex. The proposed apartment building has yet to be brought to the city’s Zoning Committee and is still in the community feedback process.
