Dimo’s Cafe Is Closing Its Lincoln Square Pizzeria
Dimo’s Cafe to Close Its Doors in Lincoln Square After a Year and a Half
Dimo’s Cafe is closing its doors in Lincoln Square this Saturday, after a year and a half in the neighborhood. The late-night pizza spot, located at 4647 N. Lincoln Ave., branched out from Dimo’s casual slice shops in the Loop, Wicker Park, and Wrigleyville.
A Traditional Sit-Down Spot with a Twist
This Dimo’s location, Dimo’s Cafe, was designed to be a more traditional sit-down spot with a full bar, serving not only traditional pizzas but also sharable dishes like lollipop drumsticks. However, the restaurant struggled with brand identity, confusing customers and team members with its "cafe" name, as it didn’t serve coffee.
Owner Reflects on the Experience
Dimo’s owner, Dimitri Syrkin-Nikolau, acknowledged that the concept was an attempt to create a different brand that would work well for the neighborhood. "Dimo’s Cafe was our attempt at a different brand that we thought would work nicely for the neighborhood," he said. "But as it turned out, it was a little confusing for people and it veered away from the classic, tried-and-true Dimo’s experience that everybody has loved so much these past 15 years."
Neighborhood Reaction
According to Dimo’s brand manager Kourtnei Neely, the neighborhood was initially excited for a new local pizza spot to open. However, the restaurant struggled to draw in crowds. "People were really excited about us being in the neighborhood. We just never really saw the crowds we were hoping to get," Neely said. "We just never really got off the ground running the way that we were hoping, especially through those [normally] busy summer months."
Future Plans
While this is the end of the Dimo’s Cafe concept, Syrkin-Nikolau has not ruled out a return to Lincoln Square. He is exploring the possibility of opening a generic slice shop, similar to the other Dimo’s locations. "We’re currently exploring opening as just a generic slice shop, like we have at all the other spots, as opposed to trying to do something that is a little bit more fancy," he said. "I think that a slice shop, which is much more straightforward, is what people are looking for."
Conclusion
The cafe chapter of Dimo’s in that location is coming to an end, and I’m very excited about what the future will bring. Syrkin-Nikolau remains optimistic about the future, stating, "I think that a slice shop, which is much more straightforward, is what people are looking for."
FAQs
- Why is Dimo’s Cafe closing its Lincoln Square location?
The cafe struggled to attract crowds and was unable to separate itself from the standard Dimo’s experience. - What is the future of Dimo’s in Lincoln Square?
Syrkin-Nikolau is exploring the possibility of opening a generic slice shop at the location. - Is this the end of the Dimo’s Cafe concept?
Yes, this is the end of the Dimo’s Cafe concept, but it may not be the last we see of Dimo’s in Lincoln Square.
