Axios took a trip down Randolph Street on Sunday to catch up on the renovations to this major artery in the West Loop.
The region, which has undergone a lot of change recently, was discussed by readers, who shared their favorite old restaurants and memories of the locale.
Jerry Kleiner opened Vivo as his first restaurant on Randolph Street, says Phil V. Dan Krasny and Howard Davis served as his partners (thus the KDK restaurant group). Dan Krasny kept control of Vivo after the partnership broke up. Yet it’s undeniable that Vivo, which was modeled after I Tre Merli, a popular restaurant in New York City, was the establishment that spurred the Randolph Street culinary Renaissance.
Carrie N.: “Vivo would be crushing it if it were still operating now.” There, a great number of well-known Chicago restaurateurs got their start.
“I really, really miss the,” says Derrick E. Early years of establishments like Red Light and Marché, as well as the whole early mood of the street when it was first starting to change. That were exciting times.”
Anne S.: “You misjudge the significance of Randolph’s “Restaurant Row” in the 1990s, in my opinion. Together with Kleiner’s numerous locations, there was also Paladino’s, Ina’s (opened in 2001), and a few other restaurants, not to mention Blackbird (established in 1997), Avec, and the third eatery in that small strip that changed frequently.”
S. Angela: “The store, the wine café, and the event area all remind me of Randolph Wine Bar. The management was always helpful with their venue and items to non-profit organizations, and the wine was superb and the view was stunning.”
Mary D.: “Barney’s at the southeast corner of Halsted and Randolph was a favorite for generations! You were greeted, ‘yes, sir, senator’ upon arrival. I am retired now, but worked in that neighborhood in the late 1980s … our parents, after the war, loved to dine there on special occasions.”
Patrick C.: “Many a Martini and steak were consumed by City Hall denizens of Barney’s Market Club. As I recall, the street had mostly wholesalers and printers then, including wholesale florists, where you could always get some fresh flowers.”
George S.: “Barney’s. I went to Barney’s for lunch when I worked at Illinois Bell Telephone. A three hour lunch with cocktails. We got back to the office just in time to go home.”
