One quick-serve restaurant option is no longer available in downtown Lake Forest due to the sudden closing of Einstein Bros. Bagels in Market Square.
The Lake Forest operation of the national breakfast food chain abruptly closed its Lake Forest eatery located at 728 North Western Avenue sometime on the last weekend of August.
A sign in the window announced the closing of the store while thanking customers for their patronage and apologizing for any inconvenience. During the week of September 1, individuals were seen in the restaurant appearing to clear out equipment.
Einstein Bros. representatives declined to comment through their publicist.
Christiane Fischer, a senior asset manager of Mid-America Asset Inc., Market Square’s owner believed Einstein Bros. moved into the shopping center in 1995.
“We are definitely sad to see them go,” Fischer said. “They have been part of the Market Square family for 30 years. It was a corporate decision, not a property decision.”
Fischer added due to coronavirus pandemic mitigations, the restaurant only started offering indoor seating about 10 months ago. She noted the store’s lease was set to expire soon, but did not specify an exact date.
While Einstein Bros. is gone, Fischer expressed confidence another tenant will soon occupy the approximate 2,000-foot space.
“We are extremely busy right now,” she said. “The property is doing very well so we don’t feel it will take long to re-lease.”
Lake Forest Community Development Director Catherine Czerniak said despite the Einstein Bros. closure, several quick-serve restaurants have been successful in downtown Lake Forest, including the recent opening of Once Upon a Bagel on Deerpath Road.
In another restaurant development, Czerniak said construction is ongoing for a new Tocco restaurant, with the owners planning a second location in addition to the current spot in Winnetka.
The Lake Forest version will be at 950 N. Western and Czerniak said she expects it to open by the end of the year.
She indicated it was possible other restaurants might open in the city in the near future.
“The city and local landlords are in discussions with several parties interested in opening various types of food and beverage establishments in the city,” she said. “There is a great deal of interest in Lake Forest.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.