Guarda ah veramente é una luna bella ma guardate ma non giù su guardate su ehi. Why do you make me wait? Come on! Come on! - Grandpa Castorini
JDL development acquired an entire square block across from Holy Cathedral for their 77-story One Chicago. But there was one hold-out. They had to build around a small, one-story sliver at the corner of Dearborn and Superior that was the decades-long home to Bella Luna Cafe and a dry cleaner.
In September of 2022, the same year One Chicago was officially completed, Bella Luna Cafe announced that, after nearly 30 years, they had lost their lease and were closing. Although Baum Realty marketed the space with images of high-end retail, in styles from brick to heavy metal, there are still no signs of life on the property.
Meanwhile, walking past Solomon Cordwell Buenz's 1980 Great White Whale at 1 East Superior yesterday, I noticed a sign in a window on the State Street side, where there used to be a Sally Beauty Supply and a resale shop.
A "Coming Soon" sign for Bella Luna.
And whereas it is true that their web page promised a re-opening Summer of 2025, it is not true that that happened. Whereas it is true that the building permit in the window for "A CARRYOUT PIZZERIA RESTAURANT" shows an issued date of April 17 of this year, 2026.
So is it now really happening?
... and a few more historic pics:
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| 731 North Dearborn under construction, by John P Keating |
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| 1 East Superior under construction, from the William Brubaker collection |
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| The Bella Luna Cafe space after its departure |
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