Park 52 to close
By LINDSAY WELBERS
Staff Writer
Park 52 will be closing very early in 2013.
In an announcement released on Monday the upscale American restaurant said “We have voluntarily opted to close the restaurant due to a combination of business and personal obligations.”
The public is invited to attend a closing party at 5 p.m. on Jan. 9.
“We want to thank all of you who dined with us over the years,” the statement says. “It was an honor to serve YOU and it is because of you that this work was truly worthwhile, and the entire Park 52 family is deeply grateful for you patronage over the years.
Park 52’s statement, signed by owner Marc Brooks and “The Park 52 Family,” also thanks the University of Chicago as a key supporter of the restaurant.
“We truly believe that Hyde Park’s future continues to grow brighter each and every day,” the statement said.
One Hyde Parker, who asked not to be named, said she purchased a gift certificate last week. The employee who sold the certificate crossed out where it would normally say that the gift certificate expires one year from the date of purchase, and wrote in “December 31, 2012.”
Park 52, 5201 S. Harper Ave., opened in April 2008 after a massive rehabilitation of the space. Restaurant entrepreneur Jerry Kleiner had previously opened Marche, Red Light and Carnivale. Later that same year Kleiner transferred his shares of the restaurant to Brooks.
Dec 19, 2012 @ 16:05:15
I beg whomever may be reading this to open either a NICE mexican restaurant or a microbrewery… Three Floyds perhaps? Please! I’m begging!
Dec 26, 2012 @ 15:47:21
It’s a shame to see Park 52 close, it’s not many nice dinner/entertainment venue’s inner-city that we have to choose from.
I hope a similar venue will take it’s place.
Jan 02, 2013 @ 21:04:41
I hope that it’s knocked down and they start over on that site. It looks like a shed from the outside and now with all the new construction adjacent to it it would look even sadder.
Jan 09, 2013 @ 18:28:04
This isn’t entirely surprising. If I were to bet, look for another upscale restaurant to emerge here, one that compliments the new Hyatt. New parking, stores, hotel, movie theater and restaurants, great future for Harper Court! Park 52 was always out of place at this location, I wish them well and thank them for their years of serving the south side.