Activity at the Former Ole' Hardwood?

There was some activity at the former Ole' Hardwood located at 1315 S. Wabash Ave. this morning. Workers were removing charred remains of the upscale "gastro-smokehouse" restaurant.

Workers removed some of the charred remains from 1315 S. Wabash Ave.

Ole' Hardwood was destroyed in a fire on December 30, 2010. The fire was later labeled "incendiary" by the Chicago Fire Department.

Ole' Hardwood Fire Deemed "Incendiary"

Ole' Hardwood, the short-lived gastro-smokehouse that went up in flames on December 30, 2010 seemed suspicious from the start. Barely open for three months in a location that saw two previous restaurants come and go in as many years, Ole' Hardwood took a pounding from local restaurant critics shortly before the fire.

Ole' Hardwood boarded up after fire damaged it December 30, 2010.

The fire is now considered incendiary according to a report at the Chicago Journal Web site. The investigation of the restaurant at 1315 S. Wabash has been turned over to the Chicago Police Department Bomb and Arson Unit, according to Quentin Curtis, spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department.

Utopia opened and closed in 2010.

Ole Hardwood Owner, Julius Thomas owned two other restaurants at the 1315 S Wabash address: Exposure Tapas opened and closed in 2009 and Utopia opened and closed in 2010.

South Loop Loses Another Restaurant

Goodbye, Opera
Ole' Hardwood went up in smoke yesterday after being in business for barely three months. Now, according to Metromix, Opera at 1301 S. Wabash Ave. will be closing after tonight's (New Year's Eve) dinner service. The plan is for the restaurant to be closed for three to four months, reopening as a "gastropubby sports bar," according to partner Jerry Kleiner.

Interior of Opera

Opera was one of the first "trendy" restaurants to open in the area helping to transform the South Loop into the established neighborhood it is today.

Ole' Hardwood Suffers Significant Damage in Fire: Called Suspicious

Photo courtesy of Jeanette Johnson

Up in Smoke
Ole' Hardwood, the South Loop's newest restaurant suffered "significant damage" according to a report from Chicago Breaking News. The restaurant at 1315 S. Wabash Ave. opened in late October. The third restaurant to open in that space in almost three years, Ole' Hardwood seemed to be attracting crowds and a regular clientele.

No Injuries Reported
According to Chicago Breaking News, the fire" broke out" at 4:45 a.m. The fire was put out quickly a little after 5:30 a.m. No injuries were reported and none of the surrounding buildings had to be evacuated.

As of this writing, there have been no updates to the restaurant's Web site or Facebook page.

UPDATE: Thursday 11:06 a.m.--According to the latest reports, the fire that damaged Ole' Hardwood restaurant is being called suspicious. Click here for the latest news.

After "The Bishop's Wife" The Wrap Party at Ole' Hardwood

The November 9, 2010 screening of The Bishop's Wife was an enjoyable holiday treat for those in attendance. For many, it was the first time they had seen the perennial Christmas classic. The movie concerns a young bishop and his wife as they try to raise funds to build a new cathedral and the conflicts that ensue.

The "Meet Me at the Movies" crew at Ole' Hardwood

The stars, Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven are in top form. Grant plays Dudley, an angel sent from heaven to assist Young (the bishop's wife) and Niven (the bishop) with the cathedral plans. Dudley also helps them restore their marriage, which has been suffering under the stress of the cathedral building campaign.

The stars of The Bishop's Wife: Grant, Young, and Niven.

After the film, about 15 of us went to Ole' Hardwood at 1351 S. Wabash Ave. Ole' Hardwood opened in late October in the space formerly occupied by Utopia.

Meet Us at Ole' Hardwood After "Meet Me at the Movies"

Wrap Party at New South Loop Restaurant
After this month's screening of The Bishop's Wife--Thursday December 9, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Sherwood Community Music School, Columbia College recital hall, 1312 S. Michigan Ave.--join us for dinner at the South Loop's newest restaurant, Ole' Hardwood.

Ole' Hardwood opened in late October.

Ole' Hardwood is a "Gastro-Smokehouse" located at 1315 S. Wabash Ave. That's just around the block from Sherwood. We'll be ordering off the menu. Mention you're part of the "Meet Me at the Movies" crowd and receive 15% off of your check.

Cary Grant, left, plays an angel named Dudley in The Bishop's Wife.

"Meet Me at the Movies" is sponsored by the PDNA. If you want to RSVP to the movie (recommended) click here.

Ole' Hardwood to Reopen Wednesday for Dinner

Ole' Hardwood: The Gastro-Smokehouse at 1351 S.Wabash Ave. will reopen for business this Wednesday November 10 for dinner. The new South Loop restaurant opened in late October in the space formally occupied by Utopia. They seemed to be off to a great start with good word of mouth and, according to me, good food.  Apparently they encountered some problems which required them to shut down for a few days.

Ole' Hardwood replaced their original awning with a new one (above) that is easier to see and read

It was reported elsewhere that they had problems with their ovens over the weekend, but I have not been able to substantiate that report. Today, as I walked past, there was a sign posted that read, "Due to circumstances beyond out control...we will be closed today 11/09, but will reopen Wednesday 11/10 for dinner service." Also included on the sign was the restaurant Web site and their phone number: 312-583-9761.

Sign posted on the entrance to restaurant announcing their reopening on November 10

Every new business hits a few snags and Ole' Hardwood is no exception. This reader is hoping things get back on track soon. For my review of Ole' Hardwood, click here.
 

Around the South Loop

A lot has been going on in the South Loop. Most recently the road work on State St. and now S. Indiana Ave. The work on S. Indiana is expected to continue until November 14. Repair work on S. Indiana is a long time coming for some of us.

Parking is tough enough in the South Loop.

Take a walk with me as I go north on S. Indiana toward 16th St., on my way to work.

New South Loop restaurant, Ole' Hardwood is now open for lunch: yum!

Check out the view of the Orange Line train leaving the Roosevelt Rd. train platform heading for Midway. This is a familiar sight for hundreds of South Loop commuters.

Workers replace the lamppost at 1601 S. Michigan Ave. that was knocked down during last week's high winds.

Ole' Hardwood Opens in the South Loop

Ole' Hardwood: The Gastro-Smokehouse at 1351 S.Wabash Ave. is open for business. The new South Loop restaurant opened three days ago in the space formally occupied by Utopia.  

Ole' Hardwood at 1351 S. Wabash Ave.

My friend Elizabeth and I stopped in to check out the new space so I could take some photographs to post on this blog. We weren't planning on eating there, but General Manager, Alexander Carlin invited us in. It was hard to refuse such an offer and I'm happy to report we didn't. According to the restaurant's Web site, "Ole Hardwood is a Gastro-Smokehouse combining traditional styles of barbecue, meat smoking, and wood plank cooking in a contemporary setting . . ."

A half slab of oak wood-pork "St Louis-Cut" ribs with a side of buttermilk onion strings

After we were seated, sweet potato chips were delivered to our table. You may eat the chips plain or dip them in three different dipping sauces provided. As an appetizer, we ordered the fried okra with cucumber-dill yogurt sauce. The okra was fresh-tasting and remarkably non-greasy.

Since smoked ribs are a big part of the menu items offered, we decided on the oak wood-pork "St Louis-Cut" ribs with a side order of buttermilk onion strings. The ribs were moist, tender, and falling off the bone...and most importantly delicious. The onion strings, like the okra, were light and not at all greasy.

Grilled bananas, chocolate ganache, peanut butter crumble and bacon ice cream!

For dessert, we ordered the grilled bananas (at the recommendation of our server) with chocolate ganache, and peanut butter crumble and bacon ice cream. Yes, I said peanut butter crumble and bacon ice cream. It sounds like an odd combination, but it compliments the fried bananas and when topped with chocolate ganache, how can you go wrong?

If you're interested in finding out more about this new addition to the South Loop, including their menu, check out their Web site by clicking here.