Two well-known Evanston fast-food restaurants closed over the weekend, surprising many students and residents with their sudden departures.
Panda Express, 1721 Sherman Ave., and McDonald’s, 1700 Orrington Ave., both posted signs in their windows Saturday notifying customers that the restaurants were closed for good.
McDonald’s had been expected to close to make room for a new upscale restaurant as part of the $20 million expansion of the Omni Orrington Hotel, 1710 Orrington.
But Susan Stoga, spokeswoman for the Omni Orrington, said she did not know that the doors to McDonald’s would be closing so quickly.
The sign hung outside the popular downtown fast food joint said: “To Our Valued Customers: As you have heard, the Orrington Hotel is remodeling. Our lease has been terminated.”
McDonald’s was operating on a three-year lease with 10 years of options from Greenfield Partners LLC, the owners of the Omni Orrington Hotel.
Greg Semos, McDonald’s Chicago development director, told The Daily two weeks ago that a deal to buy out the lease had not yet been finalized.
Representatives from the McDonald’s chain could not be reached for comment over the weekend.
Semos told The Daily that McDonald’s would look for alternate locations in Evanston if the Orrington location closed. The sign at McDonald’s said the restaurant is moving to South Elgin, Ill.
Though McDonald’s closure had been discussed for weeks, the departure of Panda Express came as a surprise to many students.
A manager of a Wilmette-based branch of Panda Express who asked not to be identified said the Evanston restaurant closed because business was slow and the lease was expensive.
The sign posted at Panda Express said: “Sorry, we moved. Please come see us at 3232 Lake Ave. (inside Edens Plaza).”
Bruce Clayton, a sociology graduate student, said he thought the sign was misleading.
“I’m pretty sure there’s already a Panda Express at that exact location,” he said, “so they’re not exactly moving.”
Clayton said he was surprised to see both restaurants closed on the same day.
“McDonald’s I don’t really care about,” he said. “But Panda Express is a favorite of mine, so that’s a little disappointing.”
Jeremy Chao, a Weinberg and Music junior, said the abrupt shuttering of the two restaurants is worrisome, especially since the downtown Evanston branch of CVS, which has been advertised for several months, has yet to open.
“It’s like we’re having a little mini-Evanston depression,” Chao said.
Gary Seltzer, owner of Gary Poppins, 1739 Sherman, said the closing of Panda Express did not reflect the viability of the block as a whole.
“It’s not at all a bad area for business,” Seltzer said. “That’s why I moved in here.”
Gary Poppins opened in late September, and Selzter said a restaurant and a salon will soon be opening on the block.
“I don’t think it’ll be long before somebody moves into that Panda Express spot,” Seltzer said.
The departure of the two restaurants leaves students with fewer options for fast food. Ruben Rodriguez, a supervisor at Chipotle, 711 Church St., said he wasn’t sure why the restaurants closed but figured it would benefit Chipotle.
“Actually, it’s going to bring us more business,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve been busy all day.”
