Blackbird
Chicago’s trendy West Loop neighborhood is losing one of its mainstay restaurants, the Michelin-starred Blackbird. The Paul Kahan restaurant announced it wouldn’t be reopening due to the financial strain of the coronavirus pandemic.
Kahan told the Chicago Tribune, “We’ve labored long and hard over this decision … But in an incredibly small, tight dining room — operating at only 25% capacity for who knows how long — and removing the opportunity to do private dining, it becomes incredibly difficult to manage.”
“Think of what six feet of social distancing means to Blackbird, and then how do you operate a 14-by-9 kitchen?” added partner Donnie Madia in the same interview. “We have other responsibilities and other staff members to take care of, and it’s our job to make sure we do that.”
Blackbird is part of One Off Hospitality, the group Kahan started with Madia, Eduard Seitan and the late Ricky Diarmit, which still owns and operates Avec, Big Star, Dove’s Luncheonette, the Publican, Publican Quality Meats and the Violet Hour in Chicago with no plans of closing. Café Cancale, the newest restaurant from One Off which opened in May 2019, announced its permanent closure as well.