Business & Tech

Pita Inn To Fill Barnum and Bagel Space On Dempster

Skokie favorite The Pita Inn will knock down the deteriorating Barnum and Bagel building and put up a new restaurant.

Written by Pam DeFiglio.

Pita Inn, a longtime Skokie staple which serves Middle Eastern food in a casual setting, will be moving into the long-vacant space where Barnum and Bagel restaurant used to stand, according to Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen.

Pita Inn will have the current building torn down and build a new restaurant, much larger than its current spot at 3910 Dempster Street, said Luz Adonce, office manager.

The Skokie Appearance Commission reviewed the plans Wednesday, said Leslie Murphy, the village's economic development specialist.

Adonce said the menu would remain the same, but the new, bigger location may include a party room. She said construction may start fairly soon, but did not have a timetable on when the new restaurant would open.

"The architecture will be complimentary to Oberweis, which is just down the block," Van Dusen said. "That area is starting to percolate, with the Jewish funeral home, Oberweis and (the remodeled) Kaufman's Bagel Bakery."

Barnum and Bagel was once known across the northern suburbs as a prime place to go for hearty Jewish specialties, such as matzoh ball soup and corned beef sandwiches. But it changed owners, and eventually closed in 2007. The inside of the building had deteriorated, Patch reported in 2011. 

Earlier: Developer Faces Challenges Filling Empty Barnum and Bagel space.

Pita Inn's menu features chicken, beef and lamb kebabs, shawarma (gyros), hummus, baba ganoush, a variety of salads and more. 


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