Community Corner

Lulu's Closing in January After 21 Years in Evanston

A farm-to-table restaurant is planned for the space at 804 Davis St. in Downtown Evanston.

Evanston restaurant Lulu's Dim Sum & Then Some is closing this January after more than two decades in business, according to owner Dan Kelch.

Kelch, who owns the property at 804 Davis St., said he plans to lease the space to another tenant, but declined to comment on specifics. A new restaurant called HKK has applied for a liquor license at the property, according to city documents.

"The restaurant business is an intensive business, and to be honest, after 21 years, I’m a bit worn," Kelch wrote in a letter to staff. "While LuLu’s is still a profitable operation, it’s not fair to our customers or staff to operate the restaurant on cruise control."

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The new owners will operate a farm-to-table restaurant, and will open sometime this spring, according to the letter. Kelch said that he searched long and hard for someone who would be unique and independent.

He also said in the letter that staff members may try to raise funds to keep Lulu's open in another location, and said he decided not to sell the restaurant because of his personal attachment to the business.

"This is a very bittersweet announcement, but we believe change is a positive thing," wrote Kelch, who also owns Taco Diablo at 1029 Davis St. "Not only do we embrace it, we are instigating it." 

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