Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Dion Antic's The Shady Lady Debuts April 16

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Crain's Chicago did a pretty intense story on restaurateur Dion Antic, who's opening The Shady Lady to the public on April 16.

The article discusses his new company, Chicago-based ReBrand Inc., in which he plans to license and/or sell his ideas to restaurateurs and consult, leaving day-to-day operations to the people who buy the concepts from him.

It also delves into his next ventures:

"After the Shady Lady, he promises more: a nightclub called Whiskey & Wine, another called Side Show, and a fast-food place modeled on soup bars he's seen in Shanghai."

And his reputation in the biz:

"Mr. Antic faces a few other hurdles as he reinvents himself, not least his reputation for being a loudmouth. . . . Another is making up for lost time. The world has moved on since Mr. Antic was at the height of his career, owning a dozen bars and restaurants starting with Iggy's in 1991. He had a reputation for building visually striking spaces on a budget: One bar was lighted with static from the screens of broken TVs. Another had banquettes made from church pews covered with inexpensive velvet."

In other food-related news:

Old Town Brasserie has been sold, and new owners plan to reopen it in May after a renovation and reconcept.

Stephanie Izard's highly anticipated Girl & The Goat is now set to open in early June.

And Blackbird's Michael Sheerin has been tapped as one of 10 chefs for the annual Food and Wine Best New Chef issue!

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