French Bistro Confirmed for Cinnamon Café Location

A French Bistro will open in the former Cinnamon Café location, hoping to survive where three other restaurants have failed. 

The café at 1968 W. Lawrence Ave. closed its doors in March, but true to the landlord's word, the space didn't stay empty for long. 

Bertsch Properties owns the building, and proprietor Eloy Burciaga said he had “quite a bit of interest” in the opening.

A potential tenant could move in as soon as April, he said in March, and signs for Chez Simo Bistro appeared last week with a new coat of red paint on the building. The bistro will serve "authentic French Cuisine with a variety of dishes that will please everyone's palette," according to its website. 

The French restaurant was one of several interested renters that included a pancake house and Guatemalan-themed eatery, Burciaga said. 

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Before becoming Cinnamon Café in October 2011, the space was known as Ravenswood Grill, featuring American diner food.

Ideas of change came from the new owners and chef—known only as Chef Hector—who took over in 2010. Though it retained the same management throughout the switch, the new menu incorporated Mexican flare into typical brunch dishes.

Multiple attempts to contact the restaurant owners and Chef Hector were unsuccessful, but Burciaga said the café closed because of a dispute between the owners. One ended up pulling out of the business and the other wasn’t able to move forward, he said. 

Patch has reached out to the owners of Chez Simo Bistro, who were unable to comment before publication.