George Karzas kept his cards close to his chest. At Weston’s Coffee, where he often orders a blueberry muffin and drip coffee with room for cream, the baristas had no idea the longtime restaurant owner planned to close Gale Street Inn. Nor did his many customers in and around Jefferson Park. “It’s too soon to talk,” Karzas said Friday from the bright red doorway of his restaurant at 4914 N. Milwaukee Ave. He has kept the door locked since Wednesday night. Karzas announced on Instagram Thursday that Gale Street Inn, a neighborhood staple in operation since 1963, was permanently closed, a troubling trend among local restaurants, industry professionals say. He cited staffing shortages as the primary reason for the abrupt closure. “Hiring and retaining quality staff has proven too tough for too long,” he wrote. “We are tired of sucking, we have standards you know. But overworking our existing crew is not the answer. There are simply too many of you and not enough of us.” He went on to say in the post that he’s loved operating in Chicago, “the greatest food town on the planet,” and that there is “no gracious way to close a retail business.” The restaurant is widely known for its signature baby back ribs. Tap on our bio link to read more. ----- Photo: Eileen Cazares walks past the Gale Street Inn on June 20, 2025, in Chicago. ? Rebecca Johnson and Sophie Levenson / Chicago Tribune ?️ Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune
June 24, 2025
George Karzas kept his cards close to his chest. At Weston’s Coffee, where he often orders a blueberry muffin and drip coffee with room for cream, the baristas had no idea the longtime restaurant owner planned to close Gale Street Inn. Nor did his many customers in and around Jefferson Park.
“It’s too soon to talk,” Karzas said Friday from the bright red doorway of his restaurant at 4914 N. Milwaukee Ave. He has kept the door locked since Wednesday night.
Karzas announced on Instagram Thursday that Gale Street Inn, a neighborhood staple in operation since 1963, was permanently closed, a troubling trend among local restaurants, industry professionals say. He cited staffing shortages as the primary reason for the abrupt closure.
“Hiring and retaining quality staff has proven too tough for too long,” he wrote. “We are tired of sucking, we have standards you know. But overworking our existing crew is not the answer. There are simply too many of you and not enough of us.”
He went on to say in the post that he’s loved operating in Chicago, “the greatest food town on the planet,” and that there is “no gracious way to close a retail business.” The restaurant is widely known for its signature baby back ribs.
Tap on our bio link to read more.
-----
Photo: Eileen Cazares walks past the Gale Street Inn on June 20, 2025, in Chicago.
? Rebecca Johnson and Sophie Levenson / Chicago Tribune
?️ Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune
“It’s too soon to talk,” Karzas said Friday from the bright red doorway of his restaurant at 4914 N. Milwaukee Ave. He has kept the door locked since Wednesday night.
Karzas announced on Instagram Thursday that Gale Street Inn, a neighborhood staple in operation since 1963, was permanently closed, a troubling trend among local restaurants, industry professionals say. He cited staffing shortages as the primary reason for the abrupt closure.
“Hiring and retaining quality staff has proven too tough for too long,” he wrote. “We are tired of sucking, we have standards you know. But overworking our existing crew is not the answer. There are simply too many of you and not enough of us.”
He went on to say in the post that he’s loved operating in Chicago, “the greatest food town on the planet,” and that there is “no gracious way to close a retail business.” The restaurant is widely known for its signature baby back ribs.
Tap on our bio link to read more.
-----
Photo: Eileen Cazares walks past the Gale Street Inn on June 20, 2025, in Chicago.
? Rebecca Johnson and Sophie Levenson / Chicago Tribune
?️ Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune
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