Pull to refresh
Logo
What Changed
Following Why Sign Up
Southport Grocery and Cafe to close after 23 years in Lakeview

Southport Grocery and Cafe to close after 23 years in Lakeview

Money Moves Chicago, IL local

Owner Lisa Santos will close the restaurant at year's end; Dollop Coffee Co. will open Dollop Finer Diner in its place

October 20th, 2026: Closure announced

Overview

Updated Oct 26

Southport Grocery and Cafe will close at the end of 2026 after 23 years at 3552 N. Southport Ave. Owner Lisa Santos, a partner in Dollop Coffee Co., said the coffee company will open Dollop Finer Diner in the space. Axios Chicago listed the closure among notable fall closures on Oct. 21.

Santos said longtime staff, some of whom have worked for her 18 years, have jobs at the new diner. She will keep a small stake and consult. Before closing, the restaurant plans Thanksgiving catering, Christmas cookies and two more Secret Suppers.

Why it matters

A 23-year Lakeview institution closes as its owner converts the space into a diner, changing the Southport corridor's dining options.

Last Monday's email for Chicago, IL

Sent Nov 9. It carried:

Get next Monday's: one short email a week. Free. Unsubscribe in one click.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

23
Years in business
Southport Grocery and Cafe has operated on Southport Avenue since 2003.
1
Diner planned
Dollop Coffee Co. plans to open Dollop Finer Diner in the restaurant's space.
40+
Preserved products
The restaurant's canning and preserves operation produces more than 40 items.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

Log in Sign Up

People Involved

Lisa Santos
Lisa Santos
Owner of Southport Grocery and Cafe; partner in Dollop Coffee Co.
Closing Southport Grocery and Cafe at the end of 2026; will hold a small stake in Dollop Finer Diner and consult

Organizations Involved

Southport Grocery and Cafe
Southport Grocery and Cafe
Restaurant and grocery
Closing at the end of 2026

A Lakeview restaurant and specialty grocery that has operated on Southport Avenue since 2003.
Dollop Coffee Co.
Dollop Coffee Co.
Coffee roaster and cafe chain
Plans to open Dollop Finer Diner in the Southport Grocery space after the restaurant closes

A Chicago coffee company, of which Lisa Santos is a partner, that plans to open Dollop Finer Diner in the restaurant's location.

Timeline

2003 October 2026

3 events Latest: October 20th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago

  1. Closure announced

    Latest Announcement

    Block Club reports the restaurant will close at the end of 2026; Dollop Coffee Co. will open Dollop Finer Diner in the space.

  2. Restaurant featured on WTTW's 'Check, Please!'

    Media

    Two years after opening, Southport Grocery and Cafe appeared on the WTTW program, bringing a new wave of customers.

  3. Southport Grocery and Cafe opens

    Opening

    The restaurant opens on Southport Avenue, beginning a 23-year run.

Scenarios

1

Dollop Diner Opens in Southport Grocery Space

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Block Club Chicago (the owner's stated plan)

Dollop Coffee Co. opens a diner in the former Southport Grocery and Cafe space after the restaurant closes at the end of 2026. The conversion keeps the location under Lisa Santos's control and gives Dollop a food-service presence on Southport Avenue.

2

Diner Plans Change, Space Reused Differently

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Speculative; no public indication of a change

The planned Dollop diner does not materialize. The space is used for another purpose, sold, or sits vacant after the restaurant closes. This would require a shift in Santos's or Dollop's plans.

3

Community Effort to Preserve Southport Grocery

Unlikely Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: Speculative; no campaign announced

Neighbors or preservation groups push to landmark the restaurant or block the conversion. Chicago's landmarks process requires a formal application, which would be a public filing.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

March 2020 – 2021

COVID-19 pandemic restaurant closures (2020)

The pandemic forced Chicago restaurants to shut down indoor dining for months. Hundreds of independent restaurants, including several that had operated for decades, closed permanently as revenue collapsed.

Then

Neighborhoods across Chicago lost long-standing dining institutions.

Now

The pandemic accelerated restaurant turnover and consolidation, reshaping the city's dining scene.

Why this matters now

Shows how even established neighborhood restaurants can close, and how owners respond by selling, closing, or rebranding their spaces.

2010s–present

Rising commercial rents in Chicago neighborhoods (2010s–present)

Commercial rents in Chicago neighborhoods like Lakeview have risen over the past decade, squeezing long-time independent businesses. Some owners close or sell rather than renew leases at higher rates.

Then

Neighborhoods see turnover of independent businesses as new concepts and chains move in.

Now

The character of commercial corridors shifts as older businesses give way to newer formats.

Why this matters now

Provides context for why a 23-year-old restaurant might close and be converted rather than continue operating.

Sources

(3)
Block Club Chicago Southport Grocery and Cafe Axios Chicago