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Chicago’s Wishbone to Close After 36 Years

The owner confirmed the West Loop restaurant will shut its doors soon, creating an immediate gap for staff, regulars and the neighborhood’s dining scene.

Overview

  • Wishbone confirmed it will close after 36 years of operation at its West Loop site, with no firm final date announced.
  • The restaurant said its goal is to remain open through the end of August while it finalizes closing plans.
  • The current location sits at 161 N. Jefferson St., where Wishbone relocated in October 2018 after decades at an earlier West Loop site.
  • Chef Joel Nickson opened Wishbone in 1990 and built its reputation on southern-inspired dishes like baked bone-in ham, blackened catfish, and Carolina crab cakes prepared with lighter techniques.
  • Wishbone once operated multiple Chicago-area locations and has seen earlier closures in Berwyn and on Lincoln Avenue, making this latest announcement the most recent step in a long contraction of the brand.