Revival Food Hall vendors may stay after lease dispute

Hungry people downtown who love Revival Food Hall may be able to keep chowing down there after all.

Revival Food Hall posted on Instagram this week that it would close at the end of the month after eight years of business as one of the city’s beloved indoor markets.

“Since reopening after COVID , inviting people back downtown has been our mission. Our vision was that Revival would serve the Loop community for many years to come,” Revival posted on Instagram. “Unfortunately, without better business terms from our landlord, Revival cannot continue.”

But the situation is more complex than the food market’s statement indicated as the landlord, CBRE, has expressed its intention to keep operating the popular food court.

Matt Sussman, who owns Danke at the Revival Food Hall, said the announcement followed a long process but the vendors were told by CBRE that they intend to continue operating the food hall.

“There will be a transition but my understanding is that CBRE plans to keep the existing vendors. Of course there could be future changes, but it certainly seems in their best interest to continue operating a busy food hall in that space,” Sussman said in an email to the Tribune. “We plan to stay and my guess is most of the other vendors will too, unless there are onerous changes to our lease agreements.”

Another vendor, FARE, told the Tribune it is “going to continue to operate as normal in our location at Revival.”

“We were completely blindsided by this but anticipate no changes in operations,” FARE said.

The market opened in 2016 inside The National building, which was designed by Daniel Burnham, and has been popular with Loop-goers longing to fill empty bellies.

CBRE and Revival did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Revival’s post said they plan to focus on the From Here On food hall at the Old Post Office.