Could a new owner bring back the popular Loop Cajun lunch spot, Heaven on Seven?

This lunchtime favorite for downtown workers has been closed for indoor dining since March 2020.

Heaven on Seven, The Garland BuildingNatalia Wilson/CC2.0/Flickr.com

(CHICAGO) For 40 years, diners could head up to the seventh floor of 111 N. Wabash Avenue to find traditional Louisiana cuisines such as Jambalaya, Gumbo, and Etouffee. There were once four locations throughout Chicago and the suburbs, but the iconic restaurant in the Loop was the last one to remain.

Though the location on the seventh floor of the Garland Building has been closed since the pandemic began in March of 2020, owner Jimmy Bannos has been running the restaurant as takeout only through The Purple Pig, owned by his son.

As of today, you can still cure your Cajun cravings on Fridays and Saturdays, at least for now. A visit to the restaurant's website shows takeout options are still available.

As stated on the website, "as a result of the current COVID-19 crisis, the Chicago Loop location of Heaven on Seven has closed for dine-in service. A limited menu for take out will be available on select Friday and Saturdays."

For this Friday, April 1st, and Saturday, April 2nd, diners have limited options, including a chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, red beans and rice, and jalapeno cheddar cornbread squares. See the restaurant's Instagram or Facebook pages for details and ordering.

Selling the space and the recipes

According to Crain's Chicago Business, Bannos is selling his restaurant for $450,000, including the furniture, fixtures, and equipment. And for buyers wanting the Heaven on Seven name and recipes, he's asking an extra $100,000.

According to ABC7, Bannos made the difficult decision to sell his business due to a loss of customers during the pandemic that he never saw returning to prior levels.

Will workers return downtown?

Could a new owner breathe new life into the space? Retail and restaurants in the Loop may pick up again this spring. According to an article in the Chicago SunTimes, signs are showing the Loop may experience a resurgence. The Chicago Loop Alliance has reported traffic in restaurants and on sidewalks increasing.

For now, Heaven on Seven fans must wait and see if a new owner will buy the space with the recipes and reopen for business.

Have you tried the NewsBreak mobile app yet? (Full disclosure: I get a small commission if you click my referral links.) Download the NewsBreak App to get local news conveniently delivered to your phone.