Readers’ taste buds played a prominent role in determining the top business stories of the year on Evanston Now.
Here’s a rundown of the top five food-related stories.
5. Global product shortage impacts Evanston businesses
April 23 — A shrinking supply of a critical product component is rippling across the globe, with implications here in Evanston. The shortage involves the tapioca starch balls known as boba, a key ingredient in boba tea, otherwise known as bubble tea.
4. Local coffee shop planned for former Starbucks on Dempster
Aug. 23 — The shuttered Starbucks at 528 Dempster St. is expected to reopen soon as a locally-owned coffee shop called Evanston Pour. The owner says new venue will be like a European “all day café.”
3. One long-standing restaurant closes, another reopens
April 23 — It was a place where you could get rye toast, wheat toast, and even French toast. But now the Golden Olympic is toast itself. But a couple blocks away on Davis Street, Clarke’s Off Campus reopened this week after closing twice due to statewide COVID-19 regulations.
2. Long-time Evanston restaurant to close next month
Prairie Joe’s, a fixture in the Central Street business district for 30 years, will shut its doors towards the end of October. Owner says he needs more family time.
1. A bakery, a coffee shop and a plant shop opening soon here
You’ll soon be able to get a cup of great coffee in a new shop on Dempster Street. But please, don’t call the new Dempster Street business, Comfort Desserts Reimagined, a coffee shop.
Food didn’t push all other business news off the table.
The two most-read contenders in that space:
2. NorthShore reported in merger talks
Aug. 23 — Evanston-based NorthShore University HealthSystem reportedly is in merger talks with Naperville-based Edward-Elmhurst Health.
1. Evanston bookstore sues Amazon
Without a doubt, it is a modern-day version of David vs. Goliath. Bookends and Beginnings, a small independent bookstore in Evanston, has filed a lawsuit against sales and delivery behemoth Amazon.