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Zephyr Set to Blow Away

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Oct 10, 2006 2:27PM

2006_10_zephyr.jpgIt's been a constant in Ravenswood for thirty years, known for its gauche art deco interior design, ho-hum food, harried waitstaff, rude busboys, and the saving grace of their tasty, gargantuan sundaes. And, if you're the nostalgic for this sort of place, you have until October 22 to grab one last bite at Zephyr.

Owner Byron Kouris said in today's Sun-Times that a lease dispute with his landlord is forcing him to close Zephyr. The 71-year-old Kouris also admitted that he's ready to ease into a sedentary lifestyle with his wife. Still, for many Ravenswood residents who've seen the neighborhood change dramatically over the years, the closing of Zephyr is the end of an era.

Zephyr was a link to the neighborhood's grittier, not-so-distant past, where residents and folks working in the neighborhood could get something a step or two up from traditional diner fare. We're gonna miss their "Frankenstein's Monster" sundae, the mirrored walls, and the way the busboys always banged up our shins whenever we ate there. Fare thee well.