If You Have $3.8 Million, You Could Own Charlie Trotter's

By Anthony Todd in Food on Jun 6, 2013 2:30PM

After a gala closing and failed auction (with a side of crazy), Charlie Trotter's is now really for real on sale. And let's face it, it's a really nice building with an amazing location. What would you put there?

The Tribune reported yesterday that the property, which includes the restaurant, Trotter's office and a TV studio/kitchen where his television show was produced, is on sale for $3.8 million. We'd heard plenty of rumors that a deal had already closed between Trotter and Chef Homaro Cantu of moto, wherein moto would move into the restaurant and the additional space would be used for Cantu's grant-funded miracle berry experiments. Looks like the deal fell through.

So, assuming you wouldn't build another fine dining restaurant, what should go into the space? The city could just knock down the building and put in a giant monumental statue of Trotter yelling at his underlings, but that probably wouldn't go over well with the taxpayers. A few suggestions:

Anthony: Since Starbucks is expanding into food and wine service, make this the flagship - the largest, most elite chain coffeeshop in the WORLD. After all, who else could afford it?

Chuck: I'd put a Unique or Village Thrift store in that space, just to screw with the boutique clothing stores I would have as neighbors.

Steven: "Alinea To Go"

Samantha: Homeless shelter with a soup kitchen and affordable housing. I'd call it Trolley Crotcher.

Benjy: You know what Lincoln Park really needs? A sports bar with an Irish name, like O'Charlie's... or maybe an actual O'Charley's.

Lorna: It will probably be a CVS to compete with the Walgreen's going in on the corner where Little Rock church used to be.

What would you do with the space?