Hell No They Won't Go!

By John & Susie Pratt in Food on Mar 24, 2005 3:35PM

The world is full of things we wish we could put a stop to, but this particular one caught our attention this morning. The Chicago Bagel Authority on Armitage is in trouble. Their building has been purchased and in a twist on the classic “I can’t pay the rent; You must pay the rent!” scenario, the new owner has made it clear that CBA isn’t the kind of tenant that he had in mind. Looking for a “national retailer” to fill the space – because Lincoln Park apparently needs more of that – the new landlord has given CBA eleven months to relocate.

But CBA will not go quietly – long time patrons and neighborhood residents are rising to its defense. Founded by two Miami University alum, and home of the “steamed sandwich” – a brilliant cooking method that maximizes the chewy goodness of a bagel, CBA is a Lincoln Park institution. And as the City is increasingly overrun with chain sandwich options from Jimmy John’s to Potbellys, CBA’s array of quality ingredients and fantastic sandwiches is an increasingly rare commodity.

So how to save the endangered species that is a CBA sandwich (or the mom and pop shop)? Well, people, they need cash money. So first – go buy their sandwiches (no hardship here; they are superb). And, if you yourself are a maestro with the sandwich, we suggest you enter “The Sandwich that Saved CBA” contest. Choose from their list of ingredients, name it something clever, and send it off with a $25 entry fee off to CBA by April 30. In addition to the good feeling you will get for stickin’ it to the man, you could also win any number of disproportionately awesome prizes.