Café Society Caught in Crosshairs

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Apr 9, 2007 4:18PM

Café Society, located in the Historic Prairie District's National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, is quickly finding itself to be an unwelcome tenant. The museum's board of directors served owner Jorge Armando "Chef George" Anafador an eviction notice last year, allegedly for being habitually late with the rent - and who hasn't? This prompted Anafador, whose lease on the café runs through 2013, to file a lawsuit fighting the eviction notice.

Anafador's lawsuit throws a wrench into the board's plans to turn over the space to Black Orchid Supper Club owner Marc Curtis, who has donated and loaned a combined $80,000 to the museum, which is $600,000 in debt. The lease is iron-clad, so eviction is the only option to remove Anafador. But Anafador also has friends in high places. Yesterday's Sun-times also touched on the fight. Reporter Mark Konkol wrote that one of Armando's highest-profile customers is His Elective Majesty, who takes his eggs "fluffy ... with tomates" and "a nice cappucino." Apparently, Café Society is Mayor Daley's favorite breakfast spot, and close to his South Loop home. Will the museum run the risk of angering the mayor by replacing his fluffy eggs with a well-heeled tenant who can help them reduce their debt? Can the museum's board and Anafador come to a amicable resolution that makes all parties happy? How may of you knew there was an art museum dedicated to works from Vietnam veterans?