Rising Rents And Boring Yuppies Kill A Wicker Park Gastropub

By Kate Shepherd in Food on Sep 23, 2015 6:25PM

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It's the end of an era for Wicker Park lounge and gastropub Rodan, which is closing Sunday after a 12-year run.

The Asian fusion restaurant and lounge was a favorite spot of the neighborhood's art community, according to Eater. It played host to live music and local DJs nightly and was also known for its cocktails and food.

Rodan, located at 1530 N. Milwaukee Ave., will host its final event Sunday night and honor skateboarder Reggie Destin, who was tragically killed by a drunk driver nearby in 2012, Sunday evening.

Rodan is closing because the landlord raised the rent by $2000 a month, and the owners had lost their passion for running Rodan, former general manager Lance Akins told Eater.

And besides, Rodan's counterculture vibe might not fit Wicker Park anymore, which is increasingly filling up with chain restaurants and trendy stores. As Akin told Eater:

"The neighborhood, it's a little bit more, I don't want to say it, it's a little bit more generic."