Gapers Block Goes On Hiatus: 'Typing Through Tears Is Hard'

By Rachel Cromidas in News on Dec 18, 2015 10:12PM

Gapers Block's homepage on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015.
Gapers Block, Chicago's well-loved news and culture website, is taking an indefinite hiatus after over a decade of publication.

Andrew Huff, the site's longtime editor and publisher, detailed the change and the decision behind it in an emotional letter published Friday afternoon:

This is really hard for me to write. I have decided to put Gapers Block on hiatus on January 1.

The site will not go dark. Instead a large black banner will appear above the masthead with the following message for visitors:

"As of January 1, 2016, Gapers Block is on indefinite hiatus. The site will remain up in archive form while we evaluate our options, which may include a redesign or sale. Thank you for your readership and contributions over the past 12-plus years."

He also tweeted about it:

There's a silver lining to the sad news: several Gapers Block editors are putting together a new arts and culture website, Third Coast Review. An announcement on the website says it will be more fully up-and-running in January.