Ed Debevic's, self-described as Chicago's "only retro-themed diner," is an experience. View Full Caption Flickr/Colleen Kelly

RIVER NORTH — Ed Debevic's is the latest River North spot making way for high-rise development.

Chicago-based JDL Development has a deal to buy the retro diner at 640 N. Wells St. and build a residential tower in its place, Crain's Chicago Business reports.

The tourist attraction, which first opened back when River North was a Downtown afterthought, is the latest domino to fall in what is now the epicenter of new construction in Chicago. The Gino's East pizzeria across the street from Debevic's will be replaced with an apartment tower, and the shuttered Howard Johnson Inn at 720 N. LaSalle St. will be torn down for another. An office-and-apartment development is also proposed for a parking lot near the Merchandise Mart a few blocks south of the restaurant.



Or don't (Flickr/Arturo Sotillo)

Debevic's opened in 1984 with "quirky servers" dishing out milkshakes and "a side order of sass!" according to its website. I checked it out once with friends, back when I was 19 and the notion of going out anywhere in the city after 9 p.m. was cool.

The waiter called me "L.L. Bean" because I chose to wear a sweater during winter in Chicago.

Actually, that was pretty funny.

But now that Chicago has established itself as a bastion of fine dining, River North may have finally outgrown Ed Debevic's.

JDL President Jim Letchinger and Jeffrey Himmel of Bravo Restaurant Group, which owns Debevic's and Gino's East, did not return messages.

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