WICKER PARK — The Wicker Park outpost of Al’s No. 1 Italian Beef closed this week after five years anchoring the northwest corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Paulina Street.

Located at 1300 N. Milwaukee Ave., Al’s Beef opened in 2013. Franchisee Carl Mister and his daughter, Chloe Mister, operated the restaurant.

Late Wednesday, the phone was disconnected and the neon lights in the window were dark.

Mister did not return a request for comment. Brian Curry, director of marketing with Al’s Beef, confirmed the closure, which he said happened in the past two weeks and was due to personal reasons impacting the Mister family.

“It’s been a tough time for the family and the family came first over business. We are looking for other spots in the area down the road,” Curry said. “Wicker Park is a great area. That situation [at 1300 N. Milwaukee] is still playing out with the landlords, so that would need to be worked out first.”

Al’s Beef traces its start to 1938 and has 9 locations in the Chicago area, including six in the city. The Little Italy location on Taylor Street has drawn national attention, earning awards for its beef and landing on national food shows.