Shoeless Joe's in Rosemont closing after 30-year run

Shoeless Joe's Ale House & Grille in Rosemont, a longtime favorite gathering spot for sports fans in the Northwest suburbs and visitors to events at the nearby Allstate Arena, is closing Saturday after three decades in business.

Restaurant owner Joe Macchitelli Jr. announced the closing Sunday in a Facebook post, writing that the owner of its building at 10290 W. Higgins Road is refusing to extend its lease.

"Since 1989 we've called Rosemont our home and have built one of the most iconic sports bars in Chicago with the help of you!" Macchitelli wrote. "We're so grateful for everything this location has brought us and were beyond sorry to say goodbye."

Macchitelli said Tuesday that he's reached out numerous times to the building's ownership about extending the lease but received no response. He's not aware of any other plans for the site.

"I'm not sure what's going on," he said.

A second Shoeless Joe's in Addison will remain open. Employees at the Rosemont location will be offered work there, Macchitelli said on Facebook.

Since Sunday's announcement, the Rosemont location has been swarmed with longtime customers and well-wishers.

"There's a lot of disbelief," Macchitelli said. "A lot of people are coming in every day to soak it up. There's a lot of sadness."

Macchitelli said he's working to find another location within five miles of the Rosemont site to reopen the bar and grill. He'll announce plans on the business' Facebook page when they're ready.

In the meantime, Macchitelli plans to keep the sports bar open to the public until closing time Saturday, and hold a final farewell for employees on Sunday, when his lease expires.