Eater Chicago | Naomi Waxman | August 8, 2019
Hamburger Mary’s, Mary’s Attic, and Andersonville Brewing Co. are on the market
A popular Andersonville drag-and-burger destination is for sale, according to an online real estate listing. SVN Chicago Commercial’s listing includes Hamburger Mary’s, along with upstairs performance venue Mary’s Attic and neighboring brewpub Andersonville Brewing Co. at 5400-5402 N. Clark Street. Ownership has not yet responded to requests for more information.
Co-owner Brandon Wright told Block Club that over a year remains on the restaurant’s current lease and he plans to remain for the duration. He hopes to eventually move it to a location with a larger dining area and lower rent.
The listing details business assets included in the sale, such as all “unencumbered” fixtures, equipment, and pro-rated licenses (incidental liquor, retail food, and sidewalk cafe), but excludes brewing equipment and the POS system. The asking price, according to the listing and a comprehensive sales brochure, is $185,000.
Best known for its festive vibe, creative burger combinations, and talented drag performers, Hamburger Mary’s is a franchise brand with outposts in California, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin. A second Illinois Mary’s is currently operating in Oak Park and will remain open, according to an employee.
The Andersonville location, first opened in 2006, also serves as Hamburger Mary’s International’s “world HQ,” according to the restaurant’s website. Owners added Mary’s Attic upstairs in 2007, and opened the sports bar next door three years later. The restaurant and bar was forced to close temporarily due to health code violations in 2015 after several failed inspections.
Andersonville residents have seen notable restaurant turnover on North Clark Street in the past few years. A location of gourmet wine and cheese market Pastoral and neighboring restaurant Appellation shuttered in October of 2018, and a Furious Spoon shop closed in June after less than a year in the neighborhood. Both storefronts currently remain empty.
Despite closures in prominent spots on the main drag, Andersonville has also welcomed new restaurants into the fold. These include Passerotto, a sparkling Korean-Italian hotspot from Eater’s 2018 Chef of the Year Jennifer Kim, and recent addition Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar in a long-empty space previously occupied by Adriatic Restaurant.
Stay tuned for any updates about the future of Hamburger Mary’s Andersonville.