For more than three decades, the posh restaurant atop the former John Hancock Center was the place to ask questions, enjoy a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner, treat mom on Mother’s Day or celebrate a special birthday.
But on Thursday, the Signature Room abruptly closed as its owners cited “severe economic hardship.”
The upscale restaurant and lounge offered breathtaking views of the city and Lake Michigan – and a first glimpse of the city – from the 95th and 96th floors of the 100-story skyscraper, now known simply as 875 N. Michigan Rich and famous.
The famous spot’s customers over the years have included Bulls, Bears and Cubs players, politicians, actors, beauty pageant winners and rock stars.
Lady Gaga stopped by more than a decade ago to celebrate the 31st birthday of her then-boyfriend, actor Taylor Kinney.
Actor Mickey Rooney and Broadway star Jessica Grove stopped by in 1998 while in town promoting “The Wizard of Oz.” And a few years later, actors Matthew Broderick and Roger Bart treated themselves to a few cocktails at the Signature Room Lounge.
But you didn’t have to be a star to feel on top of the world in the Signature Room.
“Everyone who comes in there, the first thing they ask is, ‘Do you have a window seat?’ Because that’s one of the – no pun intended – hallmarks of the restaurant,” said Darren Zancan, 42, who enjoyed a Valentine’s Day meal there this year with his now-fiancée.
The Crown Point, Indiana, resident said he was surprised when he and Deanna Glenn arrived to learn that the facility had been closed because it was “full.” If they hadn’t had a reservation, the wait would have been several hours.
Zancan hopes another restaurant will open there, calling it “a no-brainer.”
Mother’s Day Brunch at the Signature Room in 1999.
But on Thursday, a simple typewritten page told a different story.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the permanent closure of our beloved Signature Room at the 95th, effective Thursday, September 28, 2023,” read a letter in the elevator lobby.
“For over 30 years, we have had the privilege and honor of serving Chicagoans and visitors from around the world,” the letter continued.
“Unfortunately, following the closure of our city and restaurant due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we faced significant economic hardship and the challenges were greater than expected. We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support over the years.”
The owners of the Signature Room released a letter explaining the closure to the public.
The letter is signed by Richard Roman and Nick Pyknis, who own the restaurant under the name Infusion Management Group. According to the restaurant’s website, the Signature Room opened in July 1993. The restaurant is located on the 95th floor of 875 N. Michigan Ave. and the Signature Lounge, the adjacent bar, is on the 96th floor.
“We take great pride in being an integral part of the Chicago dining community, providing exceptional dining experiences and establishing ourselves as both a valued ‘must-visit’ for tourists and a popular local favorite,” the website says .
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), whose ward the restaurant is part of, said the loss of the Signature Room is a hard blow to the Magnificent Mile, where the vacancy rate is nearly 30%.
“This is a real loss for Michigan Avenue and the community. There’s a lot of sentimentality about this place,” Hopkins said. “My wife and I got engaged there, as did my sister and my cousin. For generations of Chicagoans, it was the ideal place for a romantic dinner. Many people react with sadness that the long success story is over.”
Braxton Dorris, 53, took his wife Jennifer Taylor-Dorris to the Signature Room for her birthday this year.
Braxton Dorris, 53, who lives in Beverly, said he was “shocked” to hear about the closure.
“It was almost like the right place to go downtown,” Dorris said. “They had the best view of any restaurant in town.”
Dorris took his wife Jennifer Taylor-Dorris to the Signature Room for her birthday last May. Although he had been there a few times, she had never been there before, and now he said he was glad he hadn’t missed the chance to take her.
“I decided to take her this year because it just seemed perfect since we had been putting it off for so long,” he said. “We arrived just before sunset and were able to watch the skyline change.”
Dorris said he hopes a new restaurant opens at the location, calling it the “perfect venue,” but added that he hopes the Signature Room’s quality of service remains.
Sam Toia, president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, praised the restaurant’s staff for their dedicated service over the years.
“The Signature Room at 95th has been an icon in Chicago’s dining scene for decades,” said Toia. “Your team has created countless moments and celebrations in the lives of Chicagoans and visitors. Thank you to all Signature Room members for your generosity and kindness over the years.”
Hopkins said the owners’ decision to close was due to economic hardships following the COVID-19 pandemic and problems renegotiating their lease.
According to Crain’s Chicago Business, New Jersey-based PGIM Real Estate and New York-based Madison Capital own the property.
“For over 20 years, The Signature Room has become an iconic Chicago establishment and is recognized as one of the top grossing restaurants nationwide. Chicago has some of the best and most innovative dining experiences in the country and this represents a unique and exciting opportunity for the next operator,” said John Clote, Senior Vice President of Madison Capital.
Crain’s, which first broke the news of the restaurant’s closure, reported in March that PGIM and Madison Capital had put the space up for sale. The companies hired brokers from Cushman & Wakefield’s Chicago office to sell the space, promoting it as a unique offering with stable cash flow.
Hopkins said the restaurant’s lease was last negotiated in late 2019, before the pandemic upended the city’s restaurant industry. Although Crain’s reported in March that Roman and Pyknis had recently extended their lease through 2031.
The Signature Room has gradually recovered but has not returned to its pre-pandemic state, Hopkins said.
“They simply couldn’t agree on new terms for the lease,” said Hopkins, who gave no further details. “It’s harder than it seems to run a business in this area and I don’t think the landlord fully recognizes that. It would be a mistake to underestimate the complexity of operating a restaurant in this area.”
A memo to Signature Room employees obtained by NBC Chicago said the closure was also due to issues with the restaurant’s lease.
“We are extremely disappointed that the renegotiation of the new lease terms with our landlord was not successful, preventing us from continuing our mission in the place we all love. As a result, we are forced to close our doors,” the memo said.
Crain’s also reported a memo to employees that cited “safety issues and negative publicity” from Chicago as other reasons why Roman and Pyknis decided to close the Signature Room.
Signature Room in the John Hancock Building.
For a restaurant review in 1999, a dessert plate of blueberry tarts is displayed next to the window.
Richard A. Chapman/Sun-Times File
Partial view of the dining area in 1999.
Richard A. Chapman/Sun-Times File
A night view in 1970 from a restaurant that preceded the Signature Room on the 95th floor of the Hancock Center.
Larry Nocerino/ Sun-Times File
A 1973 view from a restaurant that preceded the Signature Room on the 95th floor of the Hancock Center.
Smoke billows into the early morning gray as the fire engulfs the upper floors of the John Hancock Center, sending sleepy residents into the lobby and causing $30,000 in damage. The fire destroyed the Sybaris Lounge on the 96th floor, affected parts of the 95th Restaurant and damaged parts of the 97th floor. A fire official said the fire was likely caused by discarded smoking materials.
Pete Peters/Sun-Times Files
Firefighters look out a heat-cracked window in the Sybaris Lounge, where the damage was most severe. The fire raged in a restaurant-lounge complex on the 95th and 96th floors.
Pete Peters/Sun-Times Files
Workers clean up the mess after the fire in the restaurant on the 95th floor.
Pete Peters/Sun-Times Files