CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — One of the most popular eateries in Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood, Seven Treasures Cantonese Restaurant, is closing down after decades in business.
The restaurant, located at 2312 S. Wentworth Ave., appears to be going out with a bang. On Tuesday, the line stretched out the door and beyond the block from the restaurant. Among those waiting to enter was Tom Buraket, who said he’s been coming to Seven Treasures for 25 years.
“I just heard it [was closing down] on Sunday,” Buraket said. “My cousin sent a post, and we’ve all been coming here. Trying to give them a good sendoff.”
Buraket said he’d order wonton noodle soup — extra noodles.
Another fan of Seven Treasures’ wonton noodle soup, Jennifer McHale, said she came to the restaurant frequently when she was younger. McHale said she wanted to enjoy the food “one last time.”
“It was open late and the food was relatively cheap, so you’d have to come here after the bars and have a late-night meal,” she said.
Marlene Delacruz said she came to the restaurant decades ago and has been coming back ever since.
“This is really the original,” she said. “I always come here.”
Unsurprisingly, the staff at Seven Treasures was a little too busy to talk — as the crowd kept streaming in. The Chicago Tribune reported that owner Ben Au said it’s time to retire. The paper added that Seven Treasures is one of the last family-owned businesses in Chinatown.
Tony Rekeweg was one of the few people in line Tuesday who had not been to Seven Treasures before.
“I lived in China for a little while, so I’ve had Cantonese food before, but my wife has never had Cantonese food before, so this will be a new experience for her,” he said,
Seven Treasures will close for good on Aug. 15.
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