I have a soft spot for restaurants that are about to close after decades of serving customers. I think, deep down, I know my parents' restaurant will experience it soon and that I'll need to go through the emotional roller coaster of saying goodbye.
When I heard that Jane's was closing on July 9th, I quickly made a reservation to go. Jane's is a little, cozy, neighborhood spot in Bucktown near the corner of Cortland and Paulina. I must have biked or walked by half a dozen times but never stopped in and I wish I had earlier.
Most of the customers at Jane's seemed like regulars and seemed to know each other and the waitstaff. The interior of the restaurant had dark wooden panels and a high wooden ceiling. I instantly felt like I was in a small town, pretending for a moment that I wasn't in the middle of a gigantic concrete city. It's places like Jane's that make living in a metropolitan area sometimes bearable. The sudden realization that there is a community around me that is inviting, friendly, and kind.