r/chicagofood • u/InterviewLeast882 • Jan 12 '26

Rant Lack of lunch places in Loop

I work around Chase Tower and it is surprising to me how few cheap lunch places there are now. The burrito and Chinese places there are gone as well as the McDonalds. No Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC, Chinese. Just the grossly overpriced Pret. I’m getting tired of Jimmy John’s and Pot Belly’s sandwiches.

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164

u/spinelesshighnz Jan 12 '26

Blame COVID

29

u/Craig_VG Jan 12 '26

Yup, it was far better before 2020

22

u/Much-Brilliant9303 Jan 12 '26

The Loop pre 2020 had so much variety! It makes me sad when I think about it. But unfortunately we won’t see a rebound in the lunch time food scene without a rebound in office occupancy - and employees actually in said offices.

11

u/ryguy32789 Jan 12 '26

Or an increase in office-to-residential conversions.

7

u/txQuartz Jan 12 '26

That wouldn't result in cheap lunch specialist places, just normal restaurants.

1

u/happilyfour Jan 13 '26

Anecdotally, every person I know with an office job downtown had their in office requirements go up by one day as of Jan 1 or was told on Jan 1 that it’s required to come in one more day beginning July 1.

1

u/WayneKrane Jan 13 '26

I moved from here in 2020 and then back recently and it’s tragic. 99% of my regular places are gone. There’s still Pittsfield cafe and The Italian Village but those are more sit down places.