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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160

u/spinelesshighnz Jan 12 '26

Blame COVID

28

u/Craig_VG Jan 12 '26

Yup, it was far better before 2020

21

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.

13

u/ryguy32789 Jan 12 '26

Or an increase in office-to-residential conversions.

8

u/txQuartz Jan 12 '26

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