Passenger Trains > Minor Change at Chicago Union Station

A long-time occupant of Union Station and the most reliable source of food for those catching a post-rush train closed on December 16, 2024. I was surprised to find a closed gate and a sign advising that McDonalds was permanently closed when I stopped by for my morning caffeine on 12/17. A fellow commuter said a manager told him it was due to a rent increase of 25%.

 

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I was surprised to see that myself last week. Luckily the place opposite serves coffee and the pizzas and ziti are rather delish.

Posted from iPhone

That McDonald's had some neat rail themed posters and pictures on the wall. Or at least it did when I frequented Union Station back in the day.

Posted from Android

It’s been awhile since the McD’s was remodeled and all the railroad-themed items went way. I guess it’s easily been fifteen years. The majority of the photos were provided by the late Chris Knapton, Metra PR guy in the 1990’s, either his photos or from his collection. No idea what happened to them.

Posted from iPhone

No great loss IMHO. I had a bad experience in there not too long ago. I wasn't able to get the ordering kiosk to work and asked one of the counter people if I could order the old fashioned way . their forceful response was " can't you read ...it says all orders are to be put through the ordering machine !! ". " We don't take no orders here ".  At which point I left, never to go in there again. 

    Sad but true !!!   Ross Rowland 

A major change (and biggest loss, in terms of eating establishments at Chicago Union Station) was a wonderful cafeteria/tavern along the passageway linking the Great Hall with the boarding areas.  I don't remember the name.  I think it has been gone for 10 - 15 years.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/25 18:21 by RuleG.

Hmm…. I ordered at the counter all the time with no problems.

Posted from iPhone

kevink Wrote:
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> A long-time occupant of Union Station and the most
> reliable source of food for those catching a
> post-rush train closed on December 16, 2024. I was
> surprised to find a closed gate and a sign
> advising that McDonalds was permanently closed
> when I stopped by for my morning caffeine on
> 12/17. A fellow commuter said a manager told him
> it was due to a rent increase of 25%.
>
>  
>Damn!! talk about greedy!

I would have asked, "can't you do your job/"

co614 Wrote:
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> No great loss IMHO. I had a bad experience in
> there not too long ago. I wasn't able to get the
> ordering kiosk to work and asked one of the
> counter people if I could order the old fashioned
> way . their forceful response was " can't you read
> ...it says all orders are to be put through the
> ordering machine !! ". " We don't take no orders
> here ".  At which point I left, never to go in
> there again. 
>
>     Sad but true !!!   Ross Rowland 

Isn't Amtrak the owner and landlord of CUS?

We do not know how long the lease had been in place.  It may well be that a 25% increase is not that bad.  If it was a 10-year lease, for example, a 25% increase after 10 years would be reasonable.  Even after a 5-year lease expiration, given recent inflation in real estate prices, 25% is not outrageous.  

The location probably also suffers from staffing issues, and I am guessing it takes more than the state minumum wage to get employees at that location.  

Probably a confluence of costs caused them to just close up.  Maybe something better will move in.

RuleG Wrote:
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> A major change (and biggest loss, in terms of
> eating establishments at Chicago Union Station)
> was a wonderful cafeteria/tavern along the
> passageway linking the Great Hall with the
> boarding areas.  I don't remember the name.  I
> think it has been gone for 10 - 15 years.

YES! I know the place you are talking about! That was a GREAT place and would be right across from the new metro lounge area. Not sure why nothing has gone in there as it would be a BOOM right acrossfrom the Metro Lounge. Everyone has to "hike it" for food from the lounge. Nothing ever went back in there as I recall, even to this day. I often went there for a late breakfast or lunch as I'd come off the morning trains IN to Chicago and waiting for the Western Long Hauls to move OUT!

co614 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No great loss IMHO. I had a bad experience in
> there not too long ago. I wasn't able to get the
> ordering kiosk to work and asked one of the
> counter people if I could order the old fashioned
> way . their forceful response was " can't you read
> ...it says all orders are to be put through the
> ordering machine !! ". " We don't take no orders
> here ".  At which point I left, never to go in
> there again. 
>
>     Sad but true !!!   Ross Rowland 

If that was their attitude toward customers, they put themselves out of business. Commercial Darwinism at work. 

SP4360 Wrote:
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> I would have asked, "can't you do your job/"
>

They do what their boss, the franchise owner, tells them to do.

RuleG Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A major change (and biggest loss, in terms of
> eating establishments at Chicago Union Station)
> was a wonderful cafeteria/tavern along the
> passageway linking the Great Hall with the
> boarding areas.  I don't remember the name.  I
> think it has been gone for 10 - 15 years.

I still miss the 65 Chinese place, Burrito Beach, Gold Coast hot dogs and the "Yummy Yummy!!!" so-called Cajun grill myself.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

MaryMcPherson Wrote:

>
> I still miss the 65 Chinese place, Burrito Beach,
> Gold Coast hot dogs and the "Yummy Yummy!!!"
> so-called Cajun grill myself.

This ^^ Me too!

You  folks like to eat that junk. I'd rather go out to Giordanno's and Lou Mitchell's. 

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> You  folks like to eat that junk. I'd rather go
> out to Giordanno's and Lou Mitchell's. 

You go to Lou's.  I'm going to bed when they're open!  LOL

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

jp1822 Wrote:
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> RuleG Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A major change (and biggest loss, in terms of
> > eating establishments at Chicago Union Station)
> > was a wonderful cafeteria/tavern along the
> > passageway linking the Great Hall with the
> > boarding areas.  I don't remember the name. 
> I
> > think it has been gone for 10 - 15 years.


I believe the name of the place was 'The Snuggery'. They also had a location in Edison Park.

Tom
>
> YES! I know the place you are talking about! That
> was a GREAT place and would be right across from
> the new metro lounge area. Not sure why nothing
> has gone in there as it would be a BOOM right
> acrossfrom the Metro Lounge. Everyone has to "hike
> it" for food from the lounge. Nothing ever went
> back in there as I recall, even to this day. I
> often went there for a late breakfast or lunch as
> I'd come off the morning trains IN to Chicago and
> waiting for the Western Long Hauls to move OUT!

There is a certain level of service I expect from a McDonalds level restaurant and that service level was met the few times I grabbed food at Union Station. I was not forced to use the kiosk (although the teenagers at other locations have been snotty about "use the kiosk" even when there is no line).I don't mind kiosks but I don't believe any customer should be turned away from placing an order.

Minimum wage in Chicago is $16.20 with a youth wage of $15 per hour and those rates are set to rise at least 2.5% every year (in July). Outside of Chicago, Illinois minimum wage just went up to $15 ($13 youth) on January 1st. Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa are among the 20 states with a $7.25 minimum wage.