A jewel of Chicago's Lincoln Square is prepping to hang up its apron for good. Café Selmarie has announced it will shutter in early 2024, after a hearty run of 40 years, bidding adieu to the community it helped nurture into a buzzing urban pocket. The founder, Birgit Kobayashi, unveiled plans for retirement, welcoming a new phase of life that includes travel and leisure with her spouse, thus closing a chapter that began on a quaint storefront strip with the aroma of fresh pastries and the buzz of the neighborhood's first espresso machine according to abc7chicago.
For 40 years, Cafe Selmarie has sold coffee, pastries, cozy meals and weekend brunches to generations of loyal customers.
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) November 27, 2023
This weekend, we said goodbye to a Lincoln Square institution, and wish owner Birgit Kobayashi and her family and staff all the best in their next chapter. pic.twitter.com/lLSqQMcQqR
Forays into the realm of Stollen, Linzer torte, and other pastry delights have been mainstays for generations of Chicagoans. The bakery remains committed to churning out Yule Logs and their signature Eggnog for one last holiday season. And while the recipes and Café Selmarie name aren't for sale, Eatz Associates, a powerhouse restaurant broker, is shopping around the establishment's tangible assets to culinary entrepreneurs eager to make their own imprint in Lincoln Square as per abc7chicago,
Even the city's head honcho took a moment to acknowledge the bittersweet closure where Chicago's Mayor hailed Café Selmarie as a Lincoln Square institution, lamenting the loss while heaping on well-wishes for Kobayashi, her family, and the cafe's staff on their next endeavors as stated on X.
