Dear Margaret — the French-Canadian bistro that became a Lakeview favorite — will not reopen at its Lincoln Avenue home after a fire in early October severely damaged the building. Chef Ryan Brosseau and co-owner Lacey Irby announced they would not return to 2965 N. Lincoln Avenue after the landlord sold the property and plans to tear the structure down next year. The team said it intends to find a new location, but for now, the restaurant's long-running dining room is closed for good.
According to Time Out, the blaze on October 6 was contained and caused no injuries, but extensive water and smoke damage compounded preexisting structural issues in the roughly 150‑year‑old building. The outlet reports that Three PR founder Rachel Gillman Rischall launched a GoFundMe after the fire and had raised nearly $30,000 by Nov. 5; those donations helped cover payroll during the monthlong closure. Time Out also notes that the owners posted video footage of the event on social media as they explained that the landlord’s sale means the space will be demolished in 2026.
“We are wholly overwhelmed with gratitude for how the community has shown up for us,” Brosseau says in the Instagram video that Time Out shared, thanking donors and regulars while explaining the decision. In the post, the team included security‑camera clips that show how the blaze progressed and why repairs would not be enough to preserve the old storefront. Brosseau said the restaurant is actively looking for a new home, even as the neighborhood processes the loss of the dining room.
Community response and staff support
As reported by CBS Chicago, donations from neighbors helped the Dear Margaret team pay staff during the temporary closure, but with the building sold, the restaurant said it had to let employees go in early November. CBS notes the owners described the blaze as "localized," yet said the resulting water and smoke damage made reopening impossible at that address. The owners told the station they are actively scouting new spaces and hope to bring Dear Margaret back in a different building when the right site appears.
What's next for Dear Margaret
Coverage in the local food press says the closure applies only to the Lakeview storefront and that the team intends to reopen elsewhere when they can find a suitable space. As noted by Eater Chicago, the owners have signaled they plan to return in a new location and have already begun looking. For now, Brosseau has been engaging followers on social channels while the search continues.
A neighborhood mainstay and its legacy
Since opening in 2021, Dear Margaret has earned a string of honors that made it a neighborhood touchstone: Chef Ryan Brosseau was named a Rising Star by StarChefs.
For updates on a possible relaunch, check Dear Margaret's website or its social channels. The team says it remains committed to returning, and neighborhood diners are already marking the spot as one to watch for a comeback.
