Downtown Evanston is trading patties for pancakes. Yolk, the breakfast and brunch chain, is moving into 1571 Sherman Avenue, the spot that long housed Edzo’s Burger Shop. Landlord and property managers say interior work is already underway, although they are not sharing an opening date yet. The switch comes on the heels of Edzo’s permanent shutdown in late 2024 and will drop a familiar brunch brand onto a busy Sherman Avenue block. Neighbors still mourning their go-to burger stop are already eyeing details on hours, menus and hiring.
Al Belmonte, owner of Wesley Realty Group, which manages the building, confirmed the new tenant in an email to Evanston RoundTable. He said the Yolk build-out is in progress but declined to pin down an opening date. The RoundTable also reported that this Sherman Avenue restaurant will be Yolk’s eleventh location. Belmonte added that the property group is coordinating with the chain as construction moves ahead.
Edzo’s had been a downtown Evanston fixture for 15 years before closing in December 2024 amid pandemic-era declines in daytime foot traffic, as Eater Chicago reported. Its exit left a noticeable gap in the neighborhood’s quick-service lineup and stirred up a broader conversation about how small independent restaurants can survive shifting demand. Owner Eddie Lakin said he had looked at other locations but had not reopened anywhere else by the end of 2024.
Yolk started in Chicago and now runs several city and suburban spots, serving all-day breakfast staples instead of a burger-centered menu. The brand is built around morning and midday customers rather than late-night crowds, and Evanston RoundTable notes that the Evanston address will bring its total to eleven locations. For longtime regulars, the change marks a shift from a homegrown indie to a regional brunch player.
Why This Matters For Downtown Evanston
The swap from Edzo’s to Yolk is another sign of churn along Sherman Avenue as downtown tries to adapt to fewer office workers and rising costs. Local coverage has highlighted Edzo’s role as a neighborhood anchor and the impact its departure had on the street’s restaurant mix, according to The Daily Northwestern. City officials and business groups will be watching closely to see whether Yolk can restore steady foot traffic at lunchtime and on weekends.
What’s Next
Belmonte and the restaurant have not released a target opening date, so for now neighbors can expect more construction noise than clinking flatware. In the coming weeks, residents should look for hiring notices and other signs that opening day is getting close. Many chains roll out local job listings and preview menus as build-outs near the finish line, and the landlord has already confirmed that work inside the former Edzo’s is underway. We will update this story once Yolk announces a firm opening date or posts specific local hiring details.
