CHICAGO — Local bakery chain Vanille has closed its Lakeview location.
The bakery chain is known for its specialty cakes and pastries like macarons — but the Lakeview location at 3243 N. Broadway had not been profitable “for some time,” leading to the closure, Vanille President Sophie Evanoff wrote in a letter on Tuesday.
Evanoff shared the letter on Facebook, explaining the Lakeview bakery was closed “to ensure the long-term viability of Vanille.”
“I want to be transparent about what goes on behind the scenes of a small business,” Evanoff wrote. “It can be a struggle.”
Evanoff encouraged Chicagoans to shop from local businesses, especially during the holidays.
“Before you purchase something online or at a big box store, consider picking it up in person at your local shop, boutique, cafe or restaurant,” Evanoff wrote. “Take the time to get to know the owners and managers. We as small businesses depend on it.”
Vanille’s other locations — in Lincoln Park, Hyde Park and West Loop’s French Market — remain open, and Evanoff asked fans to head to those bakeries and to anticipate a new menu.