Ann Sather licensed at former Stella's Diner space on North Broadway

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Ann Sather, the Lakeview breakfast institution, received a Chicago business license Oct. 27 for the former Stella's Diner space at 3042 N. Broadway. The license lets the restaurant prepare food and seat diners on the premises.

The city issued it after an Oct. 22 inspection failed and a re-inspection passed Oct. 23. An earlier Aug. 19 inspection found the premises unoccupied, recorded as "No Entry."

The move is part of a shuffle. Ann Sather is closing its 30-year-old location at Broadway and Roscoe, and its old Belmont Avenue flagship was demolished for redevelopment. The new site keeps the chain on Broadway.

Why it matters

Two Ann Sather locations are closing; whether the new site thrives determines if the 80-year-old chain keeps its Lakeview presence.

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Key Indicators

Ann Sather locations in Chicago

The chain operates three restaurants; the Broadway and Barry site replaces the Roscoe location.

Years Stella's Diner operated at the address

Stella's served Lakeview for six decades before owner Marvin Barsky sold the property.

Inspection encounters before the license

A No Entry Aug. 19 and a Fail Oct. 22 preceded the passing re-inspection Oct. 23.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Tom Tunney

Owner of Ann Sather Restaurant; former 44th Ward alderman

Running the chain as it consolidates from four locations to three

Marvin Barsky

Former owner of Stella's Diner

Sold the property to Ann Sather; diner closed

Organizations Involved

Ann Sather Restaurant

Restaurant chain

Relocating its Lakeview presence; licensed at the former Stella's site

Chicago breakfast restaurant known for Swedish pancakes and cinnamon rolls.

Stella's Diner

Restaurant

Closed; property sold to Ann Sather

Decades-old Lakeview diner.

Timeline

1945 October 2026

10 events Latest: Yesterday

Tap a bar to jump to that date

October 2026
City issues business license
Latest Licensing

Retail Food Establishment license issued for 3042 N. Broadway with dining on premises.
Yesterday
Re-inspection passes
Inspection

Follow-up inspection cleared the premises.
5 days ago
License inspection fails
Inspection

Initial inspection of the food establishment did not pass.
6 days ago
August 2026
License inspection: No Entry
Inspection

City inspectors found the premises unoccupied.
August 19th, 2026
Sale to Ann Sather reported
Deal

Sun-Times reported Stella's owner sold the property to Ann Sather for personal reasons.
August 3rd, 2026
July 2026
Stella's Diner closes
Closure

Stella's shut temporarily after a failed health inspection; later cleared to reopen.
July 2026
2023
Tunney leaves City Council
Leadership

After 20 years as alderman, Tunney returned to running the chain full time.
2023
2007
Flagship moves to 909 W. Belmont
Relocation

Ann Sather moved its main location down the block in a property deal.
2007
1980
Tunney buys Ann Sather
Ownership

Tom Tunney purchased the restaurant and began expanding it.
1980
1945
Ann Sather takes over Swedish Diner
Founding

Ann Sather began serving breakfast on Belmont Avenue.
1945

Scenarios

Ann Sather serves breakfast at Broadway and Barry

Likely Resolves by Mar 1, 2027

Discussed by: Chicago Sun-Times; Tunney said he hoped for an October opening

Ann Sather finishes renovations, passes the remaining steps, and begins serving customers at 3042 N. Broadway. The Roscoe location closes as Tunney described, and the chain keeps three Chicago restaurants.

Opening stalls; Ann Sather leaves Lakeview

Possible Resolves by Jun 1, 2027

Discussed by: The Oct. 22 inspection failure suggests the space needs work

Renovations take longer than expected, or the chain decides the site is not viable. Ann Sather delays indefinitely or announces it will not open at the former Stella's location, leaving the chain's Lakeview presence at an end.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2007

Ann Sather's 2007 Belmont move (2007)

Tunney owned several buildings on Belmont Avenue when a developer proposed putting a Panera Bread in the space at 909 W. Belmont. After 18 months of talks, Tunney suggested the developer buy the former funeral home housing Ann Sather and pay him to move the restaurant down the block to 909.

Then

The flagship relocated to 909 W. Belmont, where it operated until demolition in 2026.

Now

The deal set a pattern of Tunney using property dealings to finance Ann Sather's moves, a template repeated in the Stella's purchase.

Why this matters now

Today's move mirrors the 2007 shuffle: a property negotiation, not a crisis, drives the restaurant to a new address.

1987-2013

Ann Sather Andersonville closes (1987-2013)

Ann Sather opened a location at 5207 N. Clark St. in Andersonville in 1987, run by Tunney's sister Debbie. The restaurant closed in 2013, and the space became a Raygun apparel store.

Then

The chain's footprint shrank from its peak as leases ended and neighborhoods changed.

Now

It showed Ann Sather was willing to close locations when economics dictated, a precedent for the current Broadway and Roscoe closure.

Why this matters now

The Andersonville exit foreshadows today's consolidation as the chain sheds leases and concentrates on fewer, stronger sites.