Old Chicago folded downtown. The Boise mall restaurant is still closed. Here’s what’s up.

Say what you will about chain restaurants — people care about many of them.

That was clear from reaction to the closure of Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom at 730 W. Idaho St. in early March. Boise diners and bargoers had built up a lot of memories in the historic Union Block building since 1997 — even if they apparently weren’t stampeding the place anymore.

The closure was “purely a business decision,” according to Josh Kern, chief experience officer at Craftworks Holdings, which owns the Old Chicago chain.

Weeks later, the Boise Towne Square location shut its doors. Like all Idaho restaurants, it fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic. But unlike many other Idaho pizzerias, Old Chicago did not pivot to takeout and delivery. And unlike many other Idaho restaurants, it will not reopen for seated dining this weekend.

But any rumors of its demise are premature. Old Chicago at the Boise mall will be back.

The restaurant plans to open Friday, May 22, for carry-out, pickup and delivery, Kern said.

“We are looking at timing for the dining room to open,” he added.

This supports his statement in March, when Kern insisted that Old Chicago at Boise Towne Square “absolutely” will stay in business for the foreseeable future.

Founded in 1976, Old Chicago offers the casual atmosphere of a sports bar with a menu of pizza and calzones, plus hamburgers, salads and more. Keeping pace with the popularity of craft beer, the company rebranded in 2013 from Old Chicago to Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, promoting its “World Beer Tour” and selection of 110 brews.

Like the now-defunct downtown Boise location, the mall restaurant opened in 1997.

Online: oldchicago.com.

This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 2:41 PM.