Smylie Brothers Brewing Co.

The food was rich and inventive, though classic brunch favorites were the real star. I genuinely mourn the days when you could pair the savory Hollywood skillet with a stack of fluffy golden pancakes. I still can’t believe I’ll never again sink my teeth into an Avocado Abby, a cheesy open-faced take on avocado toast.

For a while, mimosas and other breakfast cocktails were another huge hit on the menu — though the addition of a liquor license failed to keep Clarke’s on course after multiple closures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

We will miss the walls lined with Cats memorabilia, the welcoming smile of owner Yolanda Ewing-Tsatas — whose father-in-law Nicholas Tsatas bought the restaurant in 1994 — and the consistent good vibes with a side of toast.

— Ilana Arougheti

Flat Top Grill

Despite the variety of Asian culinary options in Evanston, Flat Top Grill was a standout. Upon returning to campus this Winter Quarter, I was heartbroken to learn Flat Top closed its doors just days before. The Asian fusion restaurant was a favorite of many students and my go-to when family or friends came to town due to the commendable ambiance and

Flat Top catered to those with all types of allergies and had a wide variety of menu items. Some of its most popular dishes included ramen, fried rice, poke and create-your-own stir fry bowls, which was definitely a step up from the Plex East dining hall.

Though I’ll miss taking in the delicious smells of the restaurant and eating Flat Top fried rice on North Beach with my friends, fans of the restaurant will be happy to know Flat Top has a location in Chicago. Will I be making the trip? Definitely.

— Maya Slaughter

What began as a pipe dream of Mike Smylie’s, a former commodities broker, morphed into reality with the inception of Smylie Brothers Brewing Co., an Evanstonbased brewery.

Smylie, the eldest of five brothers, first explored home-brewing while attending Colorado State University. Upon his return to Evanston, and with nearly ten years of professional experience in the financial sector, Smylie elected to open Smylie Brothers Brewing in 2014.

In addition to craft beer, the brewery notably offered Texas-inspired barbecue and wood-fired pizza and flaunted an outdoor patio to be enjoyed in the warmer months. As such, Smylie Brothers was heavily regarded as an Evanston staple, for both dining and entertainment.

Unfortunately, in a not-so-smiley turn of events, Smylie announced the perma nent closure of the 88-year-old brewpub via Instagram on Dec. 31, 2022, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a source of finan cial instability.

Smylie is one of multiple Evanstonbased storefronts to succumb to closure on account of pandemic-related effects. Deka Lash and Flat Top Grill have similarly shut their doors due to decreased foot traffic and reduced revenue.

Regrettably, I never got the opportunity to dine at Smylie Brothers — however, if its vocal fanbase is any indication, Smylie’s Purple Line brew and signature brisket will be sorely missed.

Deka Lash

After four years of caring for clients’ lashes and eyebrows, Deka Lash Evanston announced Jan. 1 that it was permanently closing its doors.

Located on Church Street, Deka Lash aimed to make specialized services and highend products more accessible. Brow lamination and eyelash extensions remained its core offerings, and it expanded to also offer sugar waxing in November 2022.

Whether for a natural or dramatic look, Deka Lash’s semi-permanent extensions catered to a wide array of preferences, like classic lashes to emulate the darkened length mascara provides or

True Volume lashes to add density and magnitude. Nestled among community favorites like 10Q Chicken and Hokkaido Ramen and Sushi Bar, Deka Lash occupied a prime location for students looking to meet their beauty needs.

Fortunately for frequenters of the location, all of Deka Lash Evanston’s lash artists will be remaining with the company and relocating to other studios. Clients need only head over to the Glenview loca tion to receive the same care and expertise they expect from Deka Lash.