Ask Geoffrey: Cicero’s Klas Restaurant

The Old World meets the new at a legendary Cicero restaurant that’s long served as an anchor for Chicago’s expansive Czech community. But now, its legacy is under threat. Geoffrey Baer joins us with the story of the Klas Restaurant.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews

[@jackiemills2466]

Cicero was the best place to grow up. All the nationality’s the variety of foods learning different ways of the all lived. Everyone got along. I miss Cicero but took memories when I left I hold close to my heart ❤

[@Robert-kc7on]

I grew up in Cicero 70s 80s 90s and the 2000s the class was always a crazy Blast from the Past when you went in there as a kid we would get mesmerized in there it was ancient like Al Capone used to eat there God such good memories of that place sad that it's gone

[@lordrobert12]

This beautiful restaurant was outrageously torn down!!😡😡🤬🤬🤯🤯

[@jamesvokral4934]

so sad and I guess the Olympic Building is next...Cicero has torn down so much of its history...

[@Scapone2001]

Why is that

[@jesussamurai8433]

I left Cicero almost a decade ago due to just how unsafe, dirty, and ghetto it was but seeing a nostalgic building like that brings in memories. I’ll occasionally stop by Cicero to get some food it’s slightly over an hour drive now but I do miss the small Mexican restaurants.

[@charlesandrews2360]

There used to be many excellent Eastern European restaurants all along that strip where you got tons of great food for next to nothing.

[@jameshorton3692]

It’s so sad what happened to the Eastern Europeans that set up shop in Cicero.

[@jamessalazar3986]

we had grandma and grandpa's anniversary dinner there even Larry from Moline showed up he was wearing a suit with gym shoes and tons of jewelry

[@dannyjamz23]

This place was torn down 🙁

[@markgordon5387]

We were were there in January 1993, and the food and restaurant was cold. By January 1994, our gravy was cold and gluey. We never went back.

[@jodykostal9840]

My dad proposed there.

[@jamesvokral4934]

food was better at Old Prague on Cermak Road.

[@cocoaorange1]

Are there still any Czech restaurant in Cicero?

[@gintasindreika933]

The Bohemian Crystal restaurant in Westmont closed down in 2022.

[@jamesvokral4934]

Gone forever and Olympic Building is probably next.

[@crippleguy415]

Cicero ain't Cicero anymore with the changing demographics . Sad . 😔

[@carlvitko1355]

You said it,not the same Cicero i grew up in either...its turned into a extention of Little Village. Sad.