Coffee isn’t all that’s brewing at the new 24-hour Dunkin’ Donuts next door to Beekman Place. Home owners are steaming over the Donuts adjacent to their property at 1201 N. Clark St.

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) is unhappy too. On Aug. 12, Reilly sent a letter to neighbors saying the doughnut shop owner did not meet with him, didn’t provide notice of their intent to move across Division Street to the northeast corner of Clark and Division, and didn’t present any plans for their new business. According to the letter, the building is part of a Planned Development, which usually requires a public hearing and full City Council approval for use. Prior to Dec. 2007, “fast food restaurants” were prohibited there, however, at the request of the developer’s attorney, Jack Guthman, the prohibition was struck without Reilly’s knowledge, input or consent by then Commissioner Arnold Randall, the letter said.

Reilly called it a “disturbing situation,” and he has contacted the current commissioner to resume the prohibition and the city’s law department to check his options.

“This business owner has run afoul of every protocol I have developed to ensure an open and transparent process,” said Reilly.

Also, I hear neighbors at 1 E. Scott and 1250 N. State Pkwy. are unhappy about Paradise Cantina, opening at 1212 N. State Pkwy. with a 3 a.m. Saturday and 2 a.m. Sunday through Friday liquor license. Residents can’t understand why places like Mario’s, Bistro Zinc and 3rd Coast can serve liquor, close by midnight, and be successful for years.

“This is the third or fourth new restaurant in the 1212 N. State Parkway location in three years,” lamented one Gold Coaster. “Maybe somebody needs a new business model?”

Melissa Newman loves both a good deal and Chicago. The Lake View resident has combined those two passions into a cool Web site for bargain hunters with her father called dealadayonline.com.

The service offers limited-time specials from local businesses at 50 to 90 percent off and features a different deal/ business each day. “I wanted to find a way to make it easier and cheaper to experience all the great things to do, see, shop for in Chicago,” said Newman, who has an MBA from the University of Chicago and spent a dozen years in the corporate world doing marketing/brand management. “I wanted to give everyone the opportunity to see all Chicago offers, and the opportunity to experience it on a budget.”

Newman is appealing to locals looking for fun without emptying their wallets. Wish I’d known about the site before and taken advantage of fantastic deals like $50 for $150 in spa services from The Spa on Oak; $22 for a mani/pedi at Hush Salon & Spa in Lincoln Park; or, love this one, $89 for a haircut AND highlighting (a more than $200 value) at Thomas West Salon in the Merchandise Mart. Newman said anyone looking for great, new and different things to do in town on a budget, should use her site.

“I think that people are always looking for a bargain but in today’s economy, I think that need is greater than it has ever been,” she said. “Discretionary income has fallen over the last two to three years and people are conserving money.

Oops! Last week’s column contained an incorrect photo ID of Kathy Posner in the picture with Scott Lee Cohen ­— our apologies.

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By Betty from Gold Coast
Posted: 08/27/2010 5:12 PM

This is one of the most ridiculous stories I have read. Dunkin' Donuts was right across the street for years and now all of a sudden it is a "disturbing situation." Get a life Ald. Reilly! Obviously an election is coming up for you to be pandering to a couple of whiny neighbors. Open your eyes, there are numerous fast food retaurants along Division.