Smoke Daddy's 'Farewell Tour': Iconic Wicker Park BBQ Joint Plans Celebration Events Before January Transition

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Wicker Park · November 26, 2025

Wicker Park's beloved barbecue institution Smoke Daddy will be closing its doors on January 4 after 31 years in business, though this isn't a goodbye story but rather one of transition. The owners at 4 Star Restaurant Group are already planning a second act for the Division Street space, designed to meet the evolving needs of the neighborhood, with a new concept slated to open in 2026.

Before closing, the restaurant is planning a series of special events to celebrate its three-decade legacy, including all-day happy hours, a 1994 throwback night with original pricing, a pig roast, and a closing day tailgate during the Bears-Lions game on January 4. "We want to go out celebrating," said co-owner Josh Rutherford, encouraging longtime customers and neighborhood residents to "come in and say 'hi and bye,' and congratulate Smoke Daddy on a 31-year run." Rutherford emphasized that the change reflects the neighborhood's natural evolution rather than decline, noting how Wicker Park has transformed over the decades. "Twenty-plus years ago we didn't have any high chairs [for kids], and now we've got a stack of them," he offered as an example of the area's changing demographics. While details about the new restaurant concept remain under wraps, Rutherford confirmed it will not be barbecue-focused when it opens in 2026.

Sources:
1. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/restaurants/smoke-daddy-close-barbecue-restaurant-wicker-park
2. https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/19/smoke-daddy-bbq-closing-wicker-park-location-after-31-years/