Glow-Up Season: Del Sur Bakery Is Expanding on Damen — and KOVAL Distillery Just Cracked Open Something New

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Ravenswood · May 23, 2026

Ravenswood's food and drink scene is getting two fresh reasons to celebrate this week, and neighbors are already buzzing.

First, big news for the fans who've been lining up out the door at Del Sur Bakery: the beloved Filipino pastry shop at 4639 N. Damen Ave. is growing. Owner Justin Lerias announced the bakery will temporarily close in June to expand into the adjacent storefront — the former Siam Country Thai space next door — adding baking capacity and long-awaited indoor seating. The goal is to reopen the larger, reimagined space by end of summer, with Lerias hoping to welcome guests back as early as July. If you haven't made it in yet, mark June 14th as your last chance before the renovation kicks off — and know that something even better is coming on the other side. Lerias opened Del Sur in Ravenswood just last year after two years of Lincoln Square pop-ups, earning a devoted following by blending Filipino flavors with exceptional pastry craft.

Meanwhile, just down the corridor, KOVAL Distillery — Ravenswood's pioneering grain-to-bottle spirits maker — is shaking things up with a brand-new product line: its first-ever ready-to-drink canned cocktails. It's a bold new chapter for one of the neighborhood's most celebrated makers. Between a bakery leveling up and a distillery breaking new ground, Ravenswood's culinary creativity is in full bloom this May. Stay in the loop at ravenswoodchicago.org!

Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/05/20/del-sur-bakery-expanding-next-door-to-ease-long-lines-bring-more-pastries-to-its-fans/
2. https://ravenswoodchicago.org/category/community-news/