The only place that could rival Hopleaf is another Hopleaf

(Crain’s) — A plan by the owners of Michael & Louise's Hopleaf Bar to open another tavern next door in Andersonville has collapsed after a Northwest Side bank pulled out of the deal.

Michael Roper, co-owner of the trendy Hopleaf at 5148 N. Clark St., says he would have paid more than $1 million for the building next door, now the home of Italian eatery La Donna Restaurant, which plans to move to Edgewater.

Mr. Roper says he still hopes to buy the two-story building, 5146 N. Clark St. His plan is to open a tavern that would serve Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and offer a beer selection that would rival the more than 150 varieties served at Hopleaf, which opened in 1992 and is known for its Belgian fare, such as mussels and frites.

Bud sold to the Miserable Fat Belgian Bastards!?!?!

What's next - apple pie and hot dogs sold to the Germans? Just pathetic...

Anheuser-Busch being sold to InBev for $52B

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The maker of the King of Beers has agreed to go to work for the Belgian brewer InBev SA.

Anheuser-Busch Cos. said early Monday it had agreed to a sweetened $52 billion takeover bid from InBev, creating the world's largest brewer and heading off what was shaping up as an acrimonious fight for the maker of Budweiser and Bud Light beers. Inbev brands include Stella Artois, Beck's and Bass.

The combined company will be called Anheuser-Busch InBev. As of the end of last week, InBev said it would be the world's third largest consumer products company by market capitalization after Procter & Gamble of the United States and Nestle SA of Switzerland.
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