San Mateo: After 40 years, Windy City restaurant, Da Bears fan hangout closes today
Restaurant owner Bob Yeats was quietly making the rounds Saturday night, chatting with customers and bussing tables, when word got out.
He’s closing his Windy City, the popular Chicago-themed eatery in business for 40 years, at the end of business today, Sunday, Nov. 20. Redevelopment is in the future for this San Mateo shopping center at El Camino Real and Borel Road.
“I was raised on this place,” said shocked customer Bennett Blosser, who grew up in San Mateo. He didn’t know he and his relatives were enjoying their last Windy City Combo pizza until he heard Yeats’ news.
For years, Windy City has been serving Chicago favorites — deep-dish pizzas, Italian beef sandwiches, Vienna hot dogs — and catering to Bay Area residents who have Chicago roots, like a local Bears fan club, whose members descended on the restaurant to watch their team take on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday morning.
“It’s sad,” said Yeats, who never intended to get into the restaurant business when he bought the place 30 years ago but managed to make a career of it and survive the pandemic-caused business downturn.
Although not from Chicago himself, Yeats made trips there to collect the memorabilia that fills the walls — jerseys, plaques, vintage photographs.
This is a developing story. Come back for updates.
Details: Open today until they decide to close the doors at Borel Square Shopping Center, 35 Bovet Road, San Mateo; www.windycitypizza.com