Here's a photo that will make you feel old while epitomizing the changing face of River North. Demolition is in progress at the former Ed Debevic's, the kitschy, '50s-themed restaurant where customers paid for the privilege of being treated rudely by waitstaff. JDL will build a 22-story residential tower with 251 rental units on the site at 640 N Wells.

River North is one of the busiest submarkets for multifamily development in Chicago, and the area around Ed Debevic's is highly attractive for developers. It's near the Chicago Avenue Brown/Purple Line station and steps from downtown and River North nightlife.

The teardown of Ed Debevic's isn't the only activity in the area. A former Howard Johnson inn is being razed to make way for a 38-story apartment development at 720 N LaSalle. And a JV of Conlon Commercial and Joe Scoby paid $14M for the Rainforest Café building across the street from Ed Debevic's. Scoby told Bisnow in August the Rainforest Café site was a low-risk investment that offers several opportunities long-term, including redevelopment.