“We get to start things all over again, to do things with intention and figure what’s important.” “You know what’s great about all of this?” Segal says. The efforts of staff in the Loop and Bucktown, including those of chef Bo Durham, convinced Segal closing the restaurant and opening a bakery would save money. Still, with the mass closures, the timing was right. She’s been thinking about converting to a bakery for two years, and had picked May 31 as Hot Chocolate’s final day earlier this year.
Her bakery inside Revival Food Hall in the Loop was a test, to see if the business could be successful without her handling both kitchen duties and operations. Her plans to close were in motion before the pandemic. While many restaurants are changing business models or closing because of the pandemic, that’s not the case here, according to Segal. The bakery will offer bagels, coffee, and other pantry items (and hot chocolate). The restaurant also proved that Segal had talents that went beyond sweet treats. The success drew attention to Bucktown, a once sleepy neighborhood that’s since turned into a dining and drinking destination neighboring Wicker Park. That ethos may be the standard now, but it wasn’t in 2005 when Hot Chocolate debuted. Weekend brunch reservations booked quickly as Segal was known for using top-quality ingredients from local farms and vendors. Segal says she’s “ecstatic” about the changes, which will come in phases. The name of the new project is Mindy’s American Bakery. She’ll later add other items like cookies, challah, and matzah ball soup. On Saturday, Segal will begin selling bagels and smears. She yearned for a place to showcase her baked goods. Fast-casual restaurants had yet to emerge, and the market was narrow. When Segal started her career as a pastry chef in the ‘90s, she knew only one path: to eventually open a full-service restaurant. Hot Chocolate is a perennial favorite in Bucktown, known for its signature hot chocolates with giant marshmallows, burgers, and late-night dessert service - a Chicago rarity.
Saturday marks the start of a new chapter for Mindy Segal, the esteemed chef behind Mindy’s Hot Chocolate, as she prepares to close her 15-year-old restaurant and replace it with a bakery.
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