"We have the confidence that [ the Edgewater location ] will be an exciting store for us. I think it's a great location that will do a substantial amount of business, otherwise I wouldn't have taken the risk," said Ald. Tom Tunney ( 46th Ward ) , the restaurant chain owner.

"It's a tough decision to open a restaurant in today's [ economic ] environment, but we think it's a great corner, in a great neighborhood—and [ yet ] I wouldn't have thought that 10 years ago. It's close to an El stop, similar to the Belmont [ location ] , with nice foot traffic and a very visible corner location."

Tunney said he is "contemplating" closing the Southport store, 3416 N. Southport Ave., which is currently on a month-to-month lease, although no final decision has been made yet.

The other Ann Sather locations in Chicago are 5207 N. Clark St., 909 W. Belmont Ave. and 3411 N. Broadway.

"As many times as I have looked at the [ Edgewater ] space, and saw so many people [ around that area ] who used to live in Lakeview, I think there are a lot of our patrons who live in that area now, so we'll be happy to serve them closer to their homes," Tunney told Windy City Times. "I think it's far enough away from our Andersonville store that it's a different market, different neighborhood."

Tunney said he hopes to open the Edgewater restaurant within the next two months.

"We're thrilled at the prospect of having Ann Sather's part of the Edgewater business community," said Brian Koester, executive vice chair of the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce board of directors. " [ Ann Sather ] is a fantastic business [ with ] great cinnamon rolls."

Ald. Harry Osterman ( 48th Ward ) echoed Koester. "Ann Sather's is a longtime, neighborhood business on Clark Street [ in Andersonville, among other locations ] , with a great following," Osterman said.

"Granville is a street specifically that is moving in the right direction, a lot of progress. So, having Ann Sather's right on the corner of Granville and Broadway is really going to help the neighborhood. We're all very, very excited about it, and I think it's going to be there for a long, long time. It's really exciting, and hopefully it's going to help generate additional businesses coming to our neighborhood.

"I think a lot of people are joining health clubs, myself included, so they can work out, lose some weight and get our calories back with the cinnamon rolls."

Tunney said the Edgewater location will have indoor seating for 40, along with 25 outdoor seats. The inside will be about 1,200 square feet, which is larger than the Southport location but smaller than the Broadway site, Tunney said.

The Edgewater location will not be a full-service restaurant "nor is it attempting to be," Tunney said. Instead, it will be Ann Sather's café concept, serving breakfast and lunch daily, and a bakery to go.

The Edgewater location will open daily at 7 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. during the week—4 p.m. on weekends.

"The Bananas Foster [ restaurant ] had attempted to expand; we do not anticipate expanding at this point," Tunney said.

The Bananas Foster Cafe closed early 2012, "which was a pity; it was a wonderful business as well," Koester said.

Koester said the new Ann Sather location adds to a "nice synergy along Granville, helping turn the area into a very walkable [ area for ] breakfast and lunch, especially on the weekend."

Added Osterman: "There are a lot of positive things happening over there, and I think Ann Sather's is going to be the frosting on the cinnamon roll on that street."

Tunney said the Edgewater restaurant will generate 10 or 12 new jobs, or at least five or seven if the Southport location closes and its employees move to other restaurants.

"Adding jobs in this economy is very good," Tunney said.