Smack Dab scales back holiday pre-orders to protect staff and support neighbors

Smack Dab, the Rogers Park brunch restaurant, is changing its holiday playbook this year by simplifying Halloween and ending separate Christmas sides pre-orders. The shift is meant to reduce strain on staff while keeping Thanksgiving food orders and mutual aid for the neighborhood Love Fridge at the center of the season.

Why it matters: - Smack Dab is trying to keep holiday traditions alive without overloading a small restaurant team during its busiest season. - The changes put staff well-being, customer convenience, and neighborhood food access into the same holiday plan. - The restaurant is also using the shift to stock freezer-friendly food and continue mutual aid support for neighbors facing food insecurity.

What happened: - Smack Dab, an independent queer woman-owned brunch restaurant in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, announced changes to its holiday pre-order programs under sole owner Teeny. - Halloween will feature seasonal specials and donuts available in the restaurant, instead of a separate Halloween pre-order program. - Thanksgiving pre-orders will continue, with ordering set to begin Nov. 1. - There will be no separate Christmas holiday sides pre-orders or Christmas week pickups this year. - Smack Dab is still evaluating whether to offer its Hanukkah sufganiyot pre-orders this year.

The details: - Thanksgiving orders will include holiday sides such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, and other comfort foods. - Smack Dab will make Thanksgiving sides freezer-friendly so customers can store them and use them later in the season. - The restaurant will provide freezing and reheating instructions with the orders. - Smack Dab said its Thanksgiving pre-order can cover early December gatherings, Christmas dinner, or an easy meal after a busy day. - Halloween production is being kept lighter this year because several employees have been away during October. - The restaurant said the goal is to keep holiday production manageable while still serving festive food. - Smack Dab has traditionally made extra Thanksgiving food for both customer pickup and the neighborhood Love Fridge. - The Love Fridge is a community resource that provides free food to people experiencing food insecurity. - The restaurant will continue accepting donations to support holiday mutual aid efforts. - Smack Dab also offers Chicago catering and private event rentals. - More information is available at the company website.

Between the lines: - The move shows how independent restaurants are rethinking seasonal traditions when holiday demand collides with limited staffing. - Teeny is framing the changes as a way to sustain the restaurant’s long-term culture, not as a retreat from community obligations. - The decision also suggests that mutual aid and employee care are becoming part of Smack Dab’s core holiday identity, not side projects.

What's next: - Smack Dab will announce Thanksgiving pre-order instructions and pickup details separately. - The restaurant will also share a separate decision on Hanukkah sufganiyot pre-orders. - Customers can follow Smack Dab’s website and social media channels for seasonal specials and updates on holiday mutual aid opportunities.

The bottom line: - Smack Dab is keeping the season meaningful by doing fewer things, but doing them in a way that better supports staff, customers, and neighbors.