09/25/2026
This is not an easy post to write.
Hashtag 95 has officially closed its doors.
I know the closing happened quickly, and I also know that the lack of communication created confusion for some of our customers. I’m sorry to anyone who came by expecting us to be open or reached out looking for answers. I truly am.
I have spent most of my life in the restaurant business, and opening a restaurant in the community where I grew up meant a lot to me.
Hashtag 95 was personal.
My kids’ names were part of the menu, my family was part of its story, and it took more than 12 years of hard work, sacrifice and determination to finally make it a reality. That is probably what makes saying goodbye to it the hardest.
I gave this place everything I had.
Sometimes things just don’t work out the way we hoped they would. Sometimes things happen that are completely out of our control and can change the trajectory of a business. We hung on as long as we could, and I’m proud that we continued to fight for Hashtag 95 for as long as we did.
The restaurant business is one of the hardest industries there is. It takes an incredible amount of sacrifice, time, money, energy and heart. It is absolutely not for the faint of heart.
I love what I do, and I’m incredibly grateful that I’ve been able to make a life in this industry, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
If this experience has reminded me of anything, it is how important small, locally owned businesses are to a community.
Not every business is going to be everyone’s favorite, and that’s okay. But behind every small business are real people, families, employees and owners who are working hard to make a living, support their families and build something of their own.
So if there is a local business you love, support it.
Go there. Tell your friends. Leave a good review. Share their posts. Give them some grace when everything is not perfect.
There is already enough negativity out there. Supporting the businesses you want to see stay in your community matters more than people realize.
I also want to thank the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce, the local businesses, restaurant owners and people in this community who supported Hashtag 95 along the way.
Whether you sent people our way, shared a post, stopped in, checked on us, offered advice or simply showed some compassion when things were difficult, I noticed it and I appreciated it.
There is a lot that happens behind the scenes of owning a business that most people will never see. Having people around you who understand that and want to see other local businesses succeed means something.
I’m proud of what we created, the people we met, the relationships we built and all of the memories that were made inside those walls.
To our staff- Thank you for standing beside me through every change and transition. I know it wasn’t always easy, and I will always appreciate the people who continued to show up and give their best.
To every customer who supported us, brought in your family, celebrated with us, shared our food or simply stopped in for a meal, thank you. Your support meant more than you will ever know.
Although Hashtag 95 has closed, I’ve been in the restaurant business most of my life, and I know this will not be the end of it for me.
I’m grateful that I still get to serve this community and continue doing what I love at Rockefeller’s, and I hope you’ll continue supporting us there.
Thank you, Oak Lawn.
Thank you for giving Hashtag 95 a chance.
Nick
