Ald. Moore invites the community to attend a meeting to review a proposal for a fast food, drive-thru restaurant at 2321 W Howard (at Claremont).
Longtime residents will recall a Burger King drive-thru restaurant once occupied the site until it closed more than a dozen years ago. The property has been vacant ever since.
Ald. Moore worked closely with Evanston Alderman Ann Rainey, who represents Evanston’s 8th Ward across the street from the site, to pressure the previous owner to improve the site or sell the property to someone who would. They ultimately took the owner to court and eventually he sold the property to the current owner, restaurateur John Kim.
For more information on this eyesore and its history, read
this.
The proposed drive-thru restaurant will be known as “Wingman.” As its name implies, the restaurant will specialize in chicken wings, but also will offer other food items, such as burgers, Philly steaks and even fried rice. Wingman is the brainchild of restaurateur John Kim, who owns the Atlanta-based American Deli, a chain of fast food restaurants in the southeastern United States.
The drive-thru window will be located on the east side of the building where the drive-thru window for the old Burger King was located.
View the proposed site plan
here and the elevations and interior construction plan
here.
The restaurant is permitted under the property’s B3-2 zoning classification, but a Special Use Permit issued by the City of Chicago’s Zoning Board of Appeals is required for the drive-thru window. The opinion of the local alderman and the community may influence the Zoning Board of Appeals’ decision on the Special Use Permit application, but the Board retains final authority on whether to grant the permit.
Ald. Moore urges the community to attend the meeting to offer their opinions and suggestions regarding the proposed drive-thru restaurant. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please share your thoughts with the Alderman via email.