Originally scheduled to open in early 2020, Chicago's newest food hall officially opened its doors to the public today at 15 W Washington Street (the former home of a Walgreens pharmacy and a Chicago early voting super-site). New York-based food hall chain Urbanspace is behind the 12,000-square-foot space, which joins the food halls that the company has established throughout New York City. The Washington Street location is the first of two food halls that Urbanspace will launch in Chicago—the second will take over a portion of the Willis Tower lobby and is scheduled to launch sometime in 2022.
The Urbanspace food hall on Washington Street has room for more than 20 vendors, but it has launched with 12 different concepts. Highlights include the first Chicago location of famed Brooklyn wood-fired pizza concept Roberta's, fried chicken purveyors Budlong, a non-food truck location of Happy Lobster and the revival of Isla Pilipina, a Filipino restaurant that closed its location in Lincoln Square last year. Chicagoans may recognize new outposts of Evanston burger stand Edzo's, fried dough experts Stan's Donuts, Mexican restaurant Spanglish and the West Loop's Sushi Dokku. The space all boasts the first Chicago locations of New York chains Plant Junkie (plant-based comfort food) and Pita Yeero (Greek cuisine), as well as the debut location of start-up Indian concept Bhoomi.
There's also a bar in the front of the space called the Peregrine Club that's being run by Footman Hospitality, the operators of bars like Little Victories, Spilt Milk and Bangers & Lace. The bar's menu focuses on cocktails, including riffs on a Pink Squirrel and an Americano.
While there are a few tables and some window seating at the front of the space, the majority of tables are concentrated in the back of the food hall. You'll find seating on the ground level as well as a balcony in the back of the space that over looks the entire space—it's where you should sit if you want to see what's happening at nearly every kitchen while you eat.
With many former regular commuters to the Loop still working from home, it remains to be seen whether or not Chicago's once bustling downtown area can support multiple food halls (Revival Food Hall is just a few blocks away from Urbanspace's Washington Street location). Thankfully, Urbanspace will be open for dinner as well, so you'll be able to swing by after a show at the Chicago Theatre or the Nederlander Theater for dinner.
Urbanspace's current hours are 7am–9:30pm Monday through Friday and 7:30am–8:30pm on Saturdays. Here's a look inside the Loop's latest food hall.
