Oooh Wee It Is Opening New Location in Hyde Park

Oooh Wee It Is, the restaurant that specializes in “soul food with a twist,” is expanding to a new location in Hyde Park, located at 1508 E. 53rd St. 

The new location will replace Mellow Yellow, which recently closed down after 46 years of service. Husband-and-wife Mark and Shae Walker currently own and operate two Oooh Wee It Is’: one at 33 E. 83rd St. and another carry-out only site at 2208 E. State St., with two new locations coming to Wicker Park and Beverly. The Hype Park location is expected to open sometime in August 2022, with renovations taking about 60-75 days. Guests can expect the brand’s “soul food with a twist” specialties, trademark cereal bar, a pasta bar, and robot servers.

The Walkers are no stranger to the restaurant industry. The pair of restaurateurs opened its first dine-in restaurant in south suburban Burnham in fall 2020. Since then, the couple has opened several other restaurants throughout Chicago and is currently looking to expand into Texas and Georgia. In the meantime, once the new Oooh Wee It Is opens, it will serve various delicious meals such as lamb chops, oxtails, and short ribs.

“Knowing that Mellow Yellow has been a staple since 1976, [it’ll] be ideal to be in Hyde Park period — just to have our brand there,” Walker tells Block Club Chicago. “When my realtor called and told me this was a deal that could be on the table, I jumped at the opportunity. We’re just trying to modernize Mellow Yellow and bring a few different things to Hyde Park that it does not currently offer.”