The owners of the modern Greek restaurant Avli are looking to open several concepts in Fulton Market, located at 950-954 W. Fulton Market.
Owners chef Louie Alexakis and sports anchor Lou Canellis recently signed a lease for the building to open multiple restaurant concepts, according to Eater Chicago, which reports as many as four restaurants coming to the building. While Alexakis confirms with What Now Chicago that the owners have secured a lease, he did not say exactly how many restaurants the two plan to open. He says they plan to open at least two concepts, but the project is still in its early phases. The restaurants could open as soon as Spring 2024.
First, the owners plan to open a rooftop restaurant that “will be Avli, but it won’t be Avli,” Alexakis tells Eater. Customers can expect a new and different way to spotlight Greek dining. Another possible restaurant will move in the current home of Marvin’s Food and Fuel, which plans to reopen on the North Side in a “more appropriate” neighborhood, owner James Geier tells Eater. Other tenants in the building, such as Morgan’s on Fulton, will continue to operate and offers a 12,000-square-foot loft, penthouse, and heated roof deck to rent.
Avli has made a name in Chicagoland for its authentic Greek cuisine. The restaurant can be found in West Loop, Lakeshore East, River North, Lincoln Park, and Winnetka, with another location coming to Milwaukee soon. The owners are now determining which parts of their successful business models they’ll apply in Fulton Market. The new Avli concepts will have to compete with some stiff competition when they open next year, including from DineAmic’s Lyra and Nisos.
