The owners of El Che and Brasero are bringing an unnamed culinary option to West Loop.
Hey Che Hospitality, led by chef John Manion and Alexander Cuper, is introducing a new restaurant at the former Proxi space, 565 W Randolph Street, per a report from Crain’s Chicago Business. Details of what the cuisine and theme will be have not been revealed yet. When contacted, Manion did not give an opening date.
Proxi closed in late 2025 after serving West Loop for eight years, with coastal Asian cuisine at the forefront. Dishes included wagyu beef cheek, roasted eggplant with tahini and black pepper sirloin. It had some of the same team members from neighboring Sepia, and the reason for closing was not made public.
Now, Hey Che has signed the lease for the space, bringing years of hospitality experience to the neighborhood. What Now Chicago previously reported on Brasero opening in 2023, their South American restaurant with steaks and fresh seafood at 1709 W Chicago Avenue in West Town. El Che Steakhouse & Bar is closer to the new project, at 845 W Washington Boulevard in West Loop.
Manion himself also opened La Sirena Clandestina in 2012, a Brazilian restaurant in Fulton Market. Originally from Brazil, he has always brought South American cuisine to his concepts in the city. He was nominated for Chef of the Year at the Jean Banchet Awards in both 2017 and 2020.
The unnamed concept will be at the corner of N Randolph and N Jefferson streets. This is close to Sepia and across from other restaurants like Alla Vita and Joto Sushi. Union Station is just a few blocks away from the location.
More details from Hey Che Hospitality on the new concept will be released in the coming weeks.
