Boka, the hospitality group co-founded by Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm in 2002, has announced it will open three new restaurant concepts in Lakeview’s Southport Corridor. While the hospitality group has revealed only the details on one, all three restaurants are expected to open by summer 2022.
“Our fast casual chicken joint will be the first of three unique Boka Restaurant Group concepts to open in the building Summer 2022 and will be open for dine-in or takeout, daily,” shares a social media post from GG’s Chicken Shop. “Guests can expect all of the GG’s menu items, ranging from tasty rotisserie chicken, cluckin’ delicious fried chicken sandwich and all the in between fixin’s.”
GG’s Chicken Shop has operated as a ghost kitchen pop-up during the pandemic; the eatery has temporarily suspended services as it prepares for in-person dining. The fast-casual chicken joint is a concept from one of Boka’s five executive chefs, Lee Wolen, who has maintained a Michelin Star from 2011 to 2020. Wolen is also the chef at Boka, the restaurant for which the group is named.
GG’s is inspired by the rotisserie chicken dinners shared around Wolen’s family table in Cleveland. The eatery takes its name from his mother’s, Geri.
Eater Chicago reports GG’s will open in the space that last housed Southport Lanes, the bowling alley that closed down last year. Wolen tells Eater he will add a rotisserie to the space and add sides like cauliflower cooked on the spit. The space will reportedly feature a newly installed pickup window and dining room seating 24 to 28 patrons; GG’s will also have outdoor patio space.
You can keep up-to-date with GG’s by finding the eatery online. Announcements are being shared over social media.
