Small Cheval, the spinoff, scaled-down version of Au Cheval, is preparing to open a new location in Wilmette at 1139 Wilmette Ave.
The company’s seventh location will replace Depot Nuevo, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Mexican restaurant has sat within the Depot Building since 2008 and will close its doors for good by the end of August. The 1,600-square-foot Small Cheval will have about 1,300 square feet of exterior space. While representatives have confirmed this will be the company’s first North Shore location, an opening date has yet to be determined. The Depot Nuevo owners, Rob and Ann Garrison, decided to leave the village-owned space in favor of retirement.
“The Garrisons and Depot Nuevo are such a part of the fabric of our community,” Village President Senta Plunkett said at a village board meeting. “Words cannot be enough to express our gratitude for what they have done for Wilmette, not only for trailblazers for the restaurant scene and how much they have given back to our community. What an example they have set as restaurant owners caring for long-term employees they have had we all recognize every time we go into the restaurant.”
The village board is expected to formally approve the sale to Small Cheval at its first meeting in April, but the company must first acquire zoning approvals. If approved, the $2 million deal also comes with a few caveats, including part of the sales agreement that restricts the building from being altered, relocated, or demolished without the village’s approval. Wilmette would have the right of first refusal should the buyer seek to resell the building.
“We’ve sought to put as many sales protections into the agreement as we can to maintain this historical structure in our community into the foreseeable future,” Village Manager Michael Braiman tells the Chicago Tribune.
