Chicago Chop Shop To Open This Summer In Wicker Park

By Julia Weeman in Food on Mar 24, 2013 3:00PM

This summer, Wicker Park will see the arrival of a butcher, bar and restaurant called Chicago Chop Shop and an adjacent event venue named The 1st Ward. Work has already began at the site, a 9,300 square foot former auto body garage located at 2033-35 W. North Avenue. Co-owner Nick Moretti, who founded the New York music and art collective the KOR project, said via a press release that he'll be "fusing his passion for food with his experience in live music and entertainment" in this project.

Chicago Chop Shop will have a salumeria and gourmet butcher shop, with homemade sausages and roasted beef, cheeses, and prime and aged cuts of meat. It will be overseen by co-owner Mario Minelli of Minelli Meats, which has been in Niles for more than 50 years. There will also be grab and go items, sandwiches, meatballs, and pastas.

Ty Fujimura (Arami, SmallBar) will consult on the restaurant's food and beverage program and the restaurant and butcher shop will work together to create a seasonal menu of meats, salads, and small plates. There will be a full-service bar with artisan wines, craft beers, and local spirits. The space will seat 50-70 people downstairs, 60 people upstairs, and include a 60-seat rooftop patio.

The 1st Ward will be a 5,000 square foot private event space that can host events such as live music and art, private dinners, ceremonies, and custom one-off events. Matt Woodburn, the founder/curator of the Art Institute of Chicago's After Dark event series will head up the venue. In addition to private events, the 1st Ward will also have original, in-house programming.

Chicago Chop Shop and The 1st Ward are expected to open this June at 2033-35 W. North Avenue in Wicker Park.