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Big Star Expansion Offers Greenery, More Patio Space

By Alisa Hauser | August 26, 2014 10:59am | Updated on August 27, 2014 11:00am
 Big Star's new patio, still under construction, offers an oasis of greenery within the city complete with trees growing inside of the tables.
Big Star Patio Landscaping
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WICKER PARK — Popular Wicker Park taqueria and whisky bar Big Star is getting bigger and greener. The eatery has planted new trees and will have more patio seating and a second takeout window when an expansion project is complete.

Though a spokeswoman for owners One Off Hospitality declined to say if the new patio space would be shared by Big Star at 1531 N. Damen Ave. and its new sister restaurant, Dove's Luncheonette at 1545 N. Damen Ave., a worker Tuesday said that she believed the new patio could eventually be used by both restaurants. 

Alisa Hauser says this may help the long weekend wait times:

Work on the new patio, which is not yet open, kicked off in June. The outdoor space features cobble pavers and trees growing inside the center of wooden tables made from black locust lumber.

 Future home of Dove's Luncheonette at 1545 N. Damen Ave. in Wicker Park.
Future home of Dove's Luncheonette at 1545 N. Damen Ave. in Wicker Park.
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DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser

Landscape designer Julie deLeon, owner of Groundwork, a Ukrainian Village-based firm that has also designed container plantings for Lula and Nightwood, has been a familiar face during the expansion.

"My job was to lend the right materials that married well to their restaurant/site and provided durability for a long lasting exterior space with high traffic. [One Off Hospitality was] very conscientious about the neighborhood and historical preservation of the block. It was also thrilling to work with a client that took to my ideas fully and executed the design in its entirety," deLeon wrote in an email.

DeLeon said she selected "understory" dogwood trees for the area closest to the sidewalk because the trees, which grow naturally under taller trees in the forest, will provide shade and a buffer from pedestrian traffic.

The patio also features birch trees with large tree grates that include benches. 

There is also a row of six tall spruces along the back of the patio.

The new takeout window, located inside the expanded patio, is part of a neighboring building at 1537 N. Damen Ave., which is being converted to a private commissary kitchen for One Off Hospitality's catering operations.

It is unclear if the new takeout window will be for Big Star food or Dove's Luncheonette or the catering company.

Dove's Luncheonette will offer "counter service morning, noon and night" in a Mexican-inspired soul food restaurant when it opens in September, according to Facebook posts and tweets by the retro diner, which will feature a jukebox with soul and blues music.

The luncheonette will offer a tequila and mezcal-focused bar program, according to a mission statement.

The dishes at Dove's Luncheonette, which seats 42 at a long counter, include chicken-fried chicken and chile rellenos, as well as enchiladas, chef de cuisine Dennis Bernard told Chicago magazine last week.

Named for a character in famed local writer Nelson Algren's novel "A Walk on the Wild Side,"  Dove's Luncheonette was further inspired by 1990s-era (and now gone) staples Leo's Lunchroom and Busy Bee, a diner that was located across the way on Damen, Bernard told Chicago.

Located just on the other side of the "L" tracks from Double Door, the luncheonette storefront was once home to Cipollina, an Italian cafe and deli that closed last July.

The 1500 block of North Damen Avenue in Wicker Park is familiar terrain for One Off Hospitality, the parent company for locally revered chef Paul Kahan's group of restaurants (which also include Avec and Publican).

Kahan is one of four managing partners in One Off Hospitality, which owns Big Star as well as The Violet Hour, a craft cocktail lounge at 1520 N. Damen Ave.

Last week, Kahan put out a call for workers.

"Dove's Luncheonette is looking for skilled line cooks to start immediately, come be a part of the ooh family. Email dennis@DovesChicago.com," Kahan tweeted.

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