BEVERLY — Buona Beef expects to submit the last of its required paperwork on Friday for a new restaurant at 10659 S. Western Ave. in Beverly.
An executive with the Buona Companies provided an update Wednesday to staff at Ald. Matt O'Shea's (19th) office. The $2.8 million restaurant will be the first Chicago restaurant for the Berwyn-based chain.
The final hurdle involves a water retention issue on the property, and the required documentation will be submitted at the end of the week, according to a 19th Ward staff member.
The 3,940-square-foot restaurant with a drive-through window is expected to break ground shortly after the mandatory five-day waiting period for submitting final paperwork, the staff member said.
Construction is expected to take just 12 weeks, the Buona executive told aldermanic staffers.
Bringing Buona Beef to the Far Southwest Side has already been a 52-month process. The family owned restaurant group has 15 restaurants operating throughout the Chicago suburbs.
The Buonavolanto family founded Buona Beef in 1981. While best known for its Italian beef sandwich, the chain also offers handmade pizzas, salads and paninis in addition to event catering.
Plans for the property submitted to the city's Community Development Commission last summer describe the restaurant similarly to its suburban counterparts.
The Beverly restaurant will have decorative stone features and insulated glass windows with dark brown aluminum frames.
The restaurant will also have several "green" features, including high-efficiency cooking equipment, furniture made from renewable materials and Cambria countertops, which are certified as a low-emissions product, according to documents filed with the city.
"The developer is requesting TIF assistance in an amount not to exceed $450,000 in order to facilitate the development," the 2014 report states.
The Buona Beef site is about 32,036 square feet. Once completed, the restaurant will have parking for 28 vehicles and the capacity to serve 110 people. Buona Beef will also employ five workers full time at the restaurant and have 20 part-time jobs available.
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