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Cheesie's, Whiskey Business 'Optimistic' About Christmas Opening in Wicker

By Alisa Hauser | November 23, 2015 9:57am
 Now two years in the making, the owner of Cheesie's is hoping to open a Wicker Park Cheesie's in mid-to-late December and Whiskey Business, a fry bar, a few weeks after that.
Cheesie's and Whiskey Business, a Fry Bar, in Wicker Park
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WICKER PARK —  Craving a grilled cheese sandwich? Cheesie's Pub and Grub and an adjacent Whiskey Business "fry bar" could be opening soon, though the owner of both admits that after two years in the making and several construction delays, he'll believe it when he sees it.

"I am still being incredibly cautiously optimistic, as with how long the process has been nothing would surprise me. I want to be excited but that excitement won't hit until the day we open the doors for both locations," said Chris Johnston, owner of Cheesie's Pub and Grub in Lakeview and Evanston and the new Whiskey Business, an '80s and '90s-themed French fry bar.

If everything goes as planned — including passing city inspections in mid-December — Cheesie's hopes to open by Christmas and the neighboring Whiskey Business, just in time for New Year's Eve, Johnston said on Sunday. 

An "open call" hiring fair to fill sous chefs, bartenders, servers, security and other positions is scheduled for 2 to 8 p.m. Monday at the restaurant, according to a flier.

Located at 1365-57 N. Milwaukee Ave., Cheesie's and Whiskey Business is sandwiched between Harold's Fried Chicken and Futurgarb boutique, and across from Emporium Arcade Bar at 1366 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Johnston said he has already hired five experienced general managers along with enlisting a management company to help control an expansion planned for next year that could possibly see another Cheesie's/Whiskey Business duo in River North.

Once open, Cheesie's will have a capacity of 98 patrons. The 2-level Whiskey Business, which will feature round, conversation-friendly cushioned booths, will seat 60 diners on the first floor, 50 upstairs and an additional 120 people on a rooftop patio spanning both restaurants.

Cheesie's customers will be able to order Cheesie's on the rooftop but to get there, they will need to enter the rooftop through a stairway inside Whiskey Business.

A stairway in Whiskey Business leads up to a rooftop deck. [Chris Johnston/Whiskey Business]

Though the menu has not yet been finalized for Whiskey Business, Johnston said that a Turducken burger, plus roughly 20 different French fry and dip options will be included.

Cheesie's Wicker Park menu will be the same as its Lakeview and Evanston outposts except for the addition of a pulled pork sandwich.  Once Cheesie's opens in Wicker Park, that $9.99 sandwich, made of pulled pork, fried onion strings, coleslaw, BBQ sauce, white cheddar and provolone on Texas toast with a ranch dip, will be available at all three Cheesie's locations all year round.

Initially they planned to open in July, but construction delays set things back. 

Whiskey Business, under construction but hoping to be open by New Years Eve. [Provided]

Future home of Cheesie's Pub and Grub and Whiskey Business.  [DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser]