BEVERLY — Buona Beef will give 100 hungry customers free Italian beef sandwiches for a year as part of a promotion celebrating its first Chicago location.
The Berwyn-based chain will open March 22 at 10659 S. Western Avenue in Beverly. Ahead of its debut, Buona Beef is inviting customers to take a selfie in front of its new restaurant.
The qualify for the free beef, pictures must include Buona's official signs in Beverly. Pictures also need to be posted on Buona Beef's Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter using #BuonaBeef and @BuonaBeef through March 17.
The 100 people chosen for the free beef promotion will also be among the first to enter the 3,940-square-foot restaurant that includes a drive-thru window. Opening day will also feature various Buona giveaways including gift cards, free coffee and more, according to a press release from the chain founded in 1981.
Plans for the 32,036-square-foot property on the northeast corner of 107th Street and Western Avenue were presented to the city's Community Development Commission in June 2014. The total project cost was pinned at almost $2.9 million and the developer requested "TIF assistance in the amount not to exceed $450,000," according to documents.
These same filings stated that the restaurant would have parking for 28 vehicles and the capacity to serve 110 people. Buona Beef will employ five workers full time at the restaurant and have 20 part-time jobs available.
The Buonavolanto family, founders of the chain, plan to open five new restaurants per year over the next five years, further extending its reach into Chicago as well as adding to base of "fast-casual" restaurants in the suburbs. While best known for its Italian beef sandwich, the chain also offers handmade pizzas, salads, paninis and event catering.
"After 35 years, Buona is excited to open its first city of Chicago location," Joe Buonavolanto said in the press release. "We are proud of our roots in this great city and are eager to bring Chicago's original Italian beef to residents throughout Chicagoland and beyond."
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