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Prairie School, Frank Lloyd Wright-Inspired Bar, Coming To Google Building

By Stephanie Lulay | May 10, 2017 4:56pm
 Prairie School, a new bar inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, will open this summer in the Google building.
Prairie School, a new bar inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, will open this summer in the Google building.
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FULTON MARKET — The Google building will soon be getting a new bar inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's work. 

Heisler Hospitality and Jim Meehan, founder of PDT (Please Don't Tell) in New York City, are teaming up to open Prairie School in the former Smack Shack space in the 1K Fulton building, 326 N. Morgan St. The bar is slated to open late this summer. 

Known for spots that include the West Loop's Bad Hunter, Lone Wolf and Pub Royale in Wicker Park, Heisler partners Matt Eisler and Kevin Heisner have occasionally crossed paths with Meehan across the globe, but it wasn't until a 2016 meetup in Chicago that the trio discussed the potential for a future partnership over beers at Sportsman’s Club. Fresh off of the opening of Bad Hunter, Eisler and Heisner had no immediate plans for a new project, but couldn't pass up the opportunity, they said. 

“The Morgan Street space became available and all of the pieces seemed to fall into place rather quickly. We began talking in more specific terms and discovered our individual visions for this specific space aligned," Eisler said. 

Prairie School's design, cocktails and hospitality will all be influenced by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie School aesthetic, which can be seen in his homes across the Midwest, particularly in the Chicago area. 

 Heisler Hospitality and Jim Meehan are partnering to open Prairie School, a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired bar, in the former Smack Shack space in the 1KFulton building.
Heisler Hospitality and Jim Meehan are partnering to open Prairie School, a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired bar, in the former Smack Shack space in the 1KFulton building.
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DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay

The 9,000-square-foot space is slated to be designed by Heisner in conjunction with Rugo Raff.

Construction is currently underway and Prairie School will occupy the northeast corner of the building.

Meehan grew up in River Forest and Oak Park, an area known for its Frank Lloyd Wright homes, before moving to New York City in 2002. 

“My admiration for Chicago has only grown since I left, as I’ve watched the city transform: growing its international stature as a hub for food, wine and culture," he said. "I’m eager to be part of it in this project, which affords me the opportunity to explore my roots as both an outsider and a native son.”

Smack Shack, the "coastal and casual" seafood restaurant previously in the space, closed in February after 10 months in business. 

Sterling Bay's 1000 W. Fulton Market development is also known as the Google building, a nod to one of the building's main tenants.