CHICAGO — The owners of BeefBelly, 4800 N. Central Ave., have closed their Jefferson Park sandwich shop with plans to open a "lively, funky" Mexican restaurant at the same spot in December, they said.
Co-owners Steve and Nicole O'Brien are re-branding to further distinguish the eatery from its sister location, BRGRBelly, which sits about a mile away at 5739 W. Irving Park Road, Steve O'Brien said.
"They both had burgers on the menu, and it was like we had the same exact customers going to both locations," O'Brien said. "It just seemed like they were too close to be so similar."
The new spot, to be called Tipsy Cow Cantina, will feature an expansive margarita bar and Tex-Mex staples priced to be "more affordable to the neighborhood" than many of the options offered at BeefBelly, O'Brien said. It will also host live music and karaoke nights on the weekends.
The O'Briens are no stranger to Mexican cuisine, already serving it at the five food halls they operate around the city and suburbs, he added.
O'Brien is aiming to open the restaurant during the first week of December, he said.
