CHICAGO — Vienna Beef, the iconic Chicago food purveyor, on Tuesday unveiled plans to redevelop its former factory location at 2501 N. Damen Ave. into Vienna Beef Plaza, further cementing its commitment to Chicago.
The reimagined space will be the go-to destination for a complete Vienna Beef experience, featuring a restaurant, outdoor plaza, retailers and Vienna Beef office space.
The $20 million investment includes a rehabilitation of the property to feature state-of-the-art offices for approximately 50 Vienna Beef employees on the second floor and designated retail space below. The once-beloved Vienna Beef Factory Store and Café will be resurrected at the site, featuring the full lineup of Vienna Beef products, elevated classic Chicago menu items and dining options. The restaurant will be outfitted with memorabilia that encapsulates the company’s 130-year history as Chicago-born and Chicago-made. The restaurant is slated to open in spring 2024, and the existing Vienna Beef Factory Store location in Bridgeport will remain open.
“Vienna Beef has long imagined what possibilities exist at our former factory location, where Vienna was in operation since the early 1970s. We couldn’t be more excited to see Vienna Beef Plaza come to life,” said Tom McGlade, senior vice president at Vienna Beef. “Vienna Beef is a Chicago company in its heart and at its core, and it only makes sense that there is a place in the city for enthusiasts to come and experience everything Vienna Beef — and Chicago — has to offer through excellent food, fun memorabilia and a thriving retail experience.”
Capitalizing on its convenient location at the intersection of popular Chicago neighborhoods such as Bucktown, Wicker Park, Lakeview and Lincoln Park, Vienna Beef Plaza’s outdoor area will be an asset to the community featuring over 80 trees and hundreds of lush plants for a garden feel. Once opened, there will be an opportunity to host indoor and outdoor events. The 150,000-square-foot development will be home to several other retailers, including a prominent big-box store to be announced at a later date, and over 200 parking spaces.
"Our community is excited to see Vienna Beef reinvest in the neighborhood by adaptively reusing the original Vienna headquarters. We are happy to see new jobs and economic development the plan will continue to build on for Chicago," said Ald. Scott Waguespack.
Vienna Beef employees currently located at the Fulton Market and Bridgeport offices will relocate to Vienna Beef Plaza at the end of this year. Vienna Beef relocated its factory operations in Bucktown to Bridgeport in 2015 and opened its Bridgeport Vienna Beef Factory Store at 3847 S. Morgan St. in 2016. The Bucktown Factory Store and Café closed in 2020.
