For the past few months, Matthias Merges (A10, Yusho, Old Irving Brewery) has hinted that he’s got more than one project planned in Wrigleyville. The public already knows how Merges’ Folkart Restaurant Management intends to open a cocktail bar inside the Hotel Zachary based on his Logan Square hotspot Billy Sunday. The hotel is the development crews are building on the westside of Clark, across the street from Wrigley Field. Now there’s a also second project, called Lucky Dorr Patio & Tap, a representative of The Park at Wrigley confirms. The tap will be part of The Park at Wrigley’s office/retail building at Waveland and Clark, on the same plot as the ballpark.
While Merges’ spots have their own personalities, only Old Irving Brewery is especially sports friendly. Yes, Billy Sunday is named after a former White Sox player, but the name’s significant to bars because Sunday was part of the temperance movement in the 19th Century. In Wrigleyville, even the most recent art school graduate will at least have one eye on the game so Lucky Dorr will need a bigger sports bend. Meanwhile, Folkart is searching for a GM for its Wrigleyville locations.
Lucky Dorr, if that’s not a working name, will join Starbucks Reserve and Brickhouse, an upcoming restaurant from Four Corners Tavern Group. Over at the Hotel Zachary, there’s a glut of restaurants lined up, as Folkart joins some of Chicago’s biggest hospitality groups. One Off Hospitality will sell tacos inside their second Big Star and 4 Star Restaurant Group (Crosby’s Kitchen, Ella Elli) will open a second Smoke Daddy, spinning off their barbecue restaurant in Wicker Park.
Merges was in California and couldn’t be immediately be reached to share more details. Stay tuned.