An Elephant in the Room? Michigan-based Group May Have River North Project

A Michigan-based restaurant group has plans for a Chicago space.

Details are scarce, but Peas and Carrots Hospitality Group has applied for a liquor license for a space at 660 N. Orleans St. The name attached to the space is The Elephant Room, and the license is for consumption of alcohol indoors, as well as on the roof and on an outdoor patio.

The city earlier this month issued a renovation/alteration permit for the space at Orleans and Erie streets. It belonged to Deaf Dog Music recording studios' John Ovnik until 2007. Since then it's gone through a series of owners, Ovnik said.

Peas and Carrots is based in Birmingham, Mich. The group owns Social Kitchen and Bar, also in Birmingham; as well as Mex and Beau's Grillery, both of which are in Bloomfield Township.

A call left at Beau's for the owners wasn't immediately returned. Perhaps this new establishment will have provide a rarely-seen Chicago bar affiliation with a local alumni group from a Michigan school? It's unclear, so stay tuned.