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Spike Punch Bowl Social's plans for Wicker Park. The Denver-based chain blames complications navigating Chicago's fire code for its decision to nix a multi-story project filled with bars, restaurants, table tennis, bowling and karaoke. Instead the company is looking at least two other locations, and earlier in the year officials were looking at spots in "western Chicago."
What in those fire codes were so problematic? Looks like the city wanted Punch Bowl to convert existing wooden structures to metal, and that cost too much money for management, according to DNAinfo. There's still news, as they're going forward with plans for a Schaumburg location inside a former John Barleycorn. That conversion shouldn't take long, according to The Daily Herald. It's probably as quick as a bro swapping his visor for a fedora, or as DNAinfo reports, November.
The 27,000-square-foot Wicker Park space was to open late this year in the former Central Furniture at 1348 N. Milwaukee Ave. Punch Bowl Social sought a location in the neighborhood for years. Their menu includes American comfort food with a gastro-pub feel. They operate locations in Detroit, Denver, Austin, Texas; plus Portland, Ore.
