Firecakes Owner Consulting On New Downtown Food Hall

The owner of Firecakes Donuts is consulting on a downtown food hall, yes another one, planned to open next year on Wacker Drive south of the Chicago River. There's no name for the project, but the investors behind the hall are promising "upscale casual food and beverage choices" as well as a grab-and-go market and full bar.

The 10,500 square-foot project is slated for a spring 2017 opening at 205 W. Wacker Dr. Alvarez & Marsal Property Investments and Ameritus Real Estate Investment Management are behind the project. Jonathan Fox is the lead consultant. Fox owns Firecakes and Osteria La Media and has developed other projects for theWitHotel and Weber Grill. A rep for the food hall says Fox will advise on which vendors will fill the hall and help on the operational side.

That being said, the food hall has launched a social media campaign to apparently solicit the public's opinions on what food and drink they want part of the project. So if there are any fans of Malört, this could be a massive opportunity. Use #Devour205 on social media for any suggestions.

Like the upcoming Revival Food Hall, this new food hall will reside in a Burnham-designed building; 205 W. Wacker Dr. was designed by Daniel Burnham's sons — Revival's building was designed by father. The downtown lunch landscape continues to change with contenders such as 3 Greens Market, Latinicity and Eataly vying to give workers an alternative to typical fast food. That, of course, comes at a higher price point.

Crain's first reported the story.