Cubs Plaza Outside Wrigley Getting Two-Story Restaurant From Four Corners

Cubs star Kris Bryant may man the hot corner at Wrigley Field, but later this summer Four Corners Tavern Group will also have a stake near The Friendly Confines. The company that’s behind several Chicago bars/restaurants, including Benchmark and Federales, intends to open a two-story “tavern-style” restaurant on the north side of the Park at Wrigley plaza, neighboring the ballpark. The plan is for Brickhouse to stay open even during the Cubs’ offseason.

The restaurant will include outdoor and terrace seating and fans will certainly have a nice view of the neighborhood. Four Corners is going for a family-friendly atmosphere. The company’s portfolio includes several sports bars, and they’ve been eyeing Wrigleyville for years. Their group, including founder Matt Menna, is ecstatic about the opportunity. Menna hopes that Brickhouse will be continue to celebrate the fabled baseball stadium.

Brickhouse is part of The Park At Wrigley. While the restaurant will open later this season inside the building, the outdoor plaza officially opens on Monday on the 3600 block of North Clark Street to coincide with the Cubs’ home opener versus Los Angeles. The building already houses a Starbucks Reserve coffee shop. There’s a ton of construction in the area, but The Park At Wrigley refers to the triangle plaza at Clark and Waveland, bordering the stadium’s northwest corner. Green City Market has already committed to hold outdoor farmers markets and cooking demonstrations at the plaza. There’s also concerts and other community events planned for the space that was once occupied by a parking lot and Byron’s Red Hots, a cramped hot dog stand that endures with two North Side locations.

Ashok Selvam

The restaurant’s name harks back to beloved former Cubs broadcaster Jack Brickhouse. Brickhouse, who died in 1998, had a 33-year stint working on the team’s games and is honored inside the ballpark with his trademark “hey, hey” posted on the foul poles.

The Plaza and Brickhouse represent another domino as the Cubs work to transform Wrigleyville. While the developments, including The Hotel Zachary, will provide opportunities to many restaurant groups, note that it’s not pure joy in Wrigleyville. In a fascinating piece—with a brutal photo illustration of President Trump holding up Wrigley’s “W” flag—The Reader explores the impact that Cubs’ ownership has had on the neighborhood. Hickory Street Capital, the real estate company owned by the Ricketts family, is a partner in the development.

Ashok Selvam