Inside Kuma’s Corner West Loop, Refining Burgers and Metal for a New Crowd

Kuma’s joins Shake Shack in Fulton Market today

by Ashok Selvam@Shokdiesel May 24, 2017, 12:45pm CDT

Photography by Marc Much

Ashok Selvam is the editor of Eater Chicago and a native Chicagoan armed with more than two decades of award-winning journalism. Now covering the world of restaurants and food, his nut graphs are super nutty.

Fans of Kuma’s Corner hope the irreverent burger joint won’t alter their style too much — such as when Metallica’s members cut their hair — when the West Loop/Fulton Market location opens today. But although the new spot has seven TVs — a stark departure from the Avondale original — the change isn’t all bad.

The new spot is a slick modernization of what made the original, a raucous hit which celebrated its 10th birthday in 2015. The over-the-top metal-themed burgers, with names like Neurosis, Pantera, and Slayer, remain. But Kuma’s is no longer a dive. There’s plenty of room for 99 people inside and another 32 outside on its patio. The location employs the same artists who helped make the original and the second location in on Diversey unique.

Besides the new flatscreens, there’s also a projector screen. They’ll play movies, and concert films. Most of the screens will be used to show the beer list. But despite an ad campaign on the sports radio station WSCR-AM The Score, founder Ron Cain said they won’t be showing sports. Even then, a few of the Score’s hosts on the air Tuesday said they have never visited Kuma’s. It’s safe to say that Kuma’s is trying to expand to a new audience.

West Loop/Fulton Market has more burger options than ever, as Shake Shack also opened a new location nearby today, so the symbolic burger brawl is underway. Take a look around the new Kuma’s below.

Kuma’s Corner, 852 W. Fulton Market, open 11:15 a.m. to midnight (kitchen closes at 11 p.m.) on Sunday through Thursday; 11:15 a.m. to 2 a.m. (kitchen closes at 1 a.m.) on Friday and Saturday.