Porkchop West Loop Closes After Seven Years on Randolph Street

Porkchop, the barbecue restaurant and bourbon bar that opened in 2011, has closed after seven years along Randolph Street in the West Loop. Reps from the restaurant didn’t provide a reason for the shutter, but the space has been cleared out at 941 W. Randolph Street.

Ownership once ran multiple locations in South Loop, Hyde Park, and suburban Bolingbrook. A rep said the South Loop, Hyde Park, and a Midway Airport location remain open. Owner Jovanis Bouargoub once had bigger plans for expansion. The West Loop was the flagship and original location with table service. Other locations were fast casual and meant to serve more of a lunch crowd. Originally, restaurateur Dion Antic (Iggy’s) was involved when Porkchop first opened, but he departed shortly after its debut. The building previously housed La Mediterranee. It’s been on the real estate market since June.

Bouargoub also opened a steakhouse in 2015 called Chop in the Roosevelt Collection in the South Loop. It later rebranded to Porkchop and remains open.