Levy Group shutters Chestnut Grill, embarks on Sears Tower remodel

Nation's Restaurant News, Feb 17, 1992 by Carolyn Walkup

CHICAGO -- The Levy Restaurant Group has closed two of its older upscale restaurants -- the Chestnut Street Grill and Benchers -- and is in the midst of a major remodeling project with its Sears Tower restaurants.

In January the company quietly closed its Chestnut Street Grill in Water Tower Place, which opened 12 years ago as one of Chicago's first restaurants to charcoal-grill seafood over hot coals. William Post, Levy Restaurants' president, said business had fallen off at the grill because of the economic downturn and because the Water Tower Place mall is suffering from competition from newer Michigan Avenue malls.

With dinner checks running from $25 to $30 and lunch about $15, the grill was the priciest of all of the Levys' Water Tower Place restaurants. "It had no street presence. It was a destination and defied the odds for several years," Post said.

Currently, the company has no plans to replace the grill with another concept although Post did not rule out that possibility.

At Sears Tower on the south end of downtown, Levy is remodeling its restaurants as part of the landlord's overall building refurbishing. Because Sears, the building's biggest tenant, is vacating the world's largest office building for a new suburban headquarters, the landlord hopes to attract many replacement tenants, with the help of an updated appearance.

In the first of three phases, Levy closed Benchers, its fine-dining restaurant there, which was less successful than its more casual outlets. It will move its Mrs. Levy's Delicatessen into that space and next year plans to open a new Italian trattoria concept across the hall.

Two existing restaurants, Dos Hermanos Restaurante & Cantina and Eadies Kitchen & Market, a takeout shop, will be redecorated and made smaller, Post said.

Cafe Chicago, a Levy cafeteria that serves tourists who want to view the city from the top of the tower, will remain open on another floor. However, since that floor no longer will be convenient to office workers, Post is not sure of the cafeteria's future.

Meanwhile, the company continues to expand its nationwide concessions contract business as well as restaurants with partners. Its newest restaurant partnership with Nation's Bank is scheduled to open this fall in Charlotte, N.C., in the bank's new office tower.

Levy's food and beverage concession contracts include Arlington International Racecourse, Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park baseball stadiums, Lincoln Park Zoo, Ravinia Festival, World Music Theatre and McCormick Place, all in or near Chicago.