WEST LOOP — Chef Riccardo Michi aims to open a new restaurant in the old Vera wine bar space on Lake Street in the booming West Loop, according to a new license application filed with city.
Located under the “L” tracks at 1023 W. Lake St., the new restaurant would be Michi’s third eatery in Chicago. The chef currently operates Italian eateries Riccardo Trattoria and Riccardo Enoteca in Lincoln Park.
Riccardo Osteria LLC, owned by Michi, submitted an application for an on-premise liquor license in late August. The space previously housed Vera, a Spanish wine and coffee bar for six years before closing its doors in July 2017.
A representative for Bright Star Management, which manages the property, confirmed the commercial space has been leased but would not disclose more information about future plans for the site.
On Monday, a Riccardo Trattoria employee confirmed a project was in the early stages but had no additional details to share at this time.
In November 2012, Michi opened Riccardo Enoteca, 2116 N. Clark St. in Lincoln Park, across from his Bib Gourmand award-winning restaurant Riccardo Trattoria.
Riccardo Enoteca was originally planned as a wine bar but Michi was unable to get a license to allow patrons to drink who were not at the restaurant to eat, according to DNAinfo.
The space at the corner of Lake and Carpenter has remained vacant since Vera closed its doors last year.
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