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Boxcar Betty’s is opening a second Chicago shop in Bucktown. Credit: Provided

BUCKTOWN — A South Carolina-based fried chicken sandwich restaurant is opening its second Chicago location this week.

Boxcar Betty’s opens Friday at 1856 W. North Ave., inside the former home of Lillie’s Q.

The restaurant, which first opened in Charleston, South Carolina in 2014, launched its first Chicago site inside the Ogilvie Transportation Center in 2018.

Abbott Smith, a Chicago resident and former Potbelly Sandwich Shop executive, helped bring Boxcar Betty’s to the area after discovering the restaurant during trips to his family home in Charleston.

In a press release he said the Bucktown location will be the restaurant’s “flagship” Chicago outpost.

“Bucktown is a fantastic location that mirrors the Boxcar personality — quirky and trendy, while also family-friendly,” Smith said. “We can’t wait to be a part of the vibrant neighborhood and community here.”

The North Avenue corner storefront has been vacant since last April, when Lillie’s Q left its longtime home in Bucktown. The barbecue restaurant eventually reopened in West Town inside District Brew Yards.

Boxcar Betty’s added a pick-up window to the storefront for contactless pick-up for customers and delivery drivers. A patio will eventually be available for outdoor seating.

Credit: Provided

Boxcar Betty’s uses cage-free chickens free of antibiotics. The Boxcar sandwich layers brined fried chicken breast with pimento cheese, peach coleslaw, house-made pickles and spicy mayo. Fried green tomatoes, fried pickles and sweet potato fries are among side options.

In addition to its Chicago restaurants, Boxcar Betty’s has three locations in South Carolina and one in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Hours of operation at the Bucktown restaurant will be 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Place an order for pick-up or delivery online or through DoorDash, GrubHub, UberEats and Postmates. Follow the restaurant on Instagram.

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