COVID may have put a halt to plans for Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe to open up a restaurant in Oak Brook. But it hasn’t stopped the popular breakfast and lunch eatery from now planning to open its fifth location in the village.
Wildberry has two existing locations in Chicago and one each in Libertyville and Schaumburg. And now a fifth restaurant is planned for a vacant parcel at 1100 22nd Street, as part of the Hines development on the former McDonald’s property, at the northeast corner of 22nd Street and McDonald’s Drive.
The Village Board authorized the architectural approval on June 25, clearing the way for Wildberry to proceed directly to permit for the new building, said Village Manager Greg Summers.
“Wildberry Pancakes and Café has demonstrated tremendous success at their four existing locations and has been seeking an Oak Brook location since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Summers said. “The restrictions placed on indoor dining by the State caused Wildberry to withdraw from their original proposed location due to uncertainty experienced by all restaurants at that time.
“We are elated that Wildberry found a new location in the community that suits their needs, and we anxiously await their construction and opening as another addition to our ever-growing dining scene.”
Village President Larry Herman said he, too, is looking forward to Wildberry joining Oak Brook’s large menu of restaurants.
“Wildberry is a wildly popular breakfast and lunch restaurant that has a loyal following at its other existing locations,” he said. “They are a great fit for the Hines development, and we are fortunate to have them expand into Oak Brook. I’m confident they will be a big hit in our community.”
Wildberry co-founder Kevin Bethyo said he expects to break ground in Oak Brook shortly before Labor Day and open for business in early summer of 2025.
“We wanted to be in Oak Brook pre-COVID and are excited to be coming there now,” he said. “Everyone with the Village has been great to work with, and Oak Brook is a great community with a dynamic restaurant scene.”
Bethyo said he believes Wildberry’s offering of strictly breakfast and lunch will fit well in Oak Brook.
“I feel breakfast and lunch are often overlooked,” he said. “This is a great location for us. It’s in a corridor coming off the highway, and we’ll be right there.”
Building plans call for the east entrance as the identifiable focal point from the parking lot, with signage over the doorway and awning.
Wildberry was established in 2004 and has breakfast and lunch menus inspired by a blend of traditional homemade recipes, using only fresh, seasonal ingredients, according to information from the restaurant, which states it has approximately 120,000 guests each month that are served by about 300 employees, between its four existing locations.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press,
