Hamburger Mary's Plans to Open at 1111-1113 South Blvd.: Report

Oak Park Brewing Company/Hamburger Mary's owners have completed the requirements needed to begin work at 1111-1113 South Blvd. in the Pleasant District, and still need approval of a liquor license, which is contingent on the company taking possession of the building, Oak Park Development Corporation President Sara Faust told the Wednesday Journal. 

According to a news release from the Oak Park Development Corporation in November, Oak Park Brewing Company/Hamburger Mary's will open next summer, pending completion of its acquisition and rehab of an Oak Park building.

The building, which is currently used for office space, was once a playhouse, designed by Oak Park-based architect E.E. Roberts, according to cinematreasures.org. 

According to the website, an unusual feature of the building is its "motorized roof," a series of skylights that allow cool air in on summer evenings. 
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Hamburger Mary's owner Ashley Wright, who opened the Andersonville restaurant in 2006 as a franchisee before buying the franchise system in 2007, said in November the Oak Park location would incorporate the traditional Hamburger Mary's concept, but would focus more on the brewing aspect of the business. 

Hamburger Mary's started brewing its own beer in Andersonville in 2009, he said.

"We’ve participated in the Micro Brew review and know that the Oak Park area has an appetite for good food and there is a strong market here for good beer,” Wright said in a prepared statement from OPDC.  “We’ve really appreciated all the help we’ve gotten from Sara Faust and the OPDC team. They’ve helped with counsel on everything—possible locations, financing, and navigating the details of opening a brew-pub restaurant like this in Oak Park.”

Village trustees planned to vote on approval of the company's liquor license at a Monday meeting, which was canceled due to weather, according to the Journal.

Read the full Wednesday Journal story here.