Initial details have been revealed for the upcoming renovation to the Vienna Beef Factory in 2501 N Damen Avenue in Bucktown. Located on the corner with N Elston Avenue along the Chicago River, the large structure was vacated in 2020 after a long history of production. Now Vienna Beef itself is redeveloping the property after a failed attempt to demolish it in exchange for a Drive Shack driving range.
Site context view of Vienna Beef Plaza via Google Maps
Occupying the site with a multi-story structure for over 40 years and serving as just a factory store and restaurant prior to its closure, the new project dubbed ‘Vienna Beef Plaza’ will once again become the headquarter for the company which had relocated to the West Loop. The site itself will be reconstructed to feature new sidewalks, green spaces with over 80-trees, and reconfigure their parking lot to hold more than 200-vehicles.
Rendering of Vienna Beef Plaza via Vienna Beef
The 150,000 square-foot factory will have a part of its facade restored and updated as the previous loading and production space become a new retail space that can be divided up to five-times. The rest of the ground floor will be taken up by a factory store selling bulk meats and merchandise as well as a new restaurant focusing on high-end fast food with Vienna products. The rest of the space will be the aforementioned offices with room for over 50-employees.
Rendering of Vienna Beef Plaza via Vienna Beef
The masonry facade would be partially re-clad with a green-colored panel and new industrial-style glass storefronts added. With a cost of $20 million, work has begun on the redevelopment bringing more commercial space to the corner plagued by fast-food chains in the last few years. Employees are expected to begin move-ins to the office space by the end of the year with the retail and restaurant space coming in 2024.
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Glad this building is being renovated, but calling a parking lot a plaza is just strong evidence for our car addiction.
It is Bucktown/Lincoln Park area. Pretty much suburb living up there. See the Panera and Chic-Fil-A across the street with drive-thru?
What a shame that nobody could do anything useful with all that land along Elston from Fullerton to Damon, that is along the River!!! So we get more big box stores.
If you think it’s suburban now, wait until they “fix” the intersection at Armitage/Ashland/Elston. Same idea but with more concrete, more highway connections and more car capacity.
With Vienna Beef and Binny’s moving in, why did they not front the re-development to face the river?? They are building the patio to face the parking lot and Elston… makes no design sense other then staying car centric and making sure that customers won’t have to burn a single calorie or improve their health by walking a few feet to a river patio and event space. They seriously can do so much if they incorporate the river, such as a Hot Dog fest etc.
I sure hope that the Alder is pushing them to at least complete a riverwalk / path on the river as was envisioned. I kind of see something in the one rendering but its not clear.
The urban considerations so missed on this. Vienna Beef (hot dog) is second to God. Too bad they didn’t treat their site planning, architecture and signage with more dignity.
Boo.