Kitchen United has signed its second lease agreement in Chicago, as the company continues to execute its ghost kitchen expansion plans. The fifth and newest Kitchen United MIX location will be at 222 N. Wells Street, a few blocks south of the landmark Merchandise Mart.
The new location in the heart of the city in the neighborhood known as The Loop, home to a dense population of digital workers and young families. It will be located at the site of the now-shuttered Wells St. Market.
The reinvented commercial space will house 10 kitchens arranged throughout the property in a similar format to food halls, and will have one central order and pickup area in the middle of the space. The location will eventually open indoor and outdoor seating.
“Chicago has been incredibly welcoming to the Kitchen United brand, and we’re excited to bolster our presence in the city following the successful establishment of our kitchen center in River North in 2018,” said Kitchen United CEO Michael Montagano. “Kitchen United MIX at Wacker & Wells will support a seamless to-go experience for consumers seeking ultimate convenience and optionality. Further, we look forward to supporting beloved restaurant brands looking to take advantage of the continued boom in off-premises business through our capital-light opportunity that will enable them to grow with minimal upfront costs and lower risk.”
Kitchen United MIX offers consumers the opportunity to batch orders from different restaurant concepts mitigating disputes over “what’s for dinner.” Orders can be easily mixed and matched to meet one person’s cravings for Chinese food, while another can get pizza all on the same ticket. Takeout orders are accommodated with Kitchen United’s kiosk ordering technology and website and can also be made for delivery via third-party marketplaces where applicable.
Brands such as Chick-fil-A, Panera Bread and Smokey Bones currently partner with Kitchen United at its North Sedgwick location. All brands employ their own staff to focus on the cooking inside shared kitchen space, while Kitchen United staff handles tasks such as trash removal and distributing orders to customers and delivery personnel.