Company chosen to run Maggie Daley Park restaurant, kiosk

A company that operates 11 establishments in the city won Chicago Park District approval Wednesday for a restaurant that will sit at the south end of Maggie Daley Park.

The company that won the bid, Four Corners Tavern Group, will also run a kiosk near the skating ribbon on the north side of the park.

Chicago Park District Superintendent Michael Kelly said the kiosk will be well-received, noting that the second-most requested item at the ribbon has been hot chocolate.

"Not only does it make good business sense," Kelly said, "We have to do it."

The restaurant group, which employs about 600 people, was the largest company out of three that made a bid, parks officials said at the meeting.

Four Corners will pay $1.1 million to build the restaurant, officials said. Preliminary renderings of the building's design were also presented at the meeting. The restaurant will feature glass walls and a grass-covered roof, similar to the feel of the field house north of the skating ribbon, said Rob Rejman, director of planning and construction for the Park District.

The company will also pay for all utilities and waste removal and $75,000 in rent per year, and 5 to 10 percent of its gross profits will go to the Park District.

"As they make more money, we make more money," said Steve Lux, Park District chief financial officer.

The commissioners approved a 10-year agreement with the option to terminate at any time. The Park District can renew the agreement five more times for one year each time. After that, the restaurant will be rebid, Lux said.

Rejman said public meetings regarding the design will be held at a yet-to-be-determined date.

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Company chosen to run Maggie Daley Park restaurant, kiosk