Oooh Wee It Is Reopens in Chatham

The story of Oooh Wee It Is, owned by Mark and Shae Walker, began not in a restaurant, but with a sweet tea business. Mark Walker first started selling his Oooh Wee Sweet Tea in 2014 at a Harold's Chicken location. The success of the tea, which sold 286,000 cups in its first year, eventually propelled the Walkers to open their first carry-out restaurant in Burnham, Illinois, in October 2020. The couple expanded to a dine-in location in Chatham in February 2021, taking over a 5,000-square-foot building formerly occupied by Mather's Place at 33 E. 83rd St. This location quickly became a neighborhood staple, known for its "soul food with a twist" and its vibrant, eclectic decor that included a cereal bar with over 75 varieties, swings for seats, and life-size statues of superheroes like Iron Man and Batman. The menu, a collaboration between Mark and Shae, features soul food classics alongside inventive dishes like pot roast cupcakes, Hennessy wings, and fried lobster. Their goal was to create a menu that would appeal to both older "seasoned citizens" and millennials, offering something beyond the traditional soul food fare available in the community. The restaurant also made a point to feature and sell products from other local Black-owned businesses. After a period of closure that saw the 83rd Street location abandoned for over a year, the reopening in a new, larger Chatham space marks a new chapter for the popular eatery. The previous location was noted for drawing long lines, indicating a strong community demand for their unique take on soul food. The addition of breakfast to their menu at the new location is a new offering for the restaurant.