Hattie B's Hot Chicken Opens in Wrigleyville

- The Wrigleyville restaurant, located at 3649 N. Clark Street in the Gallagher Way development, is Hattie B's first location in Illinois and marks its initial expansion north. It occupies a roughly 3,300-square-foot space with seating for 70 inside and 55 on a patio, featuring retractable walls for an indoor-outdoor experience. - This opening is part of a larger Chicago expansion, with two additional locations already planned for River North at 58 E. Ontario St. and Wicker Park at 1542 N. Damen Ave. These new outposts are anticipated to open later in 2026 or by early 2027. - Hattie B's was founded in Nashville in 2012 by the father-son team of Nick Bishop Sr. and Nick Bishop Jr. The family-owned company specializes in Nashville hot chicken and does not franchise its locations. - The menu centers on hot chicken—bone-in, tenders, and sandwiches—with heat levels ranging from "Southern" (no heat) to "Damn Hot," made with a blend of ghost, habanero, and cayenne peppers. It also includes traditional Southern sides like pimento mac-and-cheese, collard greens, and banana pudding. - Co-founder Nick Bishop Jr. cited Chicago's reputation as a top food and beverage city as a key reason for the expansion. The company's chief development officer, Dave Oster, indicated that Hattie B's could open two to five more locations in the Chicago area within the next two to three years, starting with the urban core and then expanding to the suburbs. - The Wrigleyville location is situated in the former Foxtrot space, part of the Marquee Development owned by the Ricketts family, owners of the Chicago Cubs. This development aims to attract visitors to the area year-round. - The brand enters a competitive Chicago market that has already embraced the Nashville hot chicken trend, with existing local chains like Fry the Coop and other purveyors like Crimson Coward and Hot Chi Chicken.