Saigon Sisters to Open in Fulton River District
Saigon Sisters, a Vietnamese street food vendor, will open a new location in Chicago's Fulton River District this fall. The restaurant, known for its inspired Vietnamese cuisine, currently operates a location inside the Chicago French Market.
- The venture was founded by sisters Mary Nguyen Aregoni and Theresa Nguyen, who were inspired by their mother and grandmother, both of whom were successful food distribution entrepreneurs in Laos. - Co-founder Mary Nguyen Aregoni transitioned into the hospitality industry after a 20-year career in marketing and IT at Procter and Gamble, where her work took her to global markets like Brussels, New York, and Chicago. - The business launched in 2009 with a 200-square-foot kiosk in the Chicago French Market, which served as a low-cost entry to test and prove the concept's viability. - The successful food hall operation, which generated long lines within a year, served as the catalyst for expanding into a full-service, 1,800-square-foot restaurant in the West Loop. - The second location at 567 W. Lake Street opened less than a block away from the original French Market kiosk, indicating a strategy of concentrating operations within a specific, high-traffic downtown neighborhood. - Following the Fulton River District opening, the brand expanded its portfolio with a third location inside Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Galter Pavilion, demonstrating a model adaptable to different types of real estate venues, from food halls to institutional settings.
