Chicago Cut Vets to Open Espiritu
Veterans of the prominent Chicago Cut Steakhouse plan to open a new restaurant, Espiritu, in the Loop. The new concept will take over the former McCormick & Schmick’s space, adding another high-profile option to the downtown dining scene.
- The project is a collaboration between Matt Moore, co-founder of the nearby Chicago Cut Steakhouse, and Emidio Oceguera of Cerdito Muerto in Pilsen. - Espiritu is described as an upscale, authentic Mexican-American restaurant with a focus on high-quality seafood and prime steak. - The restaurant and bar will occupy a nearly 10,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of the office tower at 1 E. Wacker Drive. It will also feature a 2,200-square-foot outdoor patio along the Chicago River. - The previous tenant, McCormick & Schmick's, abruptly closed in late 2025 after its parent company, Landry's, decided not to renew the lease. - The 1 E. Wacker Drive building that will house Espiritu has recently undergone extensive upgrades, including renovations to its façade, lobby, and second-floor amenities. - Chicago Cut Steakhouse, which Moore co-founded with David Flom, opened in 2010 and is known for its high-profile clientele and for having business leaders as minority investors.
