“Plans to build the E.G. Woode Food Hub, a dining development on 63rd Street, are moving ahead months after project leaders faced funding delays from city officials.
“Scaffolding surrounds the dilapidated building at 1022 W. 63rd St. as leaders at E.G. Woode — a collective of architects, designers and entrepreneurs — work to transform the century-old building into a culinary destination.
“The food hub will be home to Pass the Peas, a casual soul food joint, and Ellie’s Urban Grill, a sports and entertainment eatery. An upstairs floor will be reserved for three offices and a pop-up kitchen for aspiring restaurateurs.
“The gut rehab of the 10,500-square-foot space began in March, said Deon Lucas, architect and leader at E.G. Woode. The project’s general contractor, Francis Construction Group, partnered with a shoring company to secure the ‘hazardous’ building with interior and exterior scaffolding before beginning ‘light demolition,’ Lucas said.
“The restaurant hub will be the collective’s second addition to the 63rd Street corridor. E.G. Woode celebrated the grand opening of a commercial space at 1122 W. 63rd St. in 2022. The 4,000-square-foot building houses a clothing store, coffee shop, barbershop and design firm led by entrepreneurs of color.
‘Lucas announced his vision for the Englewood food hub in 2022. The project appeared before City Council in October 2023 when E.G. Woode asked alderpeople to approve up to $5 million in tax-increment financing to fund the dining space.
“’Seeing abandoned buildings makes people feel like no one cares about them or the area that they live in,’ Gaskin said. ‘People need to see something good happening in their neighborhood. You never know what it’ll do for them.’” (Reed, Block Club Chicago, 5/21/25)