Old Chicago

The franchise is a family oriented neighborhood bar and grille style restaurant serving Chicago-style foods and pizza paired with regional craft beer.

The restaurant needed to meet strict franchise branding requirements as well as meticulous layout needs for operational flow. This was amongst the first renovation projects allowed, which included the complexity of dealing with pre-existing conditions. Design compromises developed throughout the project – some of which were used as new prototype standards for future franchises.

The kitchen was minimally reworked to fit new equipment to support the menu while restrooms received new finishes and the dining area was gutted so franchise identity requirements could be implemented. An addition serves as the bar with a higher roof structure was left exposed for a rowdier feel. The bar leads to a trellised exterior patio located on the leeward side of the building and allows patrons to dine with the sounds of urban bustle all around. Exterior franchise trademark requirements were carefully merged with the architectural vocabulary of the previous franchise.

Location
Cheyenne, Wyoming

Owner
Johnson Restaurant Group, Inc.
John Johnson, President
307-265-3029

Contractor
Construction Specialists, Inc.
Ron Hansen, President
307638-7570

Role
Architect of Record

Personnel
Lyle Murtha, Principal Architect

Scope
Renovation
Addition
Design-Build

Size
2,000 Square Feet Addition
5,500 Square Feet Renovation

Data
$750,000

Completed
2006