Vegan Chain Veggie Grill Expands to Chicago

Vegan restaurant chain Veggie Grill will open its first location outside of the west coast this fall in the Lakeview/Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, IL. The eatery will feature Veggie Grill’s expansive menu of plant-based dishes including favorites such as the Santa Fe Crispy Chickin’ sandwich, Quinoa Power Salad and Sonoran Bowl, and the Veggie Grill Beyond Burger. “We are thrilled to introduce Veggie Grill to the Chicago community, and we couldn’t be more excited to have our first location be opening in Lakeview,” Veggie Grill CEO Steve Heeley said. “This is such a lively and accessible neighborhood, and we can’t wait for locals and visitors alike to experience Veggie Grill.” Currently, the eatery has 28 locations in California, Washington, and Oregon, and it became the first restaurant to add the Beyond Burger to its menu last November. In 2016, Veggie Grill secured $22 million in capital funding to support its plan for a nationwide expansion. In addition to the Lakeview location, Heeley plans to open several more restaurants in Chicago and continue the expansion of Veggie Grill locations to the east coast.