Veggie Grill to Open Two Locations in Chicago by March

California-based vegan chain Veggie Grill will debut in two Chicago locations in February as the first leg of its nationwide expansion plan. The Lakeview neighborhood location will open mid-February with a winter menu, while the The Loop (Chicago’s central business district) location will open mid-March with the spring menu. In 2016, Veggie Grill secured $22 million in venture capital to fund its expansion plans. “As more Americans make the shift toward plant-based eating,” Veggie Grill CEO Steve Heeley told VegNews, “Veggie Grill is well positioned to bring our craveable, innovative, chef-inspired food across the country. With so many of our core consumers of millennials and mindful eaters living in cities like Chicago, Boston, and New York, we are excited to be entering these markets, offering a wide variety of affordable veggie-centric options that are better for our guests and for the planet.” Veggie Grill—which currently operates 28 locations across Washington, California, and Oregon—was the first chain to offer the now popular Beyond Burger in November 2016, and other menu items include a selection of burgers, salads, sandwiches, bowls, and entrées, along with desserts and beverages.