Benihana Plans Chicago Return: Report

Benihana will return to Chicago’s downtown area with a ground-floor restaurant in John Hancock Center, Crain’s Chicago Business reports.

The restaurant chain, which serves Japanese food and is known flamboyant service as chefs dazzle diners by chopping and flipping ingredients tableside, leased a nearly 9,000 square foot space in the iconic Michigan Avenue building, Crain’s reports. The restaurant is aiming for a fall 2017 opening.

Chicago’s only previous Benihana location was closed in 2007 due to redevelopment, Crain’s reports, and the site has since become the MileNorth hotel.

Benihana has locations in Lombard, Schaumburg and Wheeling in Illinois, according to its website. A spokeswoman for Madison Capital venture, one of two investors in the project, reportedly told Crain’s the Benihana location will be paired with a Starbucks and a third yet-to-be-named tenant.

The new restaurant will also offer outdoor seating and have access from the 360 Chicago observatory lobby, Crain’s reported.

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