The Pullman and Roseland communities of Chicago on May 9 celebrated the groundbreaking of Pullman Gateway, an 8-acre commercial center. The center’s anchor tenant will be the first Chick-fil-A restaurant on Chicago’s South Side.
Pullman Gateway will transform an unused parking lot and an abandoned off-track betting facility into a new mixed-use development.
Once completed, Pullman Gateway will feature the new 5,200-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant and house the CTA Red Line’s extension offices. There are also plans to bring additional retail and dining options to the development.
“Today’s groundbreaking is the latest milestone in the ongoing revitalization of the Pullman and Roseland communities,” said 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale.
Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives is developing the new Chick-fil-A. CNI is a nonprofit community development organization. Rev. James Meeks, along with his nonprofit community development organization Hope Center Foundation, are also working to develop the restaurant chain’s new location.
The site of Pullman Gateway was acquired from a venture formerly owned by the Hawthorne Racecourse.
“By attracting the kind of development that residents have told us they need and want, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant community,” said David Doig, president of CNI.
“The transformation of historic Pullman from its neglected past into today’s growing neighborhood is truly amazing,” said Rev. Meeks.
Construction of the new Chick-fil-A is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. Once finished, the restaurant will create 125 new jobs with an additional 145 construction-related jobs.
