WILMETTE – Wondering what is going into the former Persimmon storefront in downtown Wilmette? Plans are in the works for a new restaurant in that location by the same team behind Napolita Pizzeria & Wine Bar.
But this time the restaurant will be a seafood oyster bar. “The idea of an oyster bar seemed like it would work here,” Josh Schonfeld, one of the partners told DailyNorthShore.
Currently the storefront, located at 1167 Wilmette Avenue, is being gut-renovated. When complete, the space will include an open kitchen concept in the back of the restaurant — similar to the arrangement at Napolita — as well as a bar area with seating and a dining room. The basement will include a prep kitchen area.
While the team has yet to pick out a name for the restaurant or finishes, they plan to create an urban vibe that is both casual and family friendly. All of the seafood will be of the freshest quality and imported from around the globe. Since nothing will be frozen, all of the dishes will be listed daily on a large chalkboard and crossed off as they sell out.
The team decided to focus on seafood because there aren’t many seafood restaurants on the North Shore. Their goal is to complement the other restaurants that have sprung up in Wilmette over the past few years.
“We hope to deliver something as good as Napolita. We set a high bar for ourselves,” Mike Chookaszian, co-owner said.
The team expects to have the restaurant up and running by late spring.
From left, Mike Chookaszian, Josh Schonfeld, Nick Hynes, Luke Cholodecki in and in front of the location of their new seafood restaurant at the corner of Central and Wilmette Ave in Wilmette.
Joel Lerner/JWC Media