Loyola Neighborhood News: Water Tower Campus - V3, I2

At the corner of Pearson and Wabash, a new sign has appeared in the window of the late Grillers Café. Epic Burger, a Chicago-based eatery for health-minded burger, plans to open its doors at the currently-under construction location very soon. 

Launched in the South Loop in 2008, Epic Burger currently boasts four functioning locations in downtown Chicago, soon to include a fifth directly in the middle of Loyola’s Water Tower Campus. 
 
"We're thrilled to be now serving the Loyola campus and community and we are excited to add more upcoming locations as well,” said David Friedman, president and founder of Epic Burger. “We look forward to joining the neighborhood.”

Epic Burger began leasing the retail location at 40 E. Pearson beginning in August after the previous tenant, Grillers Café, suddenly closed in May 2011. The space is currently undergoing interior construction to prepare for the upcoming grand opening of the new business.

Joe Cutaia, publicist for k101 Agency who represents Epic Burger, could not give an exact opening date, but he assured that “it will be in the near future.”

Additionally, according to the “Buzz” blog featured on Epic Burger’s website, Friedman expects that he plans to open two new locations, one in Gold Coast and one in Streeterville, by the end of the year.

Annie Ha, 20, junior and secondary education major at Loyola University, expressed her excitement for the upcoming grand opening.

“I’ve been to the location in the loop, so I’m really excited that it’ll be close to campus,” said Ha. I’m always downtown so it’ll be nice to have a new health-minded restaurant in the area. ” 

Operating according to seven “Epic Rules”, the restaurant prides itself on making only 100 percent all-natural never-frozen beef burgers. Similarly, the tenants stipulate that all other foods, everything from the bun to the cheese to the fries, are fresh and all-natural.

“Their food makes me feel less guilty about eating burgers and fries,” added Ha. “I think it’ll be good for the area.”

For more information, visit epicburger.com.