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Corner Bakery Cafe reopens Chicago Union Station-area restaurantCorner Bakery Cafe reopens Chicago Union Station-area restaurant

Dallas-based fast-casual restaurant debuts a new 3,422-square-foot location, bringing the total number of units to 101

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

July 15, 2024

2 Min Read
corner bakery cafe new unit Chicago union station
Corner Bakery Café reopens its Chicago Union Station-area restaurant.Corner Bakery Cafe

Corner Bakery Cafe, which started in Chicago 33 years ago, reopened a restaurant location near the city’s Union Station on July 15, a company representative said.

The Dallas-based fast-casual brand said the new Chicago location features a patio, kiosk-ordering options and grab-and-go items, offering food and drink choices for commuters and nearby office workers.

The Union Station location at 444 W. Jackson Blvd. marks the brand’s sixth in Chicago and 14th in Illinois, bringing the total number of Corner Bakery Cafe restaurants to 101.

“As a Chicagoan myself, I could not be more thrilled about this new chapter for our brand and bringing back this iconic and bustling location to life,” said Erin Hasselgren, president of Corner Bakery Cafe, in a statement.

“This city is where the brand started on a corner 33 years ago. Corner Bakery Cafe is ingrained in my roots and among many other members of the community,” said Hasselgren, formerly chief operating officer for the brand, who was promoted to Corner Bakery president in June of last year.

The original Union Station Corner Bakery Cafe opened in January 2003 and closed in March 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. The new restaurant is in a remodeled 3,442-square-foot space.

After the grand opening, Corner Bakery Cafe will operate Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Related:Corner Bakery Cafe promotes Erin Hasselgren to company president

Corner Bakery Cafe was founded in 1991. The company said popular items are the Anaheim Scrambler for breakfast, the grilled Chicken Pomodori Panini for lunch, the Pesto Cavatappi pasta for dinner, and the Cinnamon Creme Cake from the Bakery Sweets menu.

Corner Bakery Cafe is owned by an affiliate of Dallas SSCP Management Inc., which also owns the Cicis Pizza brand.

Restaurant analytics firm Technomic at the end of 2023 ranked Corner Bakery at No. 233 among the top U.S. chains, with an estimated sales of $166 million and 104 stores in 2023.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on X/Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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