Lou Malnati's Gold Coast

Located in the heart of Chicago’s iconic Gold Coast, the flagship Lou Malnati’s restaurant is also its largest at over 10,000 SF. Previously the space housed a clothing store, so the four-month renovation to tranSForm the space into a fully functioning restaurant was extensive.

Hired as the general contractor for the project, Focus was instrumental in developing creative custom design elements to further enhance the owner’s vision. In many cases, the Focus team would develop hand sketches for some of the more intricate custom pieces, such as the steel overhead pivot doors which are used as dividers to create private dining spaces. Focus also compressed the original schedule, expediting the timeline to allow for a July 4^th opening.

The completed space blends industrial and vintage elements and features two private dining rooms, a full-service bar, and a front façade made from recycled glazed brick salvaged from demolished buildings in the city’s Lawndale neighborhood. In addition, the custom glass garage doors open in the summer to allow for a unique outdoor dining experience, expanding the otherwise limited sidewalk café area.