Twisted Eggroll, A Black-Woman-Owned Business, Planned For Chatham’s ‘Restaurant Row’
Chatham — A restaurant offering a savory and sweet twist on the classic egg roll could open next year on Chatham’s Restaurant Row.
Owner Nikkita Randle hopes to transform a long-vacant building at 653-657 E. 75th St. into the home of Twisted Eggroll, a takeout-only restaurant specializing in deep-fried dishes filled with buffalo chicken, cheesesteak, apple cheesecake, and more.
A few dozen neighbors packed into St. James Lutheran Church, 8000 S. Michigan Ave., Wednesday evening to vote on zoning changes for the property that will allow Randle to move forward with her business. Neighbors approved of the development at the meeting, during which Randle shared samples of her staple dish.
Randle announced plans to open Twisted Eggroll in 2022. At the time, she planned to use a Community Development Grant awarded under Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Chicago Recovery Plan to help open her business.
Twisted Eggroll — a takeout-only restaurant that will infuse the deep-fried dish with buffalo chicken, cheesesteak, apple cheesecake and more, could soon open at 653-659 W. 75th St.
Credit: Twisted Eggroll/Facebook
A design of Twisted Eggroll — a takeout-only restaurant that will infuse the deep-fried dish with buffalo chicken, cheesesteak, apple cheesecake and more.
Plans for the Chatham restaurant haven’t changed much since Randle announced them. The building will have a large commercial kitchen where she can produce egg rolls for immediate sale, prepare large orders for catering events, and sell frozen to-go bags.
Eventually, Randle will rent out the commercial kitchen to an established restaurant, allowing other restaurateurs to thrive on the South Side.
It’ll cost about $1.3 million to renovate the building and open Twisted Eggroll, Randle said.
Randle received a $859,000 Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grant and $100,000 from the Chicago Community Trust to fund the project, with additional funding from the Chicago PACE program.
If all goes as planned, Randle aims to open Twisted Roll by 2025.
“I want to become a household name, one freezer at a time,” she said. “I want Twisted Eggroll to be home in Chatham. I want to be that friendly neighbor that everybody loves.”
A design of Twisted Eggroll — a takeout-only restaurant that will infuse the deep-fried dish with buffalo chicken, cheesesteak, apple cheesecake and more.
Credit: Atavia Reed/Block Club Chicago
Twisted Eggroll — a takeout-only restaurant that will infuse the deep-fried dish with buffalo chicken, cheesesteak, apple cheesecake and more, could soon open at 653-659 W. 75th St.
Credit: Atavia Reed/Block Club Chicago
Security Measures
The restaurant will be near neighbors who previously asked local bar owners to disperse rowdy crowds after months of disturbances.
An app will alert neighbors when their orders at Twisted Eggroll are ready to avoid congestion on 75th Street, quelling some concerns about traffic on the block.
Hall will propose the restaurant at a city zoning hearing before the project winds through the city’s development process, he said.
Randle’s Vision
“The biggest thing for me is that I always wanted to have a vision that was big enough that other people’s dreams could live in it,” Randle said. “Now that other people can see this is where they can go eat, it feels good that they’re embracing what I saw.”
Conclusion
Twisted Eggroll, a black-woman-owned business, is planning to open a takeout-only restaurant on Chatham’s Restaurant Row. With a focus on innovative flavor combinations and a commitment to community development, Randle aims to revitalize one of the city’s most iconic streets.
FAQs
Q: When is Twisted Eggroll expected to open?
A: Randle aims to open Twisted Eggroll by 2025.
Q: What is the cost of renovating the building and opening the restaurant?
A: It will cost about $1.3 million to renovate the building and open Twisted Eggroll.
Q: What kind of food will Twisted Eggroll serve?
A: The restaurant will specialize in deep-fried dishes filled with buffalo chicken, cheesesteak, apple cheesecake, and more.
Q: Will the restaurant be open for dine-in?
A: No, Twisted Eggroll will be a takeout-only restaurant.
