Three New Restaurants Open At Graze
It’s not ideal timing to open a new restaurant during a pandemic when the state has placed heavy restrictions on dining spots, but three new restaurants have opened at Graze in recent weeks–including the latest, B.A.D. Wingz which is having its official grand opening today, January 1st. They, along with the new breakfast/brunch spot It’s 7AM Somewhere and the avocado bar, Avocadish, are getting by with takeout and delivery orders for now. 
“The most difficult thing is getting people to realize that we’re here,” said 7AM’s co-owner, Kyle Nichols. “I mean we’ve had people walk in and they’re like, ‘oh, you guys are here’.”
For B.A.D. Wingz owner Gerard Klass, this is his second restaurant at Graze. He also owns Soul Bowl on the second level. Before the pandemic hit, he saw enough potential with the crowds at Graze to feel good about opening a new spot. “The North Loop has shown us a lot of love,” he said, “so a space opened up and it was good timing for us to kind of slide in.”
Klass and Nichols are both looking forward to the eventual return of baseball at Target Field, concerts at The Fillmore and just the general buzz of the entertainment district.
“It’s a great area and you’ve got all the apartment buildings and condos,” said Nichols, who co-owns the restaurant with Ed Devine. “It’s literally just a matter of time.”
By Mike Binkley, North Loop Neighborhood Association
