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Hattie B's Hot Chicken licenses second Chicago location in Wicker Park

Hattie B's Hot Chicken licenses second Chicago location in Wicker Park

Money Moves Chicago, IL local

Nashville chain clears inspections for the Damen Avenue spot that will replace Urbanbelly

Yesterday: Chicago issues liquor and food licenses

Overview

Updated 57 minutes ago

Hattie B's Hot Chicken, the Nashville chain, received Chicago business licenses on October 23 for a Wicker Park location at 1542 N Damen Ave. The two licenses cover liquor on premises and retail food service with a dining area, at the corner spot beside the Damen Blue Line station that has long housed the Asian street food restaurant Urbanbelly.

This is Hattie B's second Chicago outpost; the Wrigleyville location opened in late February. City inspections failed on October 13 and passed on October 19 after a re-inspection. Press reports say the Damen location is scheduled to open October 28.

Why it matters

Hattie B's is pushing a Nashville staple into its first Midwest market, and Wicker Park's decade-old Urbanbelly is moving out to make room.

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Key Indicators

16
Hattie B's locations nationwide
Chain's footprint across six states as of early 2026, per Block Club; Chicago is its first Midwest market.
2
Chicago locations licensed or open
Wrigleyville opened February 2026; Wicker Park license issued October 23, 2026.
83
Planned seats at Wicker Park location
65 inside plus 18 on the patio, per a press release.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

August 2012 October 2026

8 events Latest: Yesterday
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Chicago issues liquor and food licenses

    Latest Regulatory

    The city issues a liquor-on-premises license and a retail food license for 1542 N Damen Ave.

  2. Inspections pass after re-inspection

    Regulatory

    The license inspection and a re-inspection both pass for the Damen location.

  3. License inspections fail twice

    Regulatory

    City inspections at the Damen location return two failures and one not-ready result.

  4. First license inspection: not ready

    Regulatory

    City inspection finds the Damen location not ready to be inspected; the result is not a failure.

  5. Wicker Park space confirmed

    Announcement

    Block Club reports Hattie B's will take over Urbanbelly's corner space at 1542 N Damen Ave, targeting early 2027.

  6. First Chicago location opens in Wrigleyville

    Opening

    Hattie B's debuts at Gallagher Way on North Clark Street, its first Midwest outpost.

  7. One-day pop-up in Wicker Park

    Event

    Hattie B's tests the neighborhood with a pop-up at Dove's Luncheonette, across the street from its future home.

  8. Hattie B's debuts in Nashville

    Founding

    Father-and-son duo Nick Bishop Sr. and Nick Bishop Jr. open the first Hattie B's just off Broadway.

Scenarios

1

Hattie B's Damen Avenue opens October 28 as scheduled

Likely Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: Stories From the 78, which announced the October 28 opening alongside a Paulie Gee's pizza collaboration.

The liquor and food licenses issued October 23 clear the regulatory hurdle visible in public records. The chain's press push, including the Paulie Gee's collaboration running through October 31, points to a near-term launch. If it opens, the 83-seat location becomes Hattie B's second Chicago address.

2

Wicker Park opening slips into 2027

Possible Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: Block Club Chicago, which reported an 'early 2027' timeline in March; press coverage has since moved the target to late October.

The location already accelerated from a March 'early 2027' plan to a late-October target. Delays could come from construction, staffing or city sign-off. A slip past the holidays would push the debut into 2027, overlapping the planned River North opening.

3

River North follows as third Chicago location in early 2027

Possible Resolves by Jul 1, 2027

Discussed by: Block Club Chicago, which confirmed the chain is prepping 58 E Ontario St.

If the Wicker Park launch goes smoothly, the Midwest push continues with a third Chicago spot at 58 E Ontario St. Block Club confirmed that location in March 2026. Its opening would signal Chicago has become a core market for the Nashville brand.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1940s

Prince's Hot Chicken (1940s)

Thornton Prince founded Prince's Hot Chicken Shack in a Nashville neighborhood, creating the city's signature fried chicken style: crisp, fiery, served on white bread with pickles. It stayed a local institution for decades.

Then

Prince's became Nashville's standard-bearer for hot chicken.

Now

A citywide hot chicken obsession grew, and later chains such as Hattie B's took the dish national.

Why this matters now

Hattie B's is the most visible chain to export a dish that stayed local for roughly 70 years, giving its Chicago arrival cultural weight.

2016

Urbanbelly opens in Wicker Park (2016)

Chef Bill Kim opened the Asian street food restaurant at 1542 N Damen Ave in 2016, serving ramen, dumplings and other dishes in a corner space beside the Damen Blue Line station.

Then

It operated for a decade, sharing the space with Discourse Coffee since 2025.

Now

The lease ends and Urbanbelly plans to relocate, per operator Cornerstone Restaurant Group.

Why this matters now

Hattie B's taking this address displaces a decade-old local business, showing how chain expansion reshapes Chicago neighborhood retail.

Sources

(6)