Crate & Barrel’s first restaurant in Chicago did so well that the retailer plans to open up to 15 full-service restaurants inside its stores, CEO Neela Montgomery said during Fortune’s MPW International Summit. She said the concept turned a profit by the second month. Montgomery didn’t indicate a timeline for opening these restaurants.
Crate & Barrel opened its first full-service restaurant, called The Table at Crate, yesterday at its Oak Brook, Illinois store, according to a company release.
The concept is a collaboration with Cornerstone Restaurant Group. The Table is the retailer’s first full-service restaurant and the restaurant group’s first foray into retail. James Beard-nominated chef Bill Kim will lead the eatery.
Restaurant guests can take signature cocktails into the adjacent Crate & Barrel retail space as they shop. The store is also looking to host chef demos, cookbook dinners and other experiential events in the restaurant. The Table’s plant-forward seasonal menu is sourced by local farmers and producers.
