Crisp & Green Brings First IL Restaurant To Vernon Hills

Vernon Hills, IL — A fast-casual restaurant that serves up healthy salads and grain bowls will bring its newest location to Vernon Hills next month.

Crisp & Green will be opening its first Illinois location at 899 N. Milwaukee Ave #300 in the Mellody Farm shopping center, with plans to open seven more locations in the Chicago area as well. Crisp & Green currently has 36 restaurants open across the U.S. in 20 different states, and plans to have 65 locations up and running by the end of the year, according to a news release.

The Vernon Hills location will be owned and operated by Barrington-based franchisees, Clark and Gina Koertner of CGIA Operations LLC.

“As we barrel toward our 50-unit milestone and the doubling of our location count in a single calendar year, we are being buoyed by immensely talented and driven franchisees like the Koertners, who see the tremendous opportunity our brand presents and recognize the massive demand for accessible, healthy food,” said Steele Smiley, founder and Executive Chairman of Steele Brands, who founded Crisp & Green in 2016.

Crisp & Green serves up grain bowls, salads, smoothies and more that are handcrafted with sustainable, consciously sourced ingredients, according to a news release. The full menu can be found here.

“We’re overflowing with anticipation and excitement for the opening of our Vernon Hills restaurant, which not only signifies the start of our franchise journey, but is also a deeply meaningful community-building endeavor in an area that’s so important to Clark and me,” said Gina Koertner. “Bringing health and fitness to Vernon Hills is extremely rewarding, and we can’t wait to watch Crisp & Green become a staple eatery for fellow residents and health aficionados who share our passion for a health-inspired lifestyle.”

The restaurant will plan to serve up free food, have giveaways and complimentary fitness classes during its opening weekend. The date of the restaurant's opening will be shared in the coming weeks, according to restaurant officials.