Buona Original Italian Beef Coming to Oak Lawn in Summer 2017

Buona Italian Beef is coming to Oak Lawn with a new restaurant slated to open next summer. The Oak Lawn Planning and Development Commission unanimously approved the family-owned restaurant chain’s plans to construct a new building on 95th Street.

Representatives from Buona Beef presented plans for a new, stand-alone, 4,000-square-foot restaurant to be built on the southwest corner of 95th Street and Merrimac Avenue in Oak Lawn. The company has purchased three single-family homes at 6235 and 6237 W. 95th St. and at 9512 Merrimac Ave. The homes will be demolished to make way for the new construction and parking.

The planning commission voted 7-0 recommend a re-zoning and parking variation for the lots as well as vacating the alley parallel to 95th Street between Merrimac and Merton Avenue. The new Buona Original Italian Beef Restaurant is tentatively slated to open in August 2017.

The restaurant represents a $4 million investment in Oak Lawn by the Buonavolanto family, owners of the storied Buona Italian Beef chain. Plans call for 78 parking spaces on the site. The plans go before the Oak Lawn Village Board for a full vote in January.

Steve Radice, director of economic development for the Village of Oak Lawn, said that left-turn only signs will be placed at the Merrimac Avenue egress to keep vehicles from exiting into the neighborhood. Vehicles will be turn left or right on to 95th Street.

Radice added that the village and Buona will revisit traffic after the restaurant is open for three months. The restaurant chain has agreed to pay for traffic calming devices, such as curb cuts, if nearby neighbors request it.

“The left turn-only sign at Merriman will encourage people not to go that way. Most people won’t unless they live on Merrimac,” he said. “After three months we’ll decide if there are issues. Buona is very agreeable. They are neighborhood friend and they want to part of the neighborhood.”

Buona is famous for its pan-roasted lean Italian beef. The recipe was created by founder Joe Buonavolanto’s wife, Peggy, with some coaching by uncle “Junior,” proprietor of the iconic Mr. Beef.
In addition to Italian beef, Buona’s menu includes charbroiled Italian sausage sandwiches, burgers and hotdogs, soup and salads, and sandwiches and panini. The restaurant also offers catering.

Mayor Sandra Bury said she was thrilled that the iconic restaurant chain is coming to Oak Lawn.

“ I appreciated very much the attendance of the neighbors who spoke of their concerns and the care with which Buona Beef and the Planning and Development Commission addressed them. This will be a wonderful addition to our community! We can expect them to open in late summer 2017,” the mayor said in a Facebook post.