Slows preps to expand restaurant into old O'Connor Realty space

Slows is in the final stages of planning an expansion of its main restaurant into an adjacent storefront space that once served as the home of O'Connor Realty.

"We're in the middle of doing drawings for the new space," says Ryan Cooley, co-owner of Slows. "We're trying to figure out how to make it an intimate space. We're pretty close to being done with the drawings."

Slows has served as the driving force behind the rebirth of the 2100 block of Michigan Avenue since it opened in 2005. It is now the anchor of a growing list of new, dynamic destinations on the west end of Corktown that includes the Astro Coffee house, the Honor & Folly bed & breakfast and the Sugar House cocktail lounge.

O'Connor Realty is still located on the same block, moving to a new space a few storefronts down from its location. It's previous space, about 1,200 square feet, will now become a overflow area for the Slows, featuring a bar. The original bar in the restaurant will remain in place.

The co-founders behind Slows are still figuring out exactly how the new space will work with the existing restaurant, but Cooley believes they will reach a consensus soon. Work will begin later this spring or early this summer. It should open by the end of the year.

Source: Ryan Cooley, co-owner of Slows
Writer: Jon Zemke

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