The Chicago Transit Board today approved eight new concession leases at rail stations on the Brown, Green, Red, Orange, Purple and Blue lines, including a new, locally owned eatery at the Green Line Halsted station.
In the past three years, the CTA has added 52 new retail concession spaces, including those announced today. The agreements are part of CTA’s continued effort to improve customer convenience and amenities while generating long-term revenue for the transit agency.
The Halsted station will be home to the new locally owned Praise Chicago Restaurant, which will hire local youth and teach them skills to pursue careers in the culinary arts. Praise Restaurant founder Darryl Fuery has worked in restaurants, hotels and catering for 24 years. Through his new restaurant, he and his fellow owners, who are local professional chefs, will provide hands-on training in the restaurant business.
Praise Chicago will sell a number of fresh food items from 6 a.m. through 7 p.m., including omelets, pancakes, sandwiches and other healthy, freshly prepared meal items.
“It’s been my goal to combine my passion for food with my interest in helping young people,” said Mr. Fuery. “Finding a space within the CTA also provides commuters fresh, delicious meals and special recipes prepared by area youth and supervised by a talented team.”
This latest addition on the Green Line will compliment other small businesses that have opened in CTA stations in the last three years.
“The CTA has boosted efforts to add a diverse offering of concessions for our customers’ convenience, said CTA President Forrest Claypool. “CTA has been pleased to add gourmet food vendors to its rail stations to further improve amenities for customers and to partner with local entrepreneurs.”
The other new concession leases announced by the CTA today include new Dunkin’ Donuts at Chicago, Davis, and Western on the Red, Purple and Brown Lines. The Blue Line will receive several new leases including a convenience store at Harlem, a newsstand at Washington and a Greyhound ticket booth at Cumberland. The Kedzie Orange Line will have a newsstand.
The total revenue to CTA from the new leases is estimated at $1.8 million.
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