M & R Development and Dodge Capital have announced 3,500 square feet of retail space at Central Station, 1720 Central St., has been leased to MDCC, LLC for a 120-seat restaurant with 50 seasonal outdoor seats set to open this fall.
The Wood Shed restaurant will serve American fare and smoked meats from their wood-fired pizza oven and smoker.
“Evanston has always been a destination for diners because of the variety of options, and we’re excited to join the vibrant community. We saw … Central Station as a terrific opportunity to be a part of this growing restaurant scene,” said Robert LaPata, co-owner of The Wood Shed.
The restaurant is a joint venture between restaurateurs Mr. LaPata, Joe Krouse and Frederic Gale. Evanston resident Mr. LaPata is the founder and principal at Forefront Hospitality, a restaurant consulting, hospitality and management firm located in Chicago. The Wood Shed is the latest restaurant venture for North Shore native Joe Krouse, owner of the Chicago neighborhood restaurant Unite Urban Grill. Frederic Gale resides in Evanston and is a partner in several restaurants on the East Coast.
Central Street Neighbors has distributed notices requesting recipients consider the effects of particulates released in the smoking process.