A new restaurant is coming to Yorktown Center. Yorktown Center, a popular 1.5 million-square-foot Chicagoland shopping and dining destination, recently announced the first winner of its Taste For the Space™ culinary event hosted in June. Berwyn-based Ofrenda won an opportunity to open its dream restaurant at Yorktown Center as well as 6 months free rent plus $50,000 to put toward their new space—a prize package worth $140K.
Brothers Fernando and Ernesto Torres first created Ofrenda, a contemporary Mexican-style food truck, in 2014, specializing in gorditas and handheld masa cakes filled with carnitas, green chilies and cilantro topped with pico de gallo and avocado puree. Not strangers to the restaurant business – as their parents have been in the industry for the past 30 years – this new opportunity will enhance the Ofrenda concept.
“Winning Taste for the Space™ gives my brother and I the chance to open Ofrenda Restaurant a huge dream of ours—and share the food we create on a daily basis,” said Ernesto Torres. “Ofrenda translates to ‘offering’ and is a collection of objects and food placed on a ritual altar during El Dia De Los Muertos in Mexico. With our new restaurant, we plan to create an environment where you can experience the tradition that is celebrated every year on November 2. We plan to showcase the quality and consistency of our Contemporary Mexican Cuisine.”
Ofrenda is looking to be one of the great food and beverage restaurants in the Shops on Butterfield area joining the likes of DOC Wine Bar and Capital Grille.
“It was an exciting and tough competition between all 12+ chefs, but Ofrenda was the fan favorite and had a unique taste that we know will thrive here at Yorktown Center,” said Najla Kayyem, senior vice president of marketing for Pacific Retail Capital Partners, the operating group for Yorktown Center. “Taste for the Space™, the first culinary and community event of its kind at Yorktown Center, brought together the community to support its local culinary scene. Because of this event, there is an exciting possibility of having one or two other contestants join the line up at Yorktown Center.”
Taste for the Space™, a family-friendly, community-focused culinary event, took place on Saturday, June 16 featuring a cooking competition and experience that brought together food trucks, local restaurateurs and chefs to showcase signature dishes to the local community, and share why their taste should win the space. The event also featured games, kids’ activities, beverages from D.O.C Wine Bar, entertainment and more. Taste for the Space™ was sponsored by U.S. Foods, who generously provided all food and paper products for the competing chefs on event day. For more information about Yorktown Center and the Taste for the Space winner, please visit yorktowncenter.com/tasteforthespace-winner/.
About Yorktown Center
Yorktown Center, a 1.5 million square-foot two-level shopping center with over 150 specialty stores and 15 restaurants, is located in the heart of Chicago’s western suburbs. Anchored by a top-performing Von Maur, JCPenney, Last Chance (by Nordstrom) and its new Self-Care Precinct, Yorktown Center offers a wide array of convenience and destination shopping, dining, fitness studios and entertainment.
About Clifton Realty Management
Clifton Realty Management, founded by Bill Cappelletti and Steve Cassella, is a fully integrated retail real estate firm specializing in regional malls and lifestyle centers throughout the United States. The firm has aligned interest in the venture and is the leasing agent for the property. With over 50 years of combined experience with various major shopping center owners and REITS, Clifton Realty Management provides advisory and consulting, retail leasing, development and tenant coordination services. The firm is currently responsible for over 4 million square feet of retail space in Illinois and New York. To learn more, please visit us at: cliftonrm.com
About Pacific Retail Capital Partners
Pacific Retail Capital Partners (PRCP) is one of the nation’s premier retail operating groups of large open-air and enclosed shopping centers, with more than $1.3 billion in retail assets presently under management in the United States. Based in Southern California, PRCP provides end-to-end sourcing, assessment, underwriting, valuing, developing, and asset management of retail real estate with a proven track record of repositioning properties. PRCP strategically manages over 9.5 million square feet of retail destinations. The executive team has over 150 years of collective real estate expertise in leasing, marketing, operations, design, development, investment, and finance. With a keen focus on enhancing the value and quality of its growing portfolio, PRCP is dedicated to creating a unique, strategic vision for each property and exceeding the highest expectations of retail investors, retailers, and consumers.
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