Jamaica Jerk Villa is expanding its current space in Auburn Gresham, located at 642- 648 W 79th St.
The company, owned by Peter McKnight and his family, is currently using the space to serve jerk chicken mixes to-go. By Spring 2023, the area will transform into a 4,600-square-foot sit-down restaurant with adult beverages, something not seen at its first location at 737 W. 79th St. McKnight tells What Now Chicago he is aiming for late April 2023. The family also owns a Jerk Villa Bar & Grill in South Loop at 2216 S. Michigan Ave. McKnight currently operates the South Loop restaurant, while his brother and sister-in-law run the 79th Street site.
Alcoholic beverages aren’t the only new item coming with the new Jamaica Jerk Villa. McKnight tells What Now Chicago he is also planning to add a few new menu items when the time comes but wasn’t able to share any specifics. This is an impressive accomplishment for the McKnight family, who recently bought a stretch of buildings on 79th Street and Lowe. The family only had a stove and a grill when they launched the first restaurant in 2002.
“When we started, it was meager. It wasn’t that much,” McKnight tells Block Club Chicago. “It expanded, and people from all over the city came out. The name became a household name, and everyone knows about Jerk Villa. When people hear Jerk Villa, they think of good food. We still hope everyone comes out and supports as usual, and we welcome nearby communities, too.”
