Milwalky Trace owner plans to open Mexican restaurant in Libertyville

Chef Lee Kuebler, who owns the Milwalky Trace restaurant in downtown Libertyville, is building a second restaurant next door.

Construction started earlier this month on the new, unnamed restaurant. The eatery is expected to open around Thanksgiving, said Kristine Kurtzman, general manager and creative director of Milwalky Trace.

The menu will be much different at the new eatery. While Kuebler specializes in French cuisine at Milwalky Trace, the new restaurant will be a taqueria featuring Mexican food such as handmade tortillas, house-made salsas and meats cooked on a fire grill, she said.

"This is, first and foremost, a taco joint," Kurtzman said. "Expect bright colors and a lively, relaxed atmosphere - the wilder little sister of Milwalky Trace."

Kuebler grew up in Gurnee and attended Kendall College in Chicago. He also worked at the classic French restaurant, Restaurant Michael in Winnetka, and then helped to open Michael Kornick & David Morton's Ada Street in Chicago, Kurtzman said.

In March 2014, Kuebler opened his first restaurant, Milwalky Trace, at 605 N. Milwaukee in downtown Libertyville. It was named after an American Indian trail that was the original Milwaukee Avenue. Milwalky Trace serves shared plates with a contemporary American twist.

Kuebler and Kurtzman recently married and are on their honeymoon this week in France.

There isn't much more information available yet about the concept, said Heather Rowe, economic development coordinator for Libertyville.

She said, "Because of Milwalky Trace's local following, we are hearing a high level of anticipation on the street from customers and residents looking forward to trying out his latest concept."