South Barrington expects summer opening for Rascal Flatts, Hampton Social

Construction is underway in South Barrington for a popular country music band's establishment and an East Coast-style restaurant.

Rascal Flatts Bar and Grill will be on a site near Pinstripes in the Arboretum of South Barrington at Higgins Road and Route 59. The Hampton Social seafood eatery will be adjacent to Rascal Flatts.

South Barrington Village Administrator Robert Palmer said officials are excited about the new venues under construction at the plaza.

"Entertainment, experience-oriented destinations," he said. "I think that's the Arboretum's calling card."

Palmer said Rascal Flatts and Hampton Social each should be about 12,000 square feet. Construction crews worked on the property Friday.

Arboretum marketing director Monika Kalicki said both establishments are tentatively scheduled to open in late summer or early fall.

South Barrington's Rascal Flatts likely will have Italian cuisine with Southern fusion, according to information provided to the village by a representative for the bar and grill. Live entertainment is expected to include Christian rock and country bands in a bar and stage area, but not hard rock or heavy metal.

Rascal Flatts, which touts about 10 million tickets sold and 16 No. 1 songs since forming in 1999, opened its first place in a Stamford, Connecticut, mall last August and has a menu with offerings such as slow-cooked apricot ribs, shrimp and polenta, kale salad and grilled salmon. The group also intends to bring the concept to Gainesville and Orlando in Florida, as well as other cities.

Established in 2015, Hampton Social has locations in Burr Ridge and Chicago's River North neighborhood. Hampton Social's two new spots this year will be South Barrington and Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood

Seafood and beach-themed cocktails are Hampton Social specialties. The restaurant is known for nautical decor and its ivy-covered wall as part of its East Coast flair.

While separate proposals, Rascal Flatts and Hampton Social entered South Barrington's approval process about a year ago. Both eventually gained village board approval.

Kalicki said Arboretum of South Barrington is 95 percent occupied. Two recent additions are Poldek Family Dental and the re-opening of Bamboo Spoon Frozen Yogurt under new management in its previous location next to Elements Massage, she said.