Cafe Zupas hopes to add second suburban location in Wheeling

The fast-casual Utah-based restaurant chain Cafe Zupas hopes to open a 118-seat location in the former Fifth Third Bank building in Wheeling.

Plans for the restaurant at 1590 Lake-Cook Road were backed last week by the Wheeling Plan Commission, and the proposal now goes to the village board for possible final approval.

If approved by village trustees, the Wheeling location would be Cafe Zupas' second planned restaurant in the suburbs and Illinois. A Schaumburg location is expected to open in September, according to the company's website.

Business at Cafe Zupas is driven by the lunch and dinner crowds, said Edgar Cepuritis, the chain's vice president of real estate.

"Wheeling, Lincolnshire and Buffalo Grove have great family demographics and that's what we really look for," Cepuritis said.

Wheeling's "tremendous office population," and the visible spot on Lake-Cook Road also make the proposed location appealing, he added.

The restaurant chain opened its first restaurant in 2004, and has 35 locations in Arizona, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada and Utah, according to the company website. In addition to soups and sandwiches, Cafe Zupas serves salads and desserts.

Each Cafe Zupas location works with local produce and dairy providers to keep their product fresh and local, said Jen Robinson, the chain's public relations and content marketing manager.

Cafe Zupas will remove canopies from the former Fifth Third Bank drive-through and add additional parking spaces, if trustees approve the proposal. Outdoor seating for an additional 24 customers is included in the proposal.

Inside Cafe Zupas, large windows would allow customers to see into the restaurant's cooler and watch chefs prepare food in the kitchen.

Cafe Zupas would be open Monday through Saturday likely from 11 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m., depending on the day.

The restaurant is expected to have 12 employees in the restaurant during peak hours.