The Publican Is Opening A Wicker Park Location Called The Publican Anker

By Mae Rice in Food on Jul 25, 2016 4:28PM

Photo courtesy of Sandy Noto/One Off Hospitality Group

The Publican is officially building an empire. The Fulton Market restaurant opens an O'Hare outpost on Tuesday, and it's also gearing up to open a location at Wicker Park's Six Corners intersection. Last week, they let the world know by putting up the above mural over the storefront at 1576 N. Milwaukee Ave., which once housed Francesca's Forno.

The space will become a bar and restaurant called Publican Anker, a spokesperson for One Off Hospitality Group told Chicagoist. The house drink program will be modeled after "backyard parties," the spokesperson said, with unique-yet-affordable wines and "a diverse beer program steeped in classic brewing traditions." (No mention of cocktails as of yet.) As for the food, they're planning to serve shellfish raw and roasted—oysters got a specific mention—along with seasonal vegetable dishes and assorted bar snacks.

If you're wondering what that "Anker" bit means, the Publican spokesperson explained that it's the Germanic spelling of "anchor." (Hence the anchor on the mural.) The Publican team was drawn to the word "anchor," because it conveyed a sense of stability, and "anker," conveniently, is also an old world Dutch and German unit of measurement for booze.

The Publican Anker will be just steps from the Damen Blue Line station, which is very on brand for One Off Hospitality Group. Not only are they the restaurant group behind the Publican, but they also basically run that stretch of Damen. Big Star, The Violet Hour, and Dove's Luncheonette all fall under the One Off umbrella.

There's no opening date on the Publican Anker yet, but we'll keep you updated as more details emerge.