A Downtown Investment Authority committee will consider providing a $173,055 package of incentives to a group aiming to open a Southern and Creole restaurant in the former Burrito Gallery space.
The proposed incentives for Dorothy’s Downtown would comprise a $167,380 Food and Beverage Retail Enhancement Program grant and a $5,675 Sidewalk Enhancement grant, according to a DIA staff report in the DIA Retail Enhancement and Property Disposition Committee’s Sept. 12 agenda packet.
The restaurant would occupy a portion of the space in the building at 21 E. Adams St., which also houses Indochine, a Thai restaurant.
The staff report lists the applicants for the incentives as 21 E Adams St LLC and The Hidden District LLC doing business as Dorothy’s Downtown. Elias Hionides is listed as managing member of 21 E Adams St LLC and Felicia Luke and Jorge Gonzalez are listed as owners/operators of The Hidden District LLC.
A term sheet included in the packet said the applicants plan to spend $353,167 to build-out the Dorothy’s Downtown space, plus $7,094 to create sidewalk dining space.
The term sheet says the grants will be five-year forgivable loans.
An Aug. 12 story in the Daily Record identified the owners of Dorothy’s Downtown as Felicia Luke, Jorge Gonzales, Ashley McCaskey and Jim Broy. The restaurant group bought the Walnut Inn at 2026 Walnut St. in Springfield in 2019 and opened The District SPR in 2020.
The story said Downtown investor Hionides bought the 114-year-old building for $1.6 million on Aug. 2.
According to the staff report, Dorothy’s Downtown will offer such menu items as blackened wild salmon, fried chicken and gumbo, rib-eye steaks, double-cut pork chops and rack of elk.
Hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
“Dorothy’s Downtown has a built in fanbase with the popularity of The District SPR,” the staff report reads.
“Being known for creating a vibrant atmosphere and having a unique-to-the-Urbancore cuisine concept, Dorothy’s is set to become a major draw to Downtown. They will serve an upscale, full-service lunch for the weekday business crowd and the comfortable atmosphere and outdoor dining will be a great dinner addition for Downtown residents, event and concert attendees, and food lovers from the region. It all ends on the weekend with a full brunch menu, specialty cocktails and mocktails for the Instagram crowd.”
The report says the establishment will include 2,877 square feet of interior space, 2,420 square feet of covered patio in the rear of the building and a small patio along Adams Street.
A dinner menu included with the report lists appetizers at $9 to $22, “second” dishes such as vegan sausage etouffee and shrimp and grits for $18 to $28, a la carte from $4 to $12 and steaks and chops from $34 to $48.
A brunch menu offers appetizers from $9 to $14, entrees from $18 to $38, ala carte items from $6 to $14 and seafood and grits from $25 to $36.
The committee is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Sept. 12 in the Lynwood Roberts Room at City Hall.
