Next year, The Magnificent Mile should welcome a bevy of new dining options from the owners of Au Cheval, Maude’s Liquor Bar, and Green Street Smoked Meats. The owners of the 900 North Michigan Shops will partner with Brendan Sodikoff’s Hogsalt Hospitality to curate new food and beverage options at the seven-story shopping center in Chicago’s most-famous retail district. Sodikoff said Hogsalt has an open canvas to build “a completely new concept from the ground up.”

“This is a fun one,” Sodikoff said. “...Being able to build something fresh and new from the ground up and really integrate the design with all the offerings — it’s really a unique experience that I’m really grateful to be part of.”

The project should be ready by fall 2018. Hogsalt has 21,000 square feet to design and develop, according to a news release put out by the shopping center. The plans feature a food hall on the fifth floor with one point of payment for customers. There will also be “auxiliary” options on the ground and sixth floors, as well as a fully-stocked bar. The project won’t include table service, but there will be a variety of seating.

“We’re really trying to create a free flow through the space that will enhance the guest experience,” Sodikoff said.

News of the food hall first broke in January, but Hogsalt’s involvement is new. Sodikoff is cherishing the challenge of providing quality food at a high volume, knowing crowds of shoppers and visitors walk around the building on daily basis. Sodikoff was hesitant to name any food items they’ll serve. He only said that Hogsalt may do variations of existing items. Hogsalt’s Doughnut Vault and Au Cheval and Small Cheval burgers, among others in the company’s portfolio, enjoy tremendous amounts of popularity.

“I don’t want to say the wrong thing and disappoint anybody,” Sodikoff said.

Hogsalt is a consultant on the project, and Sodikoff said they don’t have an operator just yet. They may determine Hogsalt is the right fit or go with another company to run the space. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises will close Frankie Scaloppine & Fifth Floor Pizzeria on Saturday inside the shopping center, presumably to make room for Hogsalt’s new project. Hogsalt’s involvement is part of a grander renovation plan for the shopping center.

Food halls are something that’s very trendy around Chicago as restaurant operators have rebranded and remade the fast-food laden mall food court with higher-quality fast-casual restaurants. Revival Food Hall is a shining example of this success, something others like Forum 55 in the Loop hope to copy.