Chicago’s first Huddle House family restaurant will be developed in Calumet Heights through a $1.1 million Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grant approved by City Council today.

The funds will be used by American Airwan Land LLC to build a one-story, 3,300-square-foot diner at 9401 S. Stony Island Ave. The $2.9 million project creates up to 80 permanent and 50 construction jobs. The grant will be used to pay for development costs and local hiring efforts.

Huddle House was founded in 1964 in Decatur, GA, as a place for community members to gather and “huddle up” for a meal. The 24-hour chain serves freshly prepared, home-style food at more than 400 restaurants in 24 states.

The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund uses zoning fees from downtown construction projects to provide grants that support neighborhood commercial corridors on the South, Southwest, and West sides. Projects with grant amounts exceeding $250,000 require City Council approval.

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