Chicken with a cult following: Here's a sneak peek of new Peoria Warehouse District eatery

Cassidy Waigand, Peoria Journal Star

June 21, 2024 at 6:06 PM·7 min read

Over the past six years, Pop-Up Chicken Shop has cultivated something akin to a cult following in Bloomington and beyond.

Patrons from Peoria and other Central Illinois cities have often asked for a location in their community, according to owner Aaron Francis. Now, the restaurant – known for its Illinois Hot Chicken – is preparing to open its second storefront.

Situated in Peoria’s Warehouse District, Francis said many in the community are eagerly anticipating the new location, which aims to open June 25.

“I’ve got people on Facebook saying word for word, ‘I’ve never been more excited for a restaurant to open,’” Francis said, “which, I mean, it’s a huge blessing.”

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‘I want to put my stamp on this area’

A large mural by Peoria artist Cosette Isabella fills a wall at the new Pop-Up Chicken Shop under construction in the 800 block of SW Adams in Peoria's Warehouse District.

The newest Pop-Up Chicken Shop is housed in the Warehouse District’s Adams & Oak development. Across the street, construction is also underway at the Adams Street Center.

Francis said he expects the Warehouse District to only grow in popularity as developments continue.

“I want to be at the ground level of this entire area,” he said. “I want to put my stamp on this area today because the projections that the city has for this area is absolutely insane.”

The unit was not set up to house a restaurant previously, so Francis said Baldovin Construction needed “to do everything from scratch.” He said an HVAC system, waterlines, gas and electric all needed to be installed in the space.

In the front dining area, customers will find exposed brick walls, concrete floors, large pillars and garage doors. Francis said the building dates back to 1915.

“The first time I saw this building, it was just so beautiful,” he said, “and I wanted to keep it as original as possible.”

Francis said the space melds this historic character with Pop-Up Chicken Shop’s own style.

Plants will hang from rustic wooden beams and metal grates which are suspended from the ceiling. The foliage up above will complement the restaurant’s unique, green Brazilian quartz bar top.

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The custom-made bar at the new Pop-Up Chicken Shop in Peoria's Warehouse District features a unique granite top.

For Francis, “the focal point of the entire restaurant” is a mural created by Peoria artist Cosette Isabella. The artwork – which depicts a large chicken with blue and white feathers – fills much of the back wall in the main dining room.

A second seating area can be rented out or will act as an overflow for the front, according to Francis. Once open, he estimated the restaurant will accommodate roughly 150 people.

“Hopefully, we pack the house on a consistent basis and it's all just one dining room,” Francis said, “but if someone wanted to rent out the back, they totally could.”

Francis described Pop-Up Chicken Shop as a “fast casual restaurant.” Like the Bloomington location, customers place their orders at a counter by the entrance before being seated. He said dishes are then brought to the table once ready.

At the Peoria storefront, Francis welcomed Ryan Smith as general manager. He described Smith – who has worked at Ardor, Slow Hand Craft BBQ and other local restaurants – as “a legend in Peoria.”

“One thing I won't forget he ever said to me the first time I met him is he wants to feed the masses,” Francis said, “and that's what we do.”

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‘We have something for everyone’

Customers will find menus for both Pop-Up Chicken Shop and The Love Shack – which offers burgers, shakes and more.

Pop-Up Chicken Shop features a variety of chicken-based dishes, but the restaurant’s staple menu item is its Illinois Hot Chicken. Customers can order a breast, wings, white meat or dark meat and can select from four heat levels: country, mild, medium or hot.

Other menu items at Pop-Up Chicken Shop include:

Illinois Hot Chicken Horseshoe for $15
Snak wraps for $12 ? which features two chicken tenders, Pop-Up sauce, cider vinegar slaw and a dill pickle in a tortilla
Veggie “chicken” sando for $10.50

Francis said specials served in Bloomington will also be available in Peoria. Recent specials included a Pop-Up teriyaki wrap, a cotton candy milkshake, a Lemon Peppa Steppa' Sando and more.

“So, we have something for everyone,” Smith said. “We check all the boxes.”

Yet, menu options in Bloomington and Peoria will not be completely identical. In Peoria, Francis said customers will find a special Sunday brunch menu – which he is excited to develop with Smith.

Francis said there is “not gonna be a better brunch in town.”

Alcohol will not be available when the restaurant first opens, Francis said. He hopes to secure a liquor license for the location in July. In the meantime, Francis said he expects to offer mocktails and other nonalcoholic drinks.

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‘Very blessed to work for a brand like Pop-Up’

Owner Aaron Harris, left, and general manager Ryan Smith stand next to a large mural of a rooster by Peoria artist Cosette Isabell in their new Pop-Up Chicken Shop restaurant in the 800 block of SW Adams in Peoria's Warehouse District. The new casual eatery is an expansion of Harris original restaurant in Bloomington featuring "Illinois Hot Chicken" among other entrees.

For Francis, opening a successful restaurant is about more than just the food. He said building a strong staff is “imperative.”

So far, Francis said he has hired more than 20 people for the new storefront and is looking for additional employees. Some Bloomington staff members will work at the new location as well, he said.

Francis said his goal is to support staff members while also offering a long-term career with opportunities for learning and growth.

“I've said this a million times; This industry has been taking advantage of people for far too long,” Francis said. “Local restaurants are often a backbone of the community and a lot of the workers in this industry have been mistreated.”

This dedication to supporting staff stood out to assistant manager Brennen Marker, who said he was “used to working 60-to-65-hour weeks” in the restaurant business.

He said he was part of Pop-Up Chicken Shop’s “cult following” while attending Illinois State University. When the business began seeking staff for Peoria, Marker said more than 30 people sent him the post.

Ultimately, Marker said he feels “very blessed to work for a brand like Pop-Up.”

Like Marker, Smith was familiar with Pop-Up Chicken Shop before joining the team. He noticed a post looking for help late last year and said it “always stuck in the back of my head.”

Smith most recently worked at Ardor Breads and Provisions but said he was ready for something new. He said the opportunity at Pop-Up Chicken Shop “just kind of clicked,” so he reached out to Francis.

“People that know me, know that I’m not gonna do it (if) I didn’t believe in it or if I didn’t feel like there was – this was something special,” Smith said.

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‘If it plays in Peoria’

Work continues on the new Pop-Up Chicken Shop in the 800 block of SW Adams Street in Peoria's Warehouse District.

As the opening looms, both Smith and Francis noted a hint of anxiousness mixed in with the excitement.

Pop-Up Chicken Shop proved its popularity in Bloomington, but now, they will see how the concept fares in other cities. Francis noted that “these next six months are the most crucial” for the business.

“If we can get this place up and running and emulate even about 75% of the success that happens in Bloomington, within 6-8 months I'm already looking at either Springfield or Champaign,” Francis said.

Francis said his goal is to bring the restaurant to five cities in five years. The Bloomington storefront opened in August 2022. With a second location opening in just under two years, Francis is hopeful that the restaurant can achieve this goal.

First, though, Pop-Up Chicken Shop’s newest storefront must be a success. Smith said the location will have “one shot” to prove itself to the Peoria community.

“If it plays in Peoria, it will play anywhere,” Smith said.

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