‘This is Wonderful’: Buttermilk review underway in Wilmette

Wilmette officials served up a glowing review in the first public meeting detailing plans for a highly anticipated eatery headed for a long-vacant space in the village.

Wilmette’s Appearance Review Commission shared nothing but positive feedback on Monday, April 7, while conducting a preliminary review of a proposed plan to bring Buttermilk Café to the space at 200 Skokie Blvd.

The review, according to village staffers, was intended to offer planners behind the redevelopment project initial design feedback so they can finalize plans and return in early May with formal and further developed details.

Danny Shamoon, the local businessman who recently purchased the Wilmette property that was previously home to Bakers Square, told the commission that project planners want to keep the “elegance” and “beauty” of the building.

“I understand that is funny to say about a Bakers Square, but for some reason, everyone in the community tells me that they love the look of the building and they remember eating some pies there when they were there in high school,” Shamoon told commissioners.

The new design of the building will feature a black and white theme, per Shamoon, who added that it’s also a goal “to save the aesthetics of the building as much as possible.”

Project plans also currently include the addition of a sunroom to the property that will add about 600 square feet, Shamoon said. He added that planners are still targeting to keep the size under 5,000 square feet, a key zoning threshold.

Additionally, Shamoon said the goal is to have a design that conveys comfort on the inside but elegance on the outside of the building.

“We’re getting a community of people that are moving here from the city and I want them to feel like they’re warm and welcome but at the same time make them feel that this is still a beautiful North Shore suburb and I want people to feel comfortable when they look at the outside of the building,” he told the commission.

Project developers also plan to tear down the exterior fence as well as remove the landmark stand-alone sign that is currently on the site and was a staple of the Bakers Square site plan.

According to documents presented during the April 7 meeting, plans call for approximately 116 seats in the dining area, nine at the coffee bar, 38 in the sunroom and 16 on the patio — a total of 179.

“I think this is wonderful,” Commissioner Douglas Johnson said of the restaurant’s proposed design. “I think it’s beautifully designed. It’s got a wonderful sophisticated North Shore feel and it honors what’s been there and what we’ve all been missing for years. I’m very excited that you’re going to be there and be opening and I’ll be first in line.”

Shamoon told commissioners that the hope is to have work completed on the restaurant some time in the fall, noting that the ownership team just recently took control of the building.

The Record reported in early March that Shamoon would be bringing Buttermilk Café to Wilmette.

A vacant building has sat at 200 Skokie Blvd. since 2019, and two public attempts to rebuild on the site (McDonald’s in 2023-’24, Caddyshack in 2021-’22) have failed. Wilmette Village Manager Mike Braiman last month called the plan for the new restaurant “an outstanding result.”

As also previously reported by The Record, if the buildout remains under 5,000 square feet, the plans for Buttermilk Café would just need an appearance review; however, if it exceeds 5,000 feet, the business would need to apply for a special-use permit.

According to village documents, Wilmette officials have not yet received or reviewed official redevelopment plans for the project.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Become a member of The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a member? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.