Spend any time in Chicago’s South Loop and you can’t help but notice its charms — from world-class museums and historic buildings to its proximity to lakefront beaches and parks. The one thing missing? A variety of great places to eat, drink and hang out. That’s the opinion of former Chicago Bears defensive end Israel Idonije, who has lived in the South Loop — or SoLo, as he likes to call it — since 2014.

For the last two years, Idonije, along with his company Pangea Hospitality Group, has been putting his money where his mouth is with three restaurants — Signature Steak, The Staley and Buttercup — to show for it. Six more hospitality-focused South Loop concepts are in the works, including a hotel, ice cream shop, martini bar, Japanese cocktail lounge and cigar bar.

“It was always just a

See Full Page