Chef John Manion, the force behind El Che Steakhouse & Bar and the West Town project Brasero, is lining up his next move in Chicago’s West Loop, stepping into the space that previously housed Proxi on Randolph Street. The shift drops another big-name player onto Randolph’s restaurant row at a time when the strip is already in flux. Manion has built his local reputation on live-fire cooking and South American–influenced menus, a style that has earned him a loyal following and plenty of industry side-eye in the best way.
Manion To Move Into Proxi's Old Spot
According to Crain's Chicago Business, Manion is set to open a new restaurant in the former Proxi space. The report, published March 19, 2026, pins the West Loop address as the future home of his next concept, even if the finer points are still very much under wraps.
Proxi's West Loop Address
Proxi has been a fixture on the Randolph Street stretch for years and is listed at 565 W. Randolph, giving the location prime visibility on the city’s established restaurant row. Eater Chicago has detailed Proxi’s menu pivots and its broader role on the corridor, underscoring why that particular storefront draws attention from chefs and operators.
Manion's Culinary Track Record
Manion first broke through with La Sirena Clandestina, then doubled down on his reputation with El Che Steakhouse & Bar, before opening Brasero in West Town to spotlight wood-fired, Latin-influenced cooking. Coverage in outlets such as Chicago Magazine and trade publications has emphasized his live-fire approach and wine-forward sensibility, framing him as one of the city’s key players in that lane.
His profile has only climbed recently. Manion was named Chef of the Year at the Jean Banchet Awards in January, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, a high-profile nod that helps explain why industry watchers are so focused on where he lands next.
What We Still Don’t Know
The Crain's Chicago Business piece delivered the key detail everyone cares about, the location, but stopped short of laying out a concept, menu, or opening date. For now, the project remains more whisper than full reveal. Without a firm timeline, the earliest concrete signs of progress are likely to be permit activity, hiring notices, or a public menu drop signaling that opening day is coming into focus.
Why The Move Matters
A Manion-led restaurant in that Randolph Street storefront would reinforce the West Loop’s place at the center of Chicago’s dining scene, where visibility and foot traffic still carry serious weight even as the neighborhood keeps changing. Coverage of the strip’s revolving roster and the premium placed on key Randolph addresses helps explain why these spaces are so coveted and why Manion’s planned arrival is notable. Eater Chicago has been tracking those broader patterns along Randolph Row, and this latest shuffle fits squarely into that ongoing story.
