New Wave of Dining Options Coming to Willis Tower as Loop Foot Traffic Surges

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/The Loop · October 17, 2025

Chicago's iconic Willis Tower is getting a culinary upgrade this fall with Mendocino Farms set to open its second Chicago location in October 2025. The California-based eatery, known for its farm-fresh sandwiches and salads, will join CAVA and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream as the latest additions to Catalog, the tower's five-story dining and retail hub that's bringing new energy to The Loop.

This expansion comes at a promising time for the area, as recent data shows weekend pedestrian traffic in The Loop now exceeding pre-pandemic levels at 116%. Chicago Loop Alliance attributes this revival to the growing arts and culture scene that's transforming downtown from a purely business district into a social center. "If anybody hasn't been down lately, they really ought to come down and check it out," Michael Edwards, president of Chicago Loop Alliance, recently told the Sun-Times.

Mark your calendars for the neighborhood's exciting fall lineup, including the upcoming Sundays on State event on October 5, the Arts in the Dark Parade on October 18, and a new 'Lurking in the Loop' bar crawl featuring 14 local establishments on October 25. Don't miss the 'Skeletons on State' installation, where 20 oversized skeletons representing iconic Chicago institutions will transform State Street from October 1 through November 3. Whether you're a food lover, arts enthusiast, or just looking to rediscover downtown, there's never been a better time to spend a day in The Loop!

Sources:
1. https://www.willistower.com/news/cava-mendocino-farms-and-van-leeuwen-ice-cream-coming-to-willis-tower
2. https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/10/15/chicago-loop-foot-traffic-post-pandemic-arts-culture-events
3. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/06/02/3092074/0/en/RELEASE-Falling-for-the-Loop-campaign-shifts-Chicago-Loop-Alliance-programming-to-celebration-of-arts-and-culture.html
4. https://loopchicago.com/in-the-loop/new-businesses-in-the-loop/