Flavors of the Caribbean Are Coming to 119th Street: Ethola Restaurant and BSCP Hall Scores City Grant to Transform West Pullman's Dining Scene

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/West Pullman · June 22, 2026

West Pullman is about to get a serious taste of something new. Ethola Restaurant and BSCP Hall, located at 846 W. 119th St., has been awarded a City of Chicago pre-development grant of up to

50,000 to fund the renovation of an Afro-Caribbean restaurant and event venue right in the heart of the neighborhood. The grant is part of Mayor Brandon Johnson's sweeping $33 million community development investment announced earlier this year — a program that selected projects citywide based on neighborhood impact, financial need, and development team diversity.

Ethola was one of just four projects chosen citywide for the competitive pre-development grants, which are specifically designed to cover design and engineering fees and other early-stage costs. That kind of seed funding is exactly what neighborhood anchors need to turn a vision into shovels in the ground — and for West Pullman's 119th Street corridor, a vibrant Afro-Caribbean dining and event destination could be a genuine game-changer. The grant is backed by Mayor Johnson's

.25 billion Housing and Economic Development Bond, and the City's Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, which channels downtown construction fees directly into South and West Side commercial corridors.

This is one to watch, West Pullman. A new restaurant and community event venue on 119th Street has the potential to draw neighbors together, celebrate the neighborhood's rich cultural fabric, and spark even more investment along the block. Keep an eye on updates from the City's Department of Planning and Development at chicago.gov/dpd — and get ready to pull up a chair.

Sources:
1. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dcd/provdrs/ec_dev/news/2026/january/mayor-brandon-johnson-announces-33-million-grant-awards-community-development-projects.html
2. https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/mayor/Press%20Room/Press%20Releases/2026/January/MAYOR%20BRANDON%20JOHNSON%20ANNOUNCES%20$33%20MILLION%20IN%20GRANT%20AWARDS%20FOR%20COMMUNITY%20DEVELOPMENT%20PROJECTS.pdf