ML - Michigan Avenue

2012 - Issue 4 - Summer

Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!

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The Restaurateurs Rockit Ranch Productions Brad Young, Billy Dec, and Arturo Gomez What They've Done: Anchored River North as an entertainment district with the development of their trifecta of hot spots—Rockit Bar & Grill, Sunda New Asian, and The Underground nightclub—with a fourth River North venue opening this summer, Dragon Ranch Moonshine & BBQ at 441 N. Clark St., which will offer American-Asian barbecue alongside custom- distilled spirits. Rule Breakers: Ten years ago, "There wasn't anyone doing Kobe burgers or truffle fries," says Dec of the vision behind Rockit Bar & Grill. "And no one was playing rock unless you were a college or sports bar. We saw the void in the middle—the highest quality of food presentation with a comfortable, cool atmosphere." Says Young: "There really wasn't anything like it in the city at that time, so we had a solid three years before the copycats started coming out of the woodwork. Some have come and gone, but we have stuck to our own game." A Perfect 10: As they celebrate their 10th anniversary this summer, the trio is looking toward the future. "We are just really excited to launch our second decade," says Gomez. "There are companies that have had 20, even 40 years in the industry to build, so after seeing how much we have learned, we just feel ready to blaze new trails." Just don't expect an anniversary bash: "When it comes to our own personal celebration, we'll probably get the most joy out of just thanking our teams, our families for letting us be Brad Young, Billy Dec, and Arturo Gomez workaholics, and one another for total commitment to helping this dream come true," says Dec.

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