Kids & Family
New Asian Restaurant Planned for Former Gap Kids Space in Hinsdale
Wild Ginger is expected to open some time in the spring of 2014.
Another new restaurant is coming to downtown Hinsdale.
Wild Ginger, a pan-Asian eatery, is expected to open in the 44 S. Washington St. space, formerly home to Gap Kids, in the spring of 2014, according to restaurant owner Amy Fang.
It would be Fang’s first restaurant in Illinois. She and her husband, Ji Oiu, own Samurai Cuisine in Murfreesboro, TN, and Samurai Steakhouse in Athens, AL.
Find out what's happening in Burr Ridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Wild Ginger is one of several new restaurants planned for the downtown Hinsdale area.
Peter Burdi and Paul Virant are partnering on a bistro in the former Zak's Place space on Washington, while Doug Fuller Jr. plans a sports bar on 1st Street and the owners of Prasino develop a new breakfast spot where Grant Square Restaurant once operated.
Find out what's happening in Burr Ridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Fang’s cousin who lives in Homewood encouraged her to open in the Chicago area. She looked first to Downers Grove, and then discovered Hinsdale.
“The street is so clean and the community looks very nice,” said Fang, who moved to the U.S. from China about 20 years ago. “So we decided to give it a try to see if any space was available.”
Fang settled on the 44 S. Washington space, which has been vacant since Gap and Gap Kids left Hinsdale in 2012.
Wild Ginger, which will serve Japanese, Chinese and Thai dishes, will contain about 80 seats, Fang said. She expects updates and permit approvals will take several months and is targeting an April opening at this point.
Fang and Oiu currently live in Nashville with their two kids, but are planning to move to the Chicago area as Wild Ginger’s opening approaches. Oiu will be in charge of the menu, while Fang will manage on the business side.
Hinsdale director of economic development Tim Scott said the Gap Kids space is well-suited for a restaurant conversion.
"While downtown is so well-served by established Asian restaurants Jade Dragon and Nabuki, Wild Ginger's cuisine reportedly will provide a complement to them," Scott said.
There are plenty of ways to keep up on area news:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
