Longtime Popular Authentic Jerk Take Out Opens Dine In With Grand Style

CHICAGO — In many Black neighborhoods across the city, the presence of a full-service, dine-in restaurant is more than a dining option—it’s a symbol of long-overdue investment and community development.

That symbolism was on full display in Auburn Gresham as excitement—and the scent of sizzling spices—filled the air during the grand opening of the newly expanded Jamaican Jerk Villa. Less than an hour after the ribbon-cutting, a line had already formed outside the freshly unveiled location at 642–648 W. 79th Street, proving that the South Side was more than ready for this next chapter of a beloved neighborhood staple.

For over two decades, Jamaican Jerk Villa has served as a culinary anchor on the South Side, dishing out authentic Caribbean flavors to a loyal takeout crowd. Now, thanks to a $250,000 Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grant through the City’s Invest South/West Initiative, owner Peter McKnight has reimagined the business as a 4,600-square-foot full-service bar and grill. With seating for up to 140 guests indoors and outdoors, the expansion marks a significant milestone not only for McKnight’s business but also for a neighborhood long hungry for reinvestment.

“There were a lot of ups and downs, including the COVID shutdown, but we endured and we overcame,” said McKnight, beaming with pride. He credited 17th Ward Alderperson David Moore for being a key supporter throughout the process.

The ribbon-cutting was filled with emotion and pride. For Alderperson Moore, the new restaurant holds personal significance. “I’m so excited because it’s just down the street from my house, and I won’t have to travel downtown to go to a nice restaurant,” he said. “Residents can socialize and get to know their neighbors. I don’t feel like I’m on 79th Street.”

That sense of transformation is no accident. Auburn Gresham, a historically working-class Black neighborhood once known for its vibrant retail corridors and tight-knit blocks, is undergoing a long-awaited revival. The opening of Jamaican Jerk Villa’s dine-in location comes alongside a wave of development: a new grocery store, two residential projects, and a Metra station currently under construction directly across the street—a key infrastructure investment that signals renewed faith in the area’s economic future.

Photos provided by Jerk Villa 

McKnight sees his restaurant as part of that broader momentum. “We’re adding—we don’t want to take away,” he said. “When one business grows, the whole block benefits.”

In Auburn Gresham, where resilience is stitched into the community’s DNA, the expansion of Jamaican Jerk Villa is more than just a business win. It’s a declaration that this neighborhood is not only surviving, but thriving—and finally receiving the investment it has long deserved.