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 a rarity that speaks volumes about investment—or the lack thereof—in community development.
According to Del Marie Cobb, excitement and the scent of sizzling spices filled the air as Jamaican Jerk Villa officially opened its new full-service restaurant in Auburn Gresham. Less than an hour after the ribbon was cut, a line had already formed outside the freshly unveiled location at 642-648 W. 79th Street—proof that the South Side community was more than ready to welcome this next chapter of a beloved neighborhood staple.
For over 20 years, Jamaican Jerk Villa has been a culinary anchor on the South Side, offering authentic Caribbean takeout to a loyal base of customers. Now, with the help of a $250,000 Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grant through the City’s Invest South/West Initiative, owner Peter McKnight has transformed the business into a 4,600-square-foot dine-in bar and grill. The new restaurant, capable of seating up to 140 guests indoors and outdoors, represents not only growth for McKnight’s business but also progress for a neighborhood 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 at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. He credited 17th Ward Alderperson David Moore for providing critical support through the journey.
Both men were all smiles during the event, clearly moved by the outpouring of community support. For Moore, the moment was personal. “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.”
Jamaican Jerk Villa’s expansion arrives amid a wave of positive developments in the 17th Ward. A new grocery store has opened, two residential projects are underway, and a new Metra station is rising directly across the street from the restaurant. These investments signify a long-awaited shift in a community too often overlooked by city planners and private developers.
McKnight sees his restaurant as part of a collective push toward prosperity. “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 a defining trait, the opening of Jamaican Jerk Villa’s new home is more than just a grand opening—it’s a declaration that this community is not only surviving but thriving.
