Now Open: Buona Debuts THE BEEF STAND in Wicker Park

Buona gets back to those roots with the opening of THE BEEF STAND by Buona, a new walk-up Italian beef window at 1750 W. Division St. in Wicker Park.

Located adjacent to The Original Rainbow Cone, THE BEEF STAND marks Buona’s first presence in Wicker Park and offers a streamlined, old-school way to experience one of the foods most synonymous with Chicago: walk up, order a beef and enjoy.

While the pop-up concept is new, its inspiration goes back generations. Before Joe and Peggy Buonavolanto opened the first Buona restaurant in Berwyn in 1981, Joe’s brother, Carl “Uncle Junior” Buonavolanto, opened Chicago’s Mr. Beef and taught Joe the original, time-honored method of preparing Italian beef.

The brothers ultimately followed two different paths. Carl remained devoted to the singular neighborhood beef stand, while Joe set out to bring the family’s beef to communities throughout Chicagoland. More than four decades later, THE BEEF STAND brings those two paths together again: the Buona legacy served through the simple walk-up format that helped define Chicago’s Italian Beef culture.

“There is something incredibly special about a neighborhood beef stand in Chicago. So many historic family-run places like Mr. Beef helped create the culture around Italian beef and turn a humble sandwich into something synonymous with our city,” said Joe Buonavolanto Jr., second generation owner at Buona. “Our family’s connection to that history runs deep. THE BEEF STAND is our way of celebrating where we came from, paying tribute to the stands that helped make Italian beef what it is today and introducing that experience to a new generation.”

At the center of THE BEEF STAND is Buona’s signature Italian beef, prepared using the traditional method. Choice cuts of beef are seasoned with a proprietary blend of spices and dry roasted to capture the natural drippings that form the foundation of Buona’s all-natural gravy. As one of the only multi-location Italian beef brands still using this old-school preparation, Buona keeps the recipe simple: beef, spices and water with no additives, preservatives or artificial flavors.

The intentionally focused menu centers on regular and large Italian beef sandwiches, with the option to add mozzarella cheese and a choice of giardiniera. A few modern twists round out the offerings, including Italian Beef protein bowls and vegan beef sandwiches. Guests can also grab kettle chips, bottled water and sodas, along with classic shakes from The Original Rainbow Cone. For groups or gatherings, 10-sandwich packs are also available. Guests can order directly at the window for carryout, as well as online for pickup or delivery through direct and third-party platforms including UberEats, Grubhub, and DoorDash.

“Wicker Park has an unmatched energy and a community that values authenticity and places with a real story behind them,” said third generation owner, Joe Buonavolanto lll. “As we bring Buona to this part of Chicago for the first time with THE BEEF STAND, we feel that we’ve created something that feels like it truly belongs here. A walk-up beef window on Division Street rooted in Italian Beef history felt like the perfect fit.”

THE BEEF STAND by Buona is now open at 1750 W. Division St., Chicago, IL 60622, adjacent to The Original Rainbow Cone’s Wicker Park location. Hours are Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.