Red Light Chicken is only a three minute car ride away from the prime location where the front doors of Raising Cane’s open onto Lincoln Avenue, and according to D’Alessandro, “more density is more business”. But high traffic isn’t the only building block for a successful venture, and D’Alesandro remembers being on the look-out for a quiet local spot to turnover when the old Devil Dawgs on Sheffield went out of business.
“I lived down the street, so I snatched it up pretty quickly. And I was like, I’m gonna do an experiment,” D’Alessandro said. “No delivery, no phone, no pick up. Old school.” Red Light Chicken’s background story is a testament to Dallesandro’s character. A Chicago native, D’Alesandro’s portfolio of restaurants runs the gamut, everything from comfort food at Big & Little’s to Thai cuisine at Same Same. Red Light Chicken is just one example of D’Alesandro’s love for restaurateuring. “I run the business with my partner, and, you know, it’s one of those things I love to do,” D’Alesandro said. “My wife’s very lucky, she gets great meals all the time. I make breakfast and dinner every day. You know, I just love cooking…it’s something I just love to do,”
“I don’t like making the customer feel uncomfortable,” D’Alessandro said. He doesn’t like putting the neighbors out either, which is why Red Light closes at 8 or 9 p.m., unlike some of their competitors who stay open into the late hours of the night. “We respect the neighborhood and our neighbors.”
Competition between fried chicken shops is fierce in Lincoln Park, with multiple within the neighborhood. Price is the main driver for many in the area when deciding on a fried chicken spot. “Cane’s has an excellent price point, we are an excellent price point,” D’Alessandro said. “Fry the Coop is not an excellent price point,” While Fry the Coop offers a meal for around $15, Canes and Red Light Chicken hover around the same price point, offering a meal for around $13.
“[Cane’s] is just convenient,” Lincoln Park High School student Alexa Magder said. “The location is great, and they have really good Texas toast and chicken tenders.”
Tucked away on a quaint neighborhood street, Red Light Chicken does not offer sit-down tables to eat at, but its unique take on fried chicken and low-key vibe allows it to stay afloat in such a cut-throat restaurant business. Red Light offers a family-owned “destination”, while Canes and Fry the Coop are chains meant for a convenient bite. D’Alessandro enjoys being on a quiet street, but recognized that Canes has a very good location.
“I mean, that’s a great corner [Lincoln/Fullerton/Halsted] to be on,” he said.
Many factors go into the survival of a chicken restaurant in Lincoln Park, but instead of feeding into the competition, D’Alessandro has a different approach.
“I’m not in a race. I’m not in a race at all,” he said.
By not feeding into the fierce competition, Red Light has focused on their own recipes and uniqueness. Although many chicken restaurants in the area may view Red Light as a competitor, D’Alessandro has stayed true to his vision, navigating the restaurant business with intelligence.
“I just want people to enjoy their food and not worry about breaking the bank,” D’Alessandro said. And that’s worth crossing the road for.
