BOKA Southport

In Lakeview's Southport Corridor in Chicago, three different restaurant concepts have found a new home inside a former bowling alley re-imagined by BOKA Restaurant Group. The majority of the building’s footprint is occupied by Itoko, a Japanese restaurant with a private dining room upstairs. Natural light enters Itoko through a skylight anchoring the front bar area, which is further highlighted by cove lighting in the evening. Cove lighting also accentuates the space’s wood ceiling, while additional lighting under each table enhances vertical illumination for dining.

In the center of the main dining room, two booth-banquettes are separated from the rest of the space by an illuminated “divider” made of twine wrapped back and forth around wooden posts. Linear strips with a tight optic in a channel shoot light straight up into the side of the dividers. Uplight behind the booth adds a grazed effect to the seating area. Throughout Itoko, coordinated decorative lighting and architectural illumination is digitally controlled by one system, which the staff manipulates based on usage and desired atmosphere.

Next door, the vibe changes significantly in the Little Goat Diner, where a giant neon clock sits amongst wood-covered walls grazed by light sources hidden behind stylish mirrors. Downlights fit within architectural elements in the space, including black lines in the ceiling, so the illumination is a continuation of the interior design. Custom pendants are synchronized with the architectural lighting, featuring digital controls that operate on the diner's own schedule.

Next door, the checkered floors of GG’s Chicken Shop are highlighted by dual-headed gimbal fixtures built into faux ceiling beams, as well as pendants specified by the project’s interior designer. Merchandise and items on display are illuminated by uplight from linear fixtures hidden behind restaurant signage, while countertops are lit by fixtures located below the menu display, which provide enough light to cook without spilling illumination into the restaurant. As before, digital controls operate on the shop’s schedule, allowing for easy adjustments when needed.