Lolo's Bowls Will Open New Evanston Location

The health-focused chain is expanding to a downtown storefront this November.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Isometric editorial illustration of a grain bowl on a clean surface in front of a modern storefront facade. — Lolo's Bowls will expand its health-focused restaurant chain to downtown Evanston this November, targeting students near Northwestern University. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Lolo's Bowls plans to open its newest location at 523 Davis St. in Evanston during the first week of November 2026. This expansion aims to bring the chain's offerings to a college campus setting.

Why it matters

The move marks a strategic effort by the company to capture the university market by establishing a presence near Northwestern University. The business previously signed a lease for the downtown space in June 2026.

The new storefront at 523 Davis St. joins the chain's three existing locations in Libertyville, Lake Zurich, and Glenview. The company has reached this four-location footprint seven years after its first store opened.

The players

Lolo's Bowls

This health-focused restaurant chain specializes in bowls and smoothies and currently operates multiple locations.

Northwestern University

This major research university is located in Evanston and serves as the primary demographic target for the new storefront.

The details

The new location will be operated by a former business associate of the founder to ensure consistency with existing sites. Management anticipates featuring a signature Wildcat Bowl or smoothie specifically tailored for the local student population.

2019: The first Lolo's Bowls location opened in Libertyville.
June 2026: The company signed a lease for the downtown Evanston space.
First week of November 2026: The shop is scheduled to open its doors.

Market Landscape

This expansion aligns with the broader industry trend of health-focused brands securing premium retail space near academic institutions to drive consistent volume. By entering the Evanston market, the company positions itself to compete directly for the student demographic in a dense urban corridor.

Residents and students can look forward to a new local option for healthy dining starting in November. The shop may also offer special soft-opening events for area companies and university teams leading up to the launch.

The takeaway

The addition of this location brings more health-conscious food options to the downtown Evanston area. Locals should keep an eye on the shop during the first week of November for potential preview events.