John Meyer

BJ’s Market & Bakery • Stony Island Plaza • Chicago, IL

After graduating from culinary school, John Meyer, who had also earned a marketing degree from Chicago State University, was chef-ready to lead a kitchen. He had turned childhood inspiration (his mom & grandma’s joy of cooking) into a passion backed by classical training in French-American cuisine. All he needed now was an opportunity…but no one would hire him. It was an early lesson in perseverance, patience and self-belief that would eventually lead John down the path to entrepreneurship and his own restaurant.

Despite the initial kitchen doors that didn’t open, John (now Chef Meyer) ultimately landed a coveted spot at the prestigious University Club of Chicago, where he honed his skills with their very discerning clientele. His first solo venture came soon after — a “white tablecloth” restaurant in the historic Pullman area on Chicago’s south side. The Retreat Restaurant was a major success, garnering top reviews, cementing John’s culinary reputation, and setting the stage for his next venture – fine southern cooking at BJ’s Market & Bakery.

Now a fixture at Stony Island Plaza, BJ’s started with John’s desire to create a place where memories could be made over plates of great food shared amongst family and friends. As with any small business start-up, there were hiccups along the way. Capital, staffing issues, and more plagued the first years, but soon enough, BJ’s fell into a smooth and consistent rhythm of solid business growth. When COVID hit in March 2020, there were certainly more bumps. Menus were modified, take-out processes were streamlined and bottom line adjustments were necessary. But all along the way, NewMark Merrill was there for John and his team.

After nearly 30 years of providing “food for the soul”, Chef Meyer has hit his stride at BJ’s, where locals have wholly embraced his home-style fare. Success is sweet, but John truly values what can’t be quantified — a daily mixture of customer smiles, long-term employee growth and development, and decisions that result in an immediate impact. He recognizes that people are the most important ingredient in his recipe for success.

They truly care about their properties and tenants, and it shows by their responsiveness, availability and ongoing proactive communication.