Buck Russell’s Bakery & Sandwich Shop is Ballyhoo Hospitality’s newest neighborhood joint set to open this fall in downtown Wilmette. Buck Russell’s is one-half bakery and one-half sandwich shop. Guests can expect an array of bakery classics and hand-crafted deli sandwiches, making it the sweetest stop on the North Shore.

“We’re excited to further expand our footprint in the North Shore,” says Ballyhoo Hospitality Founder Ryan O’Donnell. “We want to offer the neighborhood a place where people of all ages can gather and enjoy delicious food and warm hospitality. In the morning, guests can stop by for a cup of joe, a breakfast sandwich and a pastry. By the afternoon, they can indulge in one of our signature sandwiches or channel their inner-child with a root beer float.”

The bakery will feature classic American baked goods with modern twists, like freshly-baked sticky buns, cupcakes, and ice-box cakes. The sandwich shop will showcase a dozen classic and original sandwiches as well as a Lil’ Bucks menu, perfect for kids looking for a spot to gather after school or grab a snack before their sports practice. 

Designed by O’Donnell, himself, the interior is a modern nod to the classic American diner and an old-school pastry shop, featuring a retro blue and white lunch counter with stools, vintage wallpaper, Pullman style booths, chrome accents, schoolhouse-style pendant lighting, and warm wood floors. 

Located at 1137 Greenleaf Ave in downtown Wilmette, Buck Russell’s aims to be a one-stop shop for the neighborhood for breakfast, lunch, and catering. Additionally, its location near the Metra and beaches makes it perfect for commuters as part of their morning coffee, breakfast-on-the-go routine, or  pick up sandwiches and cookies before picnicking at one of the North Shore’s best beaches.