Circ Esteem Collects an Award

CircEsteem's recently remodeled exterior at 4730 N. Sheridan (Instagram)

Two Uptown rehabilitation projects have been awarded 2025 Preservation Excellence awards by the City of Chicago!

Circ Esteem's rehabilitation of the formerly closed off space at 4730 N. Sheridan created a bright and inviting facade true to the building's original design. Restoration of the original window bays allows passerby to see the circus students inside, and a gut rehab of the interior has transformed the space into what we expect will be a community anchor for years to come. 

Gunnison Lofts took advantage of Chicago Adopt-A-Landmark funds and completed a beautiful exterior renovation of the Art Deco style building at 1215 W. Gunnison (at Broadway).

Great work and congratulations!

Woo-ee YooYee!

If you haven't seen or heard yet, Thai Pastry moved to Argyle (taking over the Hong Ngu spot). Same great food and people, new location. 

Courtesy Google

The old Thai Pastry location at 4925 N. Broadway now has a recently opened and VERY hot newcomer in the space named YooYee. [Warning: food pics at the link so don't open while hungry.]

YooYee features Sichuan cuisine, and from reviews on Yelp, Google and Reddit, the kitchen is knocking it out of the park. It's on our shortlist to try soon.

Foremost Liquors Swaps Corners

Future home of Foremost Liquors, 1025-27 W. Argyle (Google)

We recently told you about Argyle staple "Foremost Liquors" leaving their long-time home at 1040 W. Argyle and how we suspected they would be moving to the opposite corner.

A public notice sign in the window of 1025-27 W. Argyle confirms our story.

Thanks to reader J, the public notice sign mentions establishing a liquor store. 

We wish Foremost the best when they reopen in their new space and hope their sign is preserved (or moved).

Public notice to establish a liquor store

Now that Foremost is moving, we are excited to see what's next for the current location (1040 W. Argyle), the former "Argmore Theatre." We would love a bar, restaurant or even a theater!

Learn About Buena Park's History On Saturday, March 22

 

WBEZ & Sun-Times Community Listening Session April 8

Uptown! Join the Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ and La Voz at Everybody's Coffee at The Wilson Abbey (935 W Wilson Ave, Chicago) on Tuesday, April 8th from 5-7 p.m. for one-on-one conversations with their journalists. Community members are invited to inform journalists on community issues, ask questions, provide feedback, or simply get to know WBEZ and Sun-Times staff. Small bites and refreshments will be provided. RSVP and confirm your spot here! SUNTIMES.COM/WEHEARYOU

¡Uptown! Júntate con miembros del Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ y La Voz en Everybody's Coffee (935 W Wilson Ave, Chicago) el Martes, 8 de abril a las 5:00 p.m. y tengamos una plática personal para que nos digas qué sientes sobre nuestra cobertura en tu comunidad. Haznos tus preguntas, danos tus sugerencias para que podamos mejorar, comparte tu opinión o simplemente ven a charlar sobre los temas que más te preocupan en la comunidad. Habrá aperitivos y refrescos gratuitos. ¡Confirma tu lugar aquí! SUNTIMES.COM/WEHEARYOU

Hope You Don't Like Driving and Parking!

In news less well received by residents and local businesses than the Soviet-style copy here lets on, the City is going forward with removing all parking from one side of Clark Street from Montrose to Winnemac in favor of an extension of bike lanes.

Why Winnemac and not Foster or Bryn Mawr? Who knows!?!  [Eds: We suspect it's likely because the change won't affect Andersonville and powerful businesses along the corridor. As a result, Alderwoman Manaa-Hoppenworth won't have to hear from constituents.]

But in Uptown through Winnemac? All good!

Readers will recall that the Clark Street Corridor planning process started back in 2021 when the City, sitting on more than $10 million in TIF funds from the Clark-Montrose TIF, decided that a formal study was necessary to determine best uses for the funds. 

Various public meetings ensued, and Chicago's very loud biking advocates swamped the meetings and online to advocate for ... BIKE LANES! Surprise!

We heard some scathing things from readers about the plan and process, as well as complaints about the tenor of bike advocacy at meetings and in online voting, but we (and our readers) were pooh-poohed as dinosaurs who just didn't care about safety. 

With this new announcement, we hear businesses and residents along the strip are not at all happy about the change and feel they will suffer as a result of the elimination of parking. This stretch is in the midst of a rebirth as a functioning commercial district, and losing parking will inevitably stifle growth and dissuade entrepreneurs.

Now of course the large chunk of money that was earmarked for the TIF is supposedly gone, disappeared into City coffers, but money for bike lanes must be there somewhere in the City's pockets. And the stretch affected includes the new Black Ensemble Theater development, which will also be looking for TIF soon...  Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Spring Forward On Sunday!

We return to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday (at 2am, to be exact), so set your clocks to spring forward an hour on Saturday night.

One less hour of sleep, always a lot of fun if you have a kid or pet who's firmly tied to a 24-hour schedule.

On the flip side, it means that evening light will last until at least 6:30pm next week, which is lovely if you like having the chance to stay outside in the daylight longer.

(photo from the JJ Sedelmaier Productions Collection, used with much appreciation)

La Mexicana Grill Grand Opening Saturday, March 8

At 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 8th at 4641 N. Clark Street La Mexicana Grill Uptown will celebrate a grand opening ribbon cutting and provide free lunch for the first 100 people!  

La Mexicana's owner JJ Romo, who has done almost all the interior work to the former Thai on Clark space himself, is the proud owner of La Mexicana Grill Wrigleyville and now La Mexicana Grill Uptown.  

We wish La Mexicana Grill much success!

Brennemann Elementary Hosting Open House Starting April 7

Brennemann Elementary (4251 N. Clarendon) is hosting an Open House next month for our Preschool programs. 

This event will be held Monday April 7, Tuesday April 8, Wednesday April 9, and Thursday April 10 from 4:15-5:15. Spanish translation will be available. 

From the hosts:

Explore Brennemann's high-quality program options, get a feel for the school culture, meet some of the staff, and get help completing your child’s Chicago Early Learning PreK Application at the Open House for our Half and Full Day preschool programs!

4006 N. Sheridan Zoning Variances Approved, Holiday Club Building Likely Dead

4006 N. Sheridan (Catapult Real Estate)

The Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals, now home to our favorite ex-Ald. Helen Shiller, met on February 21 and approved the three zoning variances requested for the 4006 N. Sheridan proposed development at the northwest corner of Sheridan & Irving Park. 

As we disclosed when we broke news of the development in 2023, the new development is being built "by right," i.e. without need for formal approval by the Aldermanic office. However, the 3 variances requested (and now granted) will allow the developer to have residences on the ground floor and less on-site parking due to being next to bus and train lines and no loading spaces. 

The upcoming 7 story building will feature a mix of studio, one, and two bedroom units as well as 3,100 square feet of retail on the ground floor. 

Unfortunately, readers tell us that attempts to get the developer to save the beautiful terra cotta clad Holiday Club building were rejected by the developer in favor of the modern design.  We hear the plan is for Holiday Club to move back into the new retail space at the base. 

We are very sad to see the building go. We do look forward to the density added by the new building, including new residents and (hopefully) new businesses!

The ZBA's approval list for 4006 N. Sheridan

Schwing! Chicago Market Scores Building Permit

The future home of Chicago Market at 4600 N. Broadway (Google)

It's been a long time coming!

Sources say a $4.8 million dollar building permit was just issued to Chicago Market, allowing buildout to begin on their much anticipated new home at Broadway & Wilson! 

Chicago Market is slated to occupy the beautiful building on the corner, the historic Gerber Building.

The permit includes interior and exterior alterations of the basement and first floor of the historic building. Chicago Market will span the entire building, which runs from 4600 to 4626 N. Broadway. 

More updates as they become available.

Have Coffee With A Cop, Friday At Stan's Donuts

New Year, New York, New Sammich Option

 

If you're in the market for some sandwiches (or groceries) towards the southern portion of Uptown, New York Food Mart & Deli opened last week at 4136 N. Broadway, in the strip mall that houses Siam Noodle & Rice. 

We haven't tried it yet but a perusal of the sandwiches posted in the window looks promising, and there's a suggestion there might be some Yemeni specialties to discover inside!

Let us know how it is!