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! 

Foremost Goes Fore-East?

Foremost Liquors current location at 1040 W. Argyle
(Bryan Krefft & Cinema Treasures)

Longtime community staple (and sometimes problem business) Foremost Liquors is one step closer to moving from their longtime home on Argyle. The new location is still under wraps, but it's supposedly "across the street."

The City Council Committee on Licenses and Consumer Protection met yesterday to consider Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth's proposal to lift the longtime package goods liquor moratorium on Argyle to allow the move. 

After hearing testimony from longtime owner Jim Hotza about hardships he is experiencing with raised rent, the Committee voted in favor of the proposed modification to the ordinance. This will allow Foremost to make the move to the new location.

We have been following this story since last fall, when a sign went up advertising the Foremost space as "for rent." We were assured by Foremost employees that the business had no intention to close, and it sounds like continued negotiations on rent failed, leading to the current change.

The request to modify the existing ordinance goes in front of the entire City Council for a vote on February 19. With the approval of the BLCP committee, the change is expected to pass the Council.

Interestingly, the current Foremost location was once a movie theater, the Argmore, which operated on Argyle from 1913 until the 1950s. The theater space is still intact and currently serves as a warehouse. 

"The Argmore" Courtesy @Eric_Erins on Twitter

No word yet on the future location although readers tipped us off to potential movement on the long vacant 4500 sq. ft space at 1027-1029 W. Argyle over the winter. Of note, this is next door to the Northmere SRO Hotel at 4943 N. Kenmore. Based on the owner's statement that he plans to move "right across the street," it's either that location or Viet Hoa, which we believe has no plans to close.

And finally, although we're not experts on government or city ordinances, it would seem that the removal of the ban on liquor sales on "Argyle from Sheridan to Racine" would apply to all of the local businesses and empty spaces along the way. 

We think it would be a good thing if some additional restaurants and bars came to the strip, along with adding liquor sales at some of our favorites, including Milly's Pizza in the Pan, El Rincon de Fabio, Nha Hang Vietnam, Afro Taste, Danang Kitchen, Hai Yen, Cafe Hoang, and Gusto's

What are your thoughts, dear readers?

MINISO Coming To 5004 N. Broadway

Something we had heard as rumor is now confirmed, as the Uptown Chamber of Commerce announces MINISO is coming to Broadway & Argyle at 5004 N. Broadway.  Although the official "grand opening" will be on Saturday, February 8, thanks to a helpful reader, we know it's actually open right now!  

MINISO Interior

From the Chamber:

"Join MINISO for their ribbon-cutting at 11:00am! Special discount offer of 20% off to the first 50 customers, as well as 10% off for the entire grand opening weekend. MINISO is a global retail brand known for its toys, plushies, collectible blind box toys, stationery, beauty essentials, home goods, fragrances, electronics, and snacks.

The brand's collaborations with iconic names like Sanrio, Disney, Minions, Harry Potter, Chiikawa, Care Bears, Peanuts, Barbie, We Bare Bears, and Pixar, and many more contribute to its widespread appeal. With over 250 stores across the United States and 6,000 locations globally, MINISO delivers a shopping experience that appeals to all demographics."

If you haven't been to a MINISO, expect a store filled with themed items, some well known and other less known. Lots of collectibles and also 'practical' themed items, like headphones, bags, and clothing.

The Uptown MINISO will be Chicago's second store, joining an existing store in Chinatown. The new location replaces a spa equipment wholesaler.

We are excited!

'The Mukase' Makes The Move To Sheridan & Sunnyside

The new location of The Mukase at 4501 N. Sheridan

As we get ready to bid adieu to the "Happy Wash" building at Wilson and Dover, another business has moved in anticipation of the wrecking ball so a 5 story residential building can be constructed.

The Mukase has been serving authentic African cuisine in Sheridan Park since 2017 and will bring their Ghanaian and West African flavors to a new location at 4501 N. Sheridan, in the recently completed "Portrait Uptown" building. [Ed. note: love the peanut butter soup!] The new location of The Mukase will join current tenant Vandross Hair Design.

We spotted upgraded signage outside of the future location so an opening date is not far off. 

Keep an eye on The Mukase Facebook page for an exact opening date! 

The former Mukase location at 1363 W. Wilson, soon to be demolished. (Google)

Sevaride Saves the Darlington*

 *we think.

NBC's Chicago Fire is back filming in Uptown this week and next, and a set crew is busy outfitting the former Darlington Hotel (now apartments) with "broken" windows as part of whatever segment they are going to film. 

Our female editors are hoping for lots of shots of Kelly Sevaride in action, so please don't disappoint us NBC!

Although we got word of workers hanging around the intersection of Racine and Leland last weekend, the green signs say prep work will be ongoing from the 22nd (yesterday) through Monday January 27th, with no parking zones enforced on both Racine and Leland. 

For gawkers (maybe us), no word on filming but we presume it will be this weekend or early next week.

2025 CAPS Beat Meetings Announced

Mark your calendars for the 2025 CAPS Beat Meetings in the 19th district!

Any questions? Contact the CAPS office at CAPS.019district@chicagopolice.org

or follow them on Facebook here.

New Year Jiu-Jitsu

Starting in January, Lakeside Jiu-Jitsu is opening a permanent brick and mortar location at 4101 N. Broadway. (h/t Buena Park Neighbors)

Courtesy Lakeside Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Website

Formerly home to N&H Cleaners for a number of years and most recently co-working space The Shift, the one-story building across from Michael's Pizza has been searching for a long term tenant for a while. 

Lakeside has also been around for a while, starting as Copa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2011. Copa opened a location in Lakeview's Quads Gym (3727 N. Broadway) in 2012. Copa transitioned to the new name of "Lakeside Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" in 2023 and has been in the Quads location until now.  

Lakeview's loss is Uptown's gain, and we are thrilled that Lakeside will have a home to call their own. 

Look for an opening soon, and if you want to see a class schedule for the start of 2025, click here.

Will the 7th Time Be A Charm? Dear Flo's Soft Opens this Weekend on Wilson

[Ed. Note: corrected to add 'Sephardic Sisters' below]

The saga of the star-crossed 'restaurant row' on Wilson between Malden and Beacon continues this weekend as "Dear Flo's" has its soft opening this weekend. 

The restaurant, which will focus on "Bakery, Biscuits & Breakfast," is opening in the former Kal'ish location at 1313 W. Wilson. 

After hosting various businesses for years, the easternmost spot (1303 W. Wilson) appeared to find its forever tenant in Baker & Nosh, a hugely successful bakery business. But expansion plans coupled with poor business management led to an abrupt closure in 2017, leaving a void that Andy and Gina Kalish have tried to fill with different concepts.

For a brief period, Andy and Gina overlapped with B&N, opening the successful vegan restaurant Kal'ish in 2016. Kal'ish, which took up the westernmost space that was previously the "Forget Me Knodt" flower shop, was a multiple time vegan restaurant award winner in its 7 year run. 

2017 brought Longacre Pizza Box to the middle space (1309 W. Wilson), a small scale pizza concept that was a love letter to Andy's Detroit roots. The Detroit style pizza was authentic and had devoted fans, but was criticized for uneven hours. Andy & Gina closed the restaurant while working on a new vegan concept for the space.

2018 brought a different Longacre experience, as Andy and Gina tried their hand at a takeaway (and later sit-down) concept in the former B&N space to the east. Longacre lasted about a year and was once again criticized for inconsistent hours and a shifting concept.

2020 brought Sam & Gerties, a vegan spinoff of Kal'ish that was the world's first vegan Jewish deli. Sam & Gerties was in the middle space formerly occupied by Longacre Pizza Squared. Despite COVID, Sam & Gertie's remained popular with limited weekend hours through its closure in May 2024.  

For a brief period, the eastern space was filled again, this time with L/A Mex, a taco spot and nod to Gina's family that was open briefly from late 2022 to early 2023. Once again, inconsistent hours were an issue with patrons. 

[Eds. added this section, h/t reader AM] After the closure of Kal'ish, a new middle eastern vegan concept, Sephardic Sisters, was open for 4 months in the spring of 2023 in the 1313 W. Wilson space.

L/A Mex was then converted in the fall of 2023 to Floreen's, an ode to Andy's Mom. Pizza was resurrected alongside a new menu focused on fried chicken. Floreen's run was brief, as the concept was shuttered by winter 2023 and has been closed since.

While the 'restaurant row' has seen all this turnover, other businesses have created deep roots. Pokiology and Emerald City have been a strong presence on Wilson for eight years now, two blocks east. The Public Barber and Hearthstone & Terrace (now Terrace) are about to celebrate their tenth and fifth anniversaries, respectively, and Uptown Taproom just turned two. 

This shows there is an active customer base in and around Uptown's central street to patronize businesses in these spots, and we hear from readers constantly about the potential for successful restaurant (or other businesses) in the 1303, 1309 and 1313 W. Wilson spaces. 

Hopefully Andy and Gina have unlocked the key to success with the new concept. We at UU have eaten at every one of the prior concepts (all good food!) [Ed. - none of us ate at Sephardic Sisters]  and wish them the best with this new venture.