Southport Corridor & Wrigleyville — week of November 9, 2026
A thinner week for storefronts — no new opening on Southport Avenue or anywhere else in the neighborhood turned up this week — but the Cubs’ offseason is in full swing, Wrigleyville’s holiday bars are starting to open their doors, and two of Lakeview’s biggest proposed developments go before the public. Here’s the week.
New openings
No new openings confirmed this week. No new store or business opening on Southport Avenue, in Wrigleyville, or elsewhere in Lakeview turned up in this week’s checks. The corridor’s biggest transition remains the Southport Grocery & Cafe handover: the cafe closes December 31, 2026 after 23 years, and Dollop Finer Diner is scheduled to open in the space at 3552 N. Southport Ave. on February 1, 2027 — as we reported last week.
Closings: No new store or business closings on or near Southport Avenue turned up this week. If you know of one we’ve missed, drop us a line.
At the Music Box Theatre
Now playing · Nov 12–Nov 19: La bola negra · Fatherland · Mouse · Boom! · Once Upon a Time in Harlem · The Addams Family · Evil Dead II · Ponyo · It Came from Outer Space · Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie The Commentary Track · Addams Family Values · Magnificent Bodyguards · Sawyer Avenue, Sunday Afternoon · Money from Home · Ashes and Diamonds · Thelma & Louise · Kanal · Gremlins 2: The New Batch — Showtimes & tickets →
Wrigleyville
Holiday pop-ups start opening. The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce has formally announced the return of Wrigleyville Wonderland, with more than 20 Wrigleyville businesses turning into holiday-themed destinations from November 1 through January 31, 2027. (Source: Choose Chicago) Elf’d Up opened Saturday at Stretch Chicago, 3485 N. Clark St., and the openings keep coming this week: Home Run Holidays at Brickhouse Tavern on Wednesday, November 11, then Almost Home Alone, Christmas at Kincade’s, and Jingle Junkie at Roadhouse 66 on Friday, November 13, and The Polar Bear at the Cubby Bear and Santa’s Scoreboard at Sports Corner on Monday, November 16. Our full guide has all 22 bars and their dates. (Our Wrigleyville Christmas 2026 guide)
Bollard work around Wrigley Field, in full. We published a standalone rundown this week of the roughly $32 million security project around the ballpark ahead of the 2027 All-Star Game: Sheffield Avenue is closed to vehicles between Addison and Waveland through early December, Waveland is eastbound-only between Clark and Sheffield with restrictions expected into early March, Addison sidewalk work runs into January, and Clark Street sidewalk work is planned for November and December. (Our report)
Pete Crow-Armstrong is an MVP finalist. The BBWAA named Crow-Armstrong one of three National League MVP finalists on November 2, alongside Shohei Ohtani and Brice Turang, with the winner announced Thursday, November 12. It’s the latest honor in a big awards season for the center fielder, who collected his second consecutive Gold Glove on November 1, as we reported last week. (Sources: Cubs Insider Nov 3; North Side Baseball offseason guide)
Three Cubs are Silver Slugger finalists. Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman, and Seiya Suzuki were all named Silver Slugger finalists on November 2, and the Cubs were nominated as the best offensive team in baseball after leading the sport in runs scored. Winners will be announced November 17. (Sources: Cubs Insider Nov 6; North Side Baseball)
Free agency is underway — and the roster is churning. Seiya Suzuki received a one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer, with until November 17 to accept or decline; if he signs elsewhere, the Cubs get draft compensation. Reliever Jacob Webb is staying, re-signing on a one-year deal worth $2.5 million guaranteed with a $4 million club option for 2028, and the Cubs claimed reliever Eric Orze off waivers from the Twins. Going the other way: Clay Holmes declined a $12 million mutual option, Matthew Boyd elected free agency, Carson Kelly voided his mutual option, and the club declined options on Colin Rea, Caleb Thielbar, and Hunter Harvey. Kevin Gausman and Shota Imanaga are also free agents, leaving the rotation in for a full makeover. General manager meetings run November 9–12 in Las Vegas, and the awards keep coming this week — Rookie of the Year today, Manager of the Year Tuesday, Cy Young Wednesday, and MVP Thursday. On the rumor front, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer “badly” wants Detroit ace Tarik Skubal, but the hot stove is still starting cold, with the GM meetings just getting underway. One cloud over it all: MLB’s collective bargaining agreement expires December 1, and a lockout is anticipated. (Sources: Cubs Insider Nov 3 and North Side Baseball offseason guide, same links as above.)
Development & real estate
920 W. Diversey goes before the neighbors Tuesday. The 44th Ward hosts a community meeting Tuesday, November 10, at 5:30 p.m. on the proposed 52-unit rental building with ground-floor retail at 920 W. Diversey Pkwy., just east of the Diversey Brown Line station. The plan is now shown as 52 units, down from the 56 in the proposal we covered in September. (Sources: 44th Ward newsletter Nov 5; our earlier coverage)
Last week to weigh in on 2800 N. Sheridan. The ward is collecting feedback through Thursday, November 12, on the proposed 28-story, 355-unit rental building at the northwest corner of Sheridan and Diversey, with a premium fitness club, retail space, and vehicle and bike parking. A demolition permit for the vacant medical building on the site was issued in July, but the project still needs aldermanic and city approvals. (Sources: 44th Ward newsletter Nov 5, same link; Urbanize Chicago July 13)
Lakeview dog park delayed. Construction on the Lakeview Dog Friendly Area is temporarily on hold after the lowest qualified construction bid came in over the available budget, the 44th Ward reports. The Chicago Park District will meet with the project’s stakeholder group to explore design adjustments, with the goal of rebidding the project early next year. (Source: 44th Ward newsletter Nov 5, same link.)
Coming up
- Tuesday, November 10, 5:30 p.m. — 920 W. Diversey community meeting on the proposed 52-unit development.
- Thursday, November 12 — Last day to share feedback on the proposed 2800 N. Sheridan development; NL MVP winner announced (Pete Crow-Armstrong is a finalist).
- Friday, November 13 — Jingle Junkie opens at Roadhouse 66, plus Almost Home Alone and Christmas at Kincade’s.
- Monday, November 16 — The Polar Bear opens at the Cubby Bear and Santa’s Scoreboard at Sports Corner.
- Thursday, November 19, 6 p.m. — Lakeview East Holiday Tree Lighting at Clark Street Dog, 3040 N. Clark St.
- Friday, November 20 — Christkindlmarket and Winterland open at Gallagher Way, along with Santa Baby Bar at Stolen Saddle, Christmas Club at Country Club, Holly Dolly Honky Tonk at Big Star, and more. (Full dates in our Wrigleyville Christmas guide)