Retail and Shopping – Page 16 – Southport Corridor News and Events

Grand Opening of Movement Wrigleyville, Chicago’s Newest Climbing Gym is September 1, 2021

El Cap, the nation’s largest community of indoor climbing gyms announced they will open Movement Wrigleyville to the public on Wednesday, September 1 at 12 pm.

Movement Wrigleyville is located at 1115 W. Addison Street, just around the block from Chicago’s iconic Wrigley Field.

Is Southport Fitness leaving?

Real estate gets shopped around a lot, and it’s not 100% a sign that a retailer is leaving (i.e., FedEx a few years back).

However, it’s never a good sign when real estate listings show a prominent property for lease. The latest space now being marketed is Southport Fitness at 3415 N. Southport Avenue.

The space is being marketed by Seneca Real Estate, listing agent is Joe Padorr (who leases much of the space on Southport) on LoopNet.

Take that, Marshall Field’s. Amazon is opening Department Stores

Amazon is planning to open large retail locations that resemble department stores, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Preservation Group Fights To Save Lakeview Bank

Construction has started at 3179 N. Clark Street for the Lakeview Connection. This is currently the site of Fifth Third Bank’s drive through and will include a smaller version of the branch, with several more retail spaces available. Rumors that Amazon Fresh is the signed grocery tenant are still swirling.

What could help this stretch of Lincoln Avenue?

The area of Lincoln between Ashland and Barry has had it’s share of retail turnover through the years. The Gap was once housed here before moving to The Southport Corridor in 2013.

We’d like to hear from you – what types of businesses or other suggestions do you have to help the stretch of Lincoln Avenue?

See the full listing here for 3145-67 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Here is what is proposed at 3217 N. Clark Street

A parking lot could be turning into the next mixed-use residential and retail building in the busy area around Clark and Belmont according to Ald. Tom Tunney’s website.

With Target and transit oriented apartments across the street, and the new Lakeview Collection development about to break ground, this area will be forever changed after 100+ years of older buildings.

Article from 2016: “Can Southport Stay Charming, Or Will National Chains Drive Out Diversity?”

From DNA Chicago (Now Block Club) in 2016:

“To some, the arrival of J. Crew on the Southport Corridor was just another sign the block was flourishing.

To others, it was less than thrilling.

“Can we stop drooling over this already?” one person wrote on Facebook. “We get it. Everyone on Southport loves basic, poorly made, over-priced clothing.”

Since Anthropologie arrived on Southport Avenue a decade ago, neighbors have cautiously guarded against the corridor losing its small business flavor. National chains like Gap, J. Crew and Lululemon might draw in visitors, but some worry the corridor risks becoming too bland to stand out and too costly for local shops and boutiques.

“I don’t think we’re there yet, where we really need to be worried we’re going to turn into the suburbs or North and Clybourn,” said Lee Crandell, executive director of the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce. “But we want to maintain that diversity.”

It started with Anthropologie exactly 10 years ago.