LINCOLN PARK — Lincoln Park's top shopping block has seen a recent resurgence as national retailers fill storefronts this spring.
Warby Parker, Marine Layer and Walgreens all opened their shops within a two-block stretch of West Armitage Avenue over the past month, and two more vacant storefronts have just been leased.
Also, a flower shop just replaced Oh, Olive in a garden space at 904 W. Armitage Ave.
It's been a great 2015 for the historic shopping district, which had struggled with numerous empty storefronts after the recession.
Warby Park and Marine Layer, two hip national retailers, opened next to each other at 849 and 851 W. Armitage Ave.
Marine Layer and Warby Parker opened side-by-side this spring. [DNAinfo/Paul Biasco]
This week, signs for two more businesses popped up in prime vacant storefronts: A custom furniture company, Interior Define, has plans to move from Wicker Park to 833 W. Armitage, which was formerly the Nike Training Club. Bevello, a women's clothing retailer, has plans to open at 837 W. Armitage.
"We think really cool things are happening on that stretch with other relevant brands like Bonobos, Marine Layer, Warby Parker and Tie Bar," said Rob Royer, founder of Interior Define.
Paul Biasco says national chains often follow successful local businesses:
Marine Layer's Lincoln Park location opened last weekend. [DNAinfo/Paul Biasco]
Royer hopes to open the Armitage location and showroom by Aug. 1.
"For us it's about great foot traffic, a really relevant customer walking by every day," he said. "The new showroom is going to really highlight what our brand is all about."
Royer's wife Monica Royer opened the first storefront of her online infant and toddler retailer Monica+Andy around the corner on Halsted in May 2014.
Marine Layer last weekend moved into an entirely new building built by New York-based developer Jenel Management Corp., replacing the former Hanig's Footwear.
The San Francisco-based company, now with two locations in Chicago (the other is in Bucktown), is known for its comfortable American-made products.
Lincoln Park "was one of the neighborhoods that felt very similar to our Chestnut Street [San Francisco] demo," said Meg Williams, who runs Marine Layer's brand management and creative direction. "These young families that seem to have their s--- together. That's a demographic that works for our stuff."
Williams said the company plays to a similar demographic as Warby Parker: "Warby Parker, we just idolize, they are such a cool company," she said.
Brian O'Donnell, who runs Armitage Hardware with his father, Dan O'Donnell, as well as a vacant storefront where a PNC bank was previously located, said the lease prices have been declining on the retail stretch.
"Square footage pricing is coming down, which I think is good," he said. "$70 or $80 per square foot on Armitage just doesn't make sense. $40 or $50 a square foot is going to become the norm."
There are still a number of vacancies on the block, including the former Homemade Pizza Company, Einstein's Bagels, Sweet Buddha candy shop and Intel popup at 901 W. Armitage Ave.
Matt Bercovitz, who runs Berco's Popcorn at 810 W. Armitage, said business hasn't picked up since the opening of the new retailers, but he is hopeful.
"It's getting better," he said. "Any time vacant stores get filled, it's good for retail. Whatever brings people to Armitage is good by me."
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
