LINCOLN PARK — San Francisco-based clothing retailer Marine Layer is set to open its first Chicago shop in Lincoln Park before the end of the year.
The store, which sells products made in San Francisco and focuses on an environmentally conscious products, plans to open at 849 W. Armitage Ave.
The storefront will be a part of a new development by New York-based Jenel Management Corp. in the former Hanig's Footwear building.
The developer received the green light to tear down the building during a Monday meeting of the city's committee on zoning, landmarks and building standards.
The existing three-story building includes residential on the second and third floors.
The developer plans to build four apartments on the top floors of the new building, according to Joseph Dushey, vice president of leasing and acquisitions for Jenel.
"They are going to be beautiful apartments," he said. "A beautiful building."
Marine Layer now has five stores, all on the West Coast.
The company specializes in "perfectly soft" shirts made from a custom fabric blend.
Marine Layer's shops are in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Venice Beach and Portland, Ore.
The current building at 849 W. Armitage sits in the Armitage-Halsted Historic District and required city approval to be demolished.
Ald. Michele Smith (43rd) supported the plan and the landmark's commission voted unanimously in favor Monday.
Dushey said he hopes to have the three-story development complete in six to nine months.
"We are going to start building very shortly," he said.
The developer bought the building for $1.2 million in October, according to Cook County records.
“I think it’s a very diverse area and I feel that its an area where the values are very solid right now," Dushey said. "The price going in is the right price.”
Hanig's closed in December.
The shoe company has three other Chicago locations — one at 2754 N. Clark Street, another at 1000 W. North Avenue and one in the John Hancock Center — as well as one suburban location.
