WICKER PARK — New restaurants and real estate developments — along with efforts to preserve historic buildings — got neighbors talking over another busy year in Wicker Park, Bucktown and Ukrainian Village.
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1. So.Many.New.Restaurants. Also, Cafes and Bars: La Colombe, next to the CTA Damen Blue Line "L" station, opened in January — but don't expect to find WiFi at the coffee shop. The city's first food truck, Tamale Spaceship, set up permanent roots. The owners of Big Star expanded the taco bar's patio in August and unveiled Dove's Luncheonette, a new diner, in September. Umami Burger, a West Coast-based chain known for its savory "fifth taste," opened this fall.
More restaurant newcomers: Links Taproom (January); Sticky Rice Chiang Mai (February); The Winchester (February); Stan's Donuts (February); Koko's Mediterranean Grill (February); A Baker's Tale (March); Banh Mi & Co. (May); Jus Juus (May); Craft Pizza (June); Max's Wine Dive (June); Whisk (June); Awake Cafe (June); 5411 Empanadas (July); Bee & Tea (July); Authentaco (August); The Hat (August); Bordel (August); The Big State (September); Rick Bayless's Xoco Wicker Park outpost (September); El Metro (September); Tarboush Grill (September); Kanela Breakfast Club (October); Kokopelli (October); Mish Grill (October); Geek Bar Beta (October); Infineteus Rocks and Juice (October); Barley & Brass (November); Roxie's Pizza By the Slice (November); Mr. Kite's Chocolate (November); 24 Karrots (December); Izakaya Mita (December).
Restaurant closures: Chickpea (January); Storefront Company (February); Prasino (August); Flat Iron Grill (October); Red Hen (December); Takashi (set to close Dec. 31).
2. Can This Building Be Saved? An 1880s-era wood frame storefront, covered in vinyl siding, was saved from demolition. Within the next few months, the renovated building at 1501 N. Milwaukee Ave. will be home to Bom Bolla, a sparkling Spanish wine bar.
Neighbors rallied to preserve a "side yard" at 2119 W. LeMoyne Ave., next to an old greystone home. The home's owner argued that the yard was a vacant lot that could be developed for a new single-family home, while members of the Landmark Commission's permit review committee determined the yard was a historic, protected landscape.
3. Two Problematic Intersections Get TLC: The Milwaukee, Wolcott and Wood intersection finally got a makeover. New stoplights and a realignment of the street were completed in July.
Bucktown's often-clogged Damen, Elston and Fullerton intersection will see the bulk of its work completed in the coming year, though many businesses, such as WhirlyBall, have already relocated because of upcoming demolitions necessary for the re-routing of Elston Avenue.
4. Bidding Goodbye to Beloved Bars: Club Foot, a popular East Village dive bar, closed in November. Wicker Park's Beachwood Inn, which has a sale under contract, could be sold in January, according to co-owner Bob Stepien, who said the hype surrounding the bar's imminent end and a farewell party in October were "a bit premature."
Silver Cloud, a popular spot for comfort food at 1700 N. Damen Ave., closed abruptly in August. SmallBar's Division Street outpost, initially known for being a soccer bar, shuttered in November, a week before another Division Street staple, Moonshine, closed, too.
5. Centerpiece of the '606' Project Forges Ahead: The Bloomingdale Trail, a 2.7-mile elevated path running through Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square and Humboldt Park, is on track to open this summer.
In December, arches were installed over a bridge where the trail crosses Milwaukee Avenue.
Though the trail has not opened yet, some folks are already looking ahead to "Phase Two," where a plan to extend the elevated path over the Chicago River could connect the trail to Lincoln Park.
6. Gutter Punk Population Dwindles: Efforts to discourage homeless youth known as travelers or "gutter punks" from panhandling in Wicker Park and increased police patrols resulted in a quieter summer.
7. Independently Owned Retail Shops Relocate: City Soles, an anchor at the Milwaukee, Damen and North avenue intersection, announced in October that it would be moving its shoe store to a vacant storefront that once served as part of the exterior set for the film based on Nick Hornby's "High Fidelity."
Reckless Records has long been renting a store at 1532 N. Milwaukee Ave., which was bought by a NYC-based investor in 2013. To ensure the shop's future in Wicker Park, Charles Taylor, the founder of the London-based chain, bought an entire building at 1379 N. Milwaukee Ave. Billed as a Reckless Mega store, the two-story shop will offer more room for digging through vinyl and in-store performances when it opens next year.
Stitch, a go-to spot for home furnishings and leather goods, relocated to 1937 N. Damen Ave. shortly after the new year.
Retail closures: Clothes Minded (February); Rudy's Round-Up (August); Tangerine (August); Le Dress (September).
8. Northwest Tower Hotel Renovation: A 12-story vintage office building, the Northwest Tower, is being converted into a boutique hotel set to open in Spring 2016 (yes, that's the spring after this spring).
A concrete barrier to protect pedestrians from construction went up in June and has narrowed a lane of traffic, resulting in "no parking" along the block as the $22 million rehab project continues.
9. Trader Joes a No-Go at Corner of Honore, Division: A plan to bring a Trade Joe's to a former lumber yard on Division St. fell through in July after months of talks between the developer and community residents.
10. CTA Unveils a Rehabbed Damen 'L' Station. After a 63-day closure, a newly renovated station opened on Dec. 22, offering a fresh, updated look but no elevator for folks who use wheelchairs or have difficulty using stairs. The station also opened with an incorrect address, an error that dates back to the 70s and has since been updated, CTA officials said.
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