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Violin Maker Must Leave 'Rapid Transit' Building After $1.25 Million Sale

By Alisa Hauser | September 21, 2016 5:04pm
 Paul Wargaski Violins is moving by Oct. 1, 2016.  The luthier's new spot has not yet been announced.
Paul Wargaski Violins is Moving
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BUCKTOWN/WICKER PARK — Though the Rapid Transit Cycleshop exit from Wicker Park last year was well publicized, another tenant in the same 1890s-era building at the northwest corner of North and Wolcott avenues is moving on, too.

Paul Wargaski Violins, which makes, repairs and rents violins and other instruments, operates a studio on the third floor of a building once anchored by Rapid Transit Cycleshop at 1900 W. North Ave.

On Wednesday, Paul Wargaski said he plans to move out by the end of the month and relocate to a larger space, still in Wicker Park.

Wargaski said the relocation was prompted by the sale of the three-story building to new owners, who plan to renovate it and need all of the upper floor tenants to move. 

 A 3-story building at 1900 W. North Ave. in Wicker Park/Bucktown.
1900 W. North Ave.
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The building — one block east of the Damen, Milwaukee and North avenues intersection — is located along a stretch of North Avenue that both Bucktown and Wicker Park boosters lay claim.

Since the arrangements of the new spot are not finalized, Wargaski could not say where in Wicker Park he's moving but called the necessary relocation "good timing."

"We are expanding and needed more space," Wargaski said.

According to real estate agent Harry Maisel, the building was sold for $1,250,000 to "Wolcott North LLC" last month.

State records show that developers Peter Slaven and Michael Slaven are the new owners of the building.

Michael Slaven said that he and his brother, Peter, along with Wicker Park-based architecture firm Mastro & Skylar, "plan to renovate the apartments and retail space while preserving the historic character of the building exterior." 

Maisel said that the Slavens liked the vintage building because it is unique and "at a prominent corner in Bucktown."

Elsewhere on North Avenue, the Slaven brothers also own 1837 and 1852 W. North Ave., home to retail tenants The Pasta Bowl and Pure Barre, respectively.

"We know the neighborhood well and are excited about this opportunity to add another great restaurant or retailer to the street," Slaven said.

Currently there is no tenant tapped to replace Rapid Transit Cycleshop, but once the corner storefront is renovated, Slaven said that Amy Sider of Cushman & Wakefield will work to fill the spot.

Meanwhile, during an eventful half hour on Wednesday, Wargaski fielded several phone calls, rented out a violin to a 7-year-old boy and took in the return of a rented bass from Pavel Peroutka, a member of the Czech Republic based bluegrass band, The Malina Brothers.

A spokeswoman for The Malina Brothers said that they needed to rent a bass for Peroutka during their just-ended summer tour because the instrument is too heavy to ship, plus it could get damaged in transit.

Paul Wargaski Violins opened in 2006.

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