LAKEVIEW — Construction is moving right along on the six-story mixed-use development next to the Belmont "L" stop, and the two ground-level retail tenants are secured and scheduled to open in the spring, according to Mitch Goltz, an owner at the building's development company GW Properties.
The first floor of the building at 945 W. Belmont Ave. will be split into two 2,000-square-foot retail shops. One spot will be home to the fourth Devil Dawg's location in the city (but the first in Lakeview), and the other will serve as the first Chicago location of the Milwaukee-based coffee shop Stone Creek Coffee.
The six-story development will be at 945 W. Belmont Ave. [Provided/44th Ward]
Goltz said both retailers are a good fit for the location because food tends to do well in the area.
"They'll be right off the train, so there's a lot of consistent foot traffic," he said. "Coffee can be grab-and-go in the morning, and burgers, hot dogs and shakes appeal to the audience in that area."
Devil Dawgs owner Alan Katz said his restaurant suits the location because it can be quick, and he's making it easier than ever to grab something and go.
"It's the second busiest train station in Chicago, and based on our history and our demographics, plus we'll be serving breakfast, too, now, I think it's a great thing for the riders," Katz said. "They can use their phone app to order, and they can pick it up when their train arrives."
Drew Pond, managing director and co-owner of Milwaukee's Stone Creek Coffee, said moving to Chicago is a natural part of his business' progression, and the spot at 945 W. Belmont seemed like a great fit.
"It was just a really great spot for us in terms of traffic, and this is the area of Chicago we wanted to start in," Pond said. "Since we're in Milwaukee, being on the North Side of Chicago makes a lot of sense for us logistically. And the particular neighborhood and being right there by the train was a situation we felt would really work out well for us."
Pond said it's a goal for Stone Creek Coffee to open three locations in Chicago by 2020. This location is their first and the only one so far where a storefront has been secured.
The planned facade for 945 W. Belmont Ave. [Provided/44th Ward]
Goltz said the two businesses will open sometime this coming spring, and applications for the 33 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments will start to be accepted in the summer for move-ins next fall. So far, rents have not been finalized.
