By Mary Corrado
Editor
Six new tenants will fill approximately 15,000 sq. ft. of corner building retail space in the changing Uptown neighborhood. Annoyance Theater will build a theater to suit them at a location they've had their eyes on for years. National tenants Bank One, Charter One Bank and Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches are all setting up shop, and Curves Fitness is a step ahead of them. A modern Indian restaurant will brighten the neighborhood as well.
"There is a surge of interest in Uptown right now," said Chris Irwin of Century 21 Sussex & Reilly. "People are discovering that it's near the lake and has good transportation and interesting architecture—and land can still be had at a good price. Businesses are moving in because they see there are a lot of people living in the area, people who need services, who are looking for a basic restaurant as opposed to just a hot dog stand."
Visitors to Uptown are potential customers too. Roughly 70 nights a year the Aragon Theater, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., attracts 3,500 to 4,500 people. The Riviera, 4746 N. Racine Ave., also draws crowds.
The Borders Books Music & Café, located in the old Goldblatt's, 4718 N. Broadway, opened in the spring and has accelerated development; so has the progress on the Wilson Yard Plan which will bring theaters, a big box store, several storefronts, housing for seniors and more, transforming Broadway from Wilson to Montrose avenues. Along Wilson Ave. one now sees Starbucks, Subway and 40 new condos at Magnolia Ave.
The Chicago-based Annoyance Theater and Production Company, established in 1987, has found a new home, leasing 4,561 sq. ft at 4840 N. Broadway (corner of Gunnison St.) with occupancy expected September or October. The group has been hoping to find a location in Uptown for several years. "Uptown has a great history and entertainment background," said Jennifer Estlin, director of development and production, "and it's started picking up in terms of development."
Back in 2000 Annoyance Theater lost its space at 3747 N. Clark St., and at that time they began seeking a spot in Uptown. The building they are about to occupy was actually available then. "At that time the owner wanted to make it an entirely commercial building, and the rent was too expensive," Estlin said. Annoyance then rented a space at 3036 N. Lincoln Ave. on the third floor, but due to zoning the group could only hold training classes and not productions. Recently the group has been using an office on Talman Ave., running acting classes for adults out of St. Alphonsus School, and staging productions in various venues. (Currently the group is presenting "Dick O'Day's Big Lovely Liberry" at 7 p.m. each Tuesday at The Green Mill, 4802 N. Broadway, for $6 a ticket.)
The current owner of the space at 4840 N. Broadway is planning commercial use of the ground floor only (three storefronts) and this has helped the rent to be more in line with Annoyance's budget. They plan to take the basic shell and build a 90-100 seat theater. "With the new location, we can be back in full production mode," said Estlin, "and we may hold classes for teens as well as for adults. Ald. Mary Ann Smith (48th) wants to turn this area into an entertainment area."
Newly formed, local entrepreneur Lazeez, a modern Indian restaurant with authentic flavors, has leased 2,750 sq. ft. at the same location as Annoyance.
Bank One leased 2,800 sq. ft. at 1101 W. Lawrence Ave. (corner of Winthrop Ave.), with occupancy planned for August. Charter One Bank leased 2,400 sq. ft. at 1225-27 W. Wilson Ave. (corner of Magnolia Ave.) with occupancy planned this July.
Curves Fitness has settled into 1,200 sq. ft. at 1144 W. Wilson Ave. (corner of Racine Ave.). Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches took another 1,200 sq. ft. at 1148 W. Wilson Ave. and opened June 22. "We're excited about being in the neighborhood and we've had quite a good response so far," manager Cameron Giles told Inside. "Business is great." The shop offers both eat-in and delivery of gourmet sandwiches.
Remaining available spaces in these buildings include the 4,000-sq. ft. corner space at 4840 N. Broadway and 1,400 sq. ft. at 1101 W. Lawrence Ave. |
