Revisiting Milwaukee Avenue: Wicker Park’s spirit is still alive

Wicker Park has been a vacation spot for vacationers and Chicagoans alike for many years, however most of the companies that outlined the neighborhood’s impartial spirit are lengthy gone.

What’s occurring: After Walgreens vacated the long-lasting outdated financial institution constructing late final month, I made a decision to spend a Saturday strolling Milwaukee Avenue to see how a lot it is modified because the final time I walked it, in 2021.

Why it issues: This stretch, between North Avenue and Division Road, is taken into account Chicago’s impartial heartbeat, birthing different rock actions and serving as a respite for generations who frolicked at espresso and classic retailers like they have been second houses.

Flashback: As somebody who remembers the early days at Double Door and the 2001 protests towards “The Actual World” (when castmates lived within the former Urbus Orbis constructing), I do know very effectively about what has been misplaced in Wicker Park.

• I, too, bemoaned the chain shops transferring into the neighborhood that fought so onerous to maintain them out.

Sure, however: Revisiting my outdated haunts, I discovered that many longtime staples, like Myopic Books, Bongo Room and Ragstock, are nonetheless in enterprise. Reckless Data, too.

• After-hours golf equipment like Debonair and Nick’s Beer Backyard are thriving too, although the Double Door has been a Yeti retailer for some time now.
• And whereas there are a number of empty storefronts within the space — many a reminder of the pandemic’s impression — the spirit of this stretch remains to be alive.

As an example: Earwax Cafe could also be gone, however Wormhole was bustling.

• Silver Room is now in Hyde Park, however I loved looking at Una Mae’s.
• All of us miss Busy Bee (technically off North Damen Avenue), however you may nonetheless discover nice meals from small companies, like Bru Chicago’s breakfast rice crepes.

There have been additionally loads of new spots I hadn’t but checked out.

• The plant-based restaurant Bloom is, er, blooming. The stretch additionally options the Neighborly pop-up and a brand new store known as Wanna Socks, which sells, what else, designer socks.

In the meantime, the site visitors remains to be horrendous. Milwaukee Avenue is a car parking zone on a Saturday afternoon, however most Chicagoans have already got their workaround (ahem, Wabansia).

The underside line: Milwaukee Avenue won’t ever dwell as much as its Nineties billing.

• However it nonetheless stands out as a novel stretch of Chicago, good for taking part in vacationer in your individual metropolis.