A small town feel within the big city — that’s how many people would refer to the Lincoln Square community. Located about 10 miles north of downtown Chicago, Lincoln Square is made up of the smaller neighborhoods of Ravenswood Gardens, Bowmanville, Budlong Woods and Rosehill Cemetery.
THE HISTORY
Founded in the 1840s, German immigrants were drawn to the prairie and farmland that existed there. Other farmers, including seasonal Polish and Eastern European workers, were drawn there due to the production of flowers, pickles and celery, which led to distribution of celery crops. Seeing an opportunity, the Budlong brothers also opened a pickle factory and greenhouse, which all came together as a perfect storm that drew many people to the area. Then, in the early 1900s, came the creation of taverns, hotels and electric street cars. The rest, as they say, was history, as neighborhood growth boomed, to the point where it was annexed in the city of Chicago in the 1920s. Farmland turned to bungalows, two-flats, apartments and more of what you see in the neighborhood today.
WHAT TO EXPECT
This inviting neighborhood walks the line between being a metropolitan area and a cozy, tight-knit community with green-lined streets tucked behind the busy crossroads. The neighborhood centers around the actual Lincoln Square, the middle of town where the pedestrian-friendly Lincoln Avenue is
lined with restaurants, stores and a statue of Abraham Lincoln himself. You will also find other town squares and parks throughout the neighborhood, including River Park, Winnemac Park and Welles Park, to name just a few.
“I think it’s got the village-effect atmosphere with the commercial shopping district, nice restaurants, mom and pop stores, train station, parks and amenities for everybody,” Brian Connolly, @properties, said.
The crossroads of Lawrence and Western Avenues, plus the Brown Line stop only a few blocks away, are a reminder that this quiet neighborhood is still part of the big, bustling city just a few miles away.
Stephanie Cutter of Coldwell Banker Realty said this is one of the features that continues to draw people to the area. “It’s on the Brown Line, so it’s not a surprise that neighborhoods along those lines grow and remain desirable.”
ON-THE-RISE FOODIE DESTINATION
You don’t need a passport to get tastes from around the globe; all you need to do is walk through the Lincoln Square archway. Cuisines from Argentina, Greece, Mexico, Thailand and Germany, to name
a few, can be found within a short walk of the neighborhood center. Gene’s Sausage Shop and Delicatessen and Pannenkoeken Cafe are a throwback to the immigrants who first established the land. Gene’s Sausage Shop is a gourmet European market and delicatessen. The downstairs sells over 40 types of sausages in the market, and the upstairs is an airy rooftop beer and wine garden with a menu featuring food from the downstairs market. Pannenhoeken Cafe is a go-to spot for breakfast featuring traditional Dutch sweet and savory pancakes.
Classic American spots like Café Selmarie and Gather are the go-to places for family-style dinners and wine. Café Selmarie is an establishment of the neighborhood and a hot spot for not only celebrations, but also an approachable spot to stop in for lunch. Gather is a local haven with a warm atmosphere where half the dining room is held for walk-in gatherings.
Just down the street, you will also find places like Artango Bar & Steakhouse, Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe, The Sixth and Baker Miller for food and drinks. You will even find Michelin star restaurants like Goosefoot and Elizabeth Restaurant. If variety is the spice you’re looking for in life, you won’t have to look any farther than Lincoln Square.
SHOP TILL YOU DROP
The mix of old and new may be most visible in the neighborhood’s shopping options. Timeless Toys on Lincoln Avenue has been standing tall for more than two decades. Selling unique toys that can’t be found in big box stores, this store is a child’s haven.
Merz Apothecary has been a landmark since 1875. Carrying natural health products, this location was established by a Peter Merz, a Swiss immigrant who wanted to serve his fellow Europeans in the area. Walking into this store, you still get the old world feel that the apothecary has held on to since its opening.
ARTS & CULTURE
Landmarks of Lincoln Square also include multiple arts-focused establishments. Music classes are held
at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Musicians of all ages, skillsets and instruments can take a class, schedule repairs for their equipment and shop for all their music needs. The Davis Theater, formally the Pershing Theater, was founded in 1918 and currently plays movies. It is also the longest operating
theater in the city of Chicago.
The German heritage of this neighborhood is also celebrated in parades, festivals and the DANK Haus German American cultural center, a single gallery museum used for events. The annual Von Steuben German Day Parade goes through the neighborhood every September to celebrate the accomplishments of Baron Friedrich von Steuben.
HOUSING SNAPSHOT
Lincoln Squares’ diversity doesn’t stop when looking at the homes in the area. Two and three-flat buildings dominate a majority of the area, but if you’re looking for something a little different, you will still be able to find it here. Victorian era and prairie style homes can be found within the treelined streets of the neighborhood along the north branch of the Chicago River.
New construction has also been popping up as of recently, including single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums. “Lincoln Square feels like it has more elbow room than other neighborhoods in the area,” Cutter said.
Not only are the houses diverse, so are the people that live there. “We get empty nesters who want to stay in the city, young couples starting families, just a lot of variety,” Connolly said.
Come to Lincoln Square to get the best of both worlds: the old and new, the city but also the small town feel and so much more