🍽 ON THE PLATE
QXY Dumplings is opening in Wicker Park. The Chinatown spot known for its broth-filled XLB is bringing a second location to Milwaukee Ave. No address or date yet, but Block Club confirmed it's coming soon. Anyone who's made the Chinatown pilgrimage will be happy about this one.
Guillotine Bakery, West Town. Three French expats are finishing the buildout at 1711 W. Chicago Ave. Imported flour, imported butter, sourdoughs and croissants made the old way. Spring opening. The most buzzed-about bakery debut in the city right now.
Uncommon Ground is calling it. After 35 years in Lakeview, the owners are retiring. One of the city's original farm-to-table restaurants.
🌿 GET OUTSIDE
Kincade's is expanding to Wrigleyville. Forty years after opening in Lincoln Park, one of the neighborhood's original bars is adding a second location on Clark Street. The kind of news that hits different for anyone who's spent time there over the years.
QUICK HITS
2600 N. Clark broke ground. The long-vacant stretch at Clark and Wrightwood is officially under construction. Five stories, 48 units (10 affordable), 3,500 square feet of ground-floor retail with Foxtrot as the confirmed tenant. Developed by Initium Development, designed by SEEK Design + Architecture, with Alderman Knudsen at the groundbreaking. This block sat empty for years — it held Dunlay's On Clark, Dave's Records, and Affordable Portables before going dark. Multi-year build, but the corner is finally moving.
Something is coming to 1830 W. Fullerton. A $580,000 interior buildout permit dropped this week for a single-story retail space on Fullerton. That address is the former Chuck E. Cheese — which has been vacant for years. No license filing yet, no press. Watch this one.
See you next Friday — The 60614