Former Lincoln Square Lanes site will be new Kiddie Academy of Chicago (of course!)

Former site of Lincoln Square Lanes and Matty K's Hardware store at 4874 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL 60625

There goes the neighborhood... for sure! Gritty, iconic Lincoln Square Lanes, the beloved bowling alley of Lincoln Square since 1918, burned down September 2015.  The building demolished and the site has remained vacant since. Many of my family now in their 70s and 80s bowled here during their youth! I had my 30th surprise birthday party there.  Sigh. 

Report from 40th Ward Alderman O'Connor is a new Kiddie Academy of Chicago will be developed.  Childcare is a much needed service in the neighborhood but still... ouch LOL

Before the renovation the quirky dive bar/ bowling alley was home to a great old school jukebox where aging punks, neighbors, musicians and all around characters could drink cheap beer and roll some terrible scores! After the 2012 renovation the Lincoln Square Lanes maintained some grit but was even fun for the whole family offering video games, music and lots of screens to watch the games.

Typical chocolate martini drinking clientele of Lincoln Square Lanes.  St. Matthias School families were big supporters of our local "go to" sports bar. 

There have been many condo units built near the Lincoln Lanes site over the past 10 years.  30 condo units have been sold along 4800 N - 5200 N Lincoln Ave over the last 12 months.  The median price of a closed condo is $560,000. 

More news and photos HERE

Kiddie Academy building construction at old Lincoln Lanes site, Lincoln Square

A new Kiddie Academy takes full shape at 4847 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago IL 60625. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

The new Kiddie Academy of Chicago has taken shape at the prominent bend once occupied by Lincoln Lanes and Matty K's Hardware.  A photo I took of the old building the morning of the fire is below.

A terrible day for our neighbors and the loss of local history and a good sports bar.

Here's my post from last June with more info and photo links of the Kiddie Academy news and the Lincoln Lanes fire of 2015.

An earlier photo of the construction looking northwest down North Lincoln Avenue along the bend.

The site is adjacent to a McDonald's drive-thru. I'd hoped this whole corner home to an older McDonald's store and the vacant Lincoln Lanes lots would have been redeveloped together. In related news McDonald's projects and 300% spike in Happy Meal sales by 2020.

A McDonald's store shares a parking lot with the Kiddie Academy development.

PHOTOS: Massive fire guts Lincoln Square Lanes, neighbors mourning loss of favorite hangout

The historic Lincoln Square Lanes, open since 1918, smolders at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Western this morning. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

Lincoln Square Lanes located at 4874 N Lincoln Avenue, Chicago IL 60625 has been destroyed by a massive fire. Our community woke up to the sirens and the news that a neighborhood favorite bar and bowling alley since 1918 had completely burned down.  I gathered with dozens of neighbors and friends after our school drop off this morning to witness the seen and the traffic chaos it created.

Looking southwest from Lincoln and Western.

Traffic looking south down North Western Avenue this morning from West Winnemac Avenue.  The normally heavy morning traffic was exasperated by the shut down of Lincoln Avenue. Smoke still billows from the bowling alley.

Many trucks and firefighters on the seen.

News trucks were staged all around the intersection. One neighbor and friend spoke with the owner of Matty K's Hardware (destroyed on the ground floor) while another spoke with a Lincoln Square Lanes manager.

Firefighters tear off the northeast cornice. The entire roof of the building completely collapsed.

The destruction of the business is very sad in many ways.  It truly was a meeting place for so many neighbors and their families.  The remodeled bar and restaurant offered tons of space to gather for Packers/ Bears, March Madness, countless kids' bowling parties, live Karaoke and bands.  It was a perfect location near bus and CTA Brown Line for friends living further south. Obviously, it is a livelihood for the owner and employees.

It was also the familiar retail anchor and gateway to the developing North Lincoln Avenue between Western and Foster. Many new condo units have been built over the last several years along the strip. House and condo owners along with the many apartment renters could walk over as regulars. It may take years to sort out and redevelop the prominent corner in a highly desirable neighborhood.

After basketball drinks at Lincoln Lanes.

Photo! New look Lincoln Lanes gets sign to match

The new sign gets hoisted up at Lincoln Lanes today in Lincoln Square.

Image courtesy of neighbor Chouinard Photogrphy

Some of us miss the old gritty bowling alley and bar layout...  and attitude.  But people are also happy with the large, expansive layout, multiple TVs for sports and great food and drink specials post renovation.

Children's Memorial development saga close to an end in Lincoln Park

The last community meeting led to "intense negotiations" for the stalled Children's Memorial Hospital site sale and development in Lincoln Park.  According to Michele Smith, 43rd Ward Alderman, the new plan is being submitted to the Chicago Plan Commission on February 20th. 

There are several changes listed that scale down the development again...which I find disappointing for this location.  Another stinky change: "Tenants and owners at the new development will be ineligible for residential or guest permits, thus preserving the limited street parking for existing residents".  This creates two classes of citizens.  NEW renters in existing properties get parking permits but new development owners and tenants (who could have lived in the permit zone already) will be excluded.  There's a lesson for all you new to Chicago city planning. 

Way to go. Here's the update letter below we received from the 43rd Ward Alderman's office:

Former Lincoln Square Lanes property FOR SALE $1.75 million

4874 N Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Square (photo Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty)

A fire last August gutted popular Lincoln Square Lanes bowling alley and bar. The property had to be torn down and the land was cleared.  Just a short while ago reports suggested the property owner was undecided what their next steps would be.

Reports today from Patty Wetli DNAinfo.com show the property at 4874 North Lincoln Avenue is listed for sale on the commercial site LoopNet.com for $1.75 million.

 Patty Wetli asks, "What would you like to see there?"
Two floor Beercade? Condos with businesses on ground floor? Nail spa? I know, hair salon? No, no... Real estate office?

Tropical Smoothie Cafe to open in Lincoln Square Kiddie Academy building

A "Now Hiring" sign at the Lincoln Square location of Tropical Smoothie Cafe at 4847 N Lincoln Avenue.  The restaurant was to open in April and shares the new construction building with Kiddie Academy 

We passed the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe on one of our walks this week in Lincoln Square.  The location shares the new construction building with Kiddie Academy where beloved Lincoln Lanes once stood.  It was the first time my wife and I noticed the cafe was coming to town.  It is unclear if the restaurant will still open this month as scheduled. We're looking forward to checking it out when it opens up.

The new Kiddie Academy and Tropical Smoothie Cafe

The building is adjacent to the busy McDonald's. Parents will have to fight off their kids' Happy Meal cravings... the smoothies may come in handy.  I know many neighbors were disappointed a daycare replaced their local neighborhood bowling alley and Matty K's Hardware. Now the spot features two national franchises. When the vacant lot was for sale I was hopeful the entire corner lot shared with the McDonald's would get a re-design with a larger multifaceted development including residential units. 

The McDonald's plaza adjacent to the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe and Kiddie Academy building.  The large surface parking lot is an eyesore. I hoped the whole plaza would get redeveloped with a larger multi-use concept and residential units.

Chase Bank, Sears redevelopments moving ahead along Lawrence Avenue, Lincoln Square

The large Chase branch at 1825 West Lawrence is closed for re-development.  The 166 unit residential development was approved back in 2017. The 47th Wrad Aldeman Matt Martin suggested construction will start in the fall. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

West Lawrence Avenue in Lincoln Square has seen a resurgence of development since the "road diet" changes reduced it to a manageable two lanes from a frenzied four lanes. Over the past five years many residential units have been completed along West Lawrence between Ashland and Western and many more are in the works. Newer businesses over the past five years like Roots, The Sixth, Iris and Steven Poldosky Family Center, Borellis Pizza, Marianos, El Dorado #2 and L.A. Fitness have prospered.

As a nearby resident and home owner I love the Lawrence Avenue road diet and the subsequent development. Density has made Lawrence Ave more lively and infrastructure improvements more pedestrian friendly. Prior to the corona-virus shutdown I attended a Greater Ravneswood Chamber of Commerce panel with 47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin.  Among many things the Alderman addressed a few of the developments along Lawrence Avenue.

The Chase Bank branch at 1825 West Lawrence is now empty. A smaller branch was built adjacent to the east.

Chase Bank redevelopment:  Alderman Martin suggested the Chase Bank property development at 1825 W Lawrence (pictured above) is schedule to break ground in earnest this fall. That will bring 166 new residential housing units to the strip nearly adjacent to the Ravenswood Metra station.

The old Sears building at 1900 West Lawrence Avenue. Photo taken during this March.

Sears/ DeVry development: Construction at the old Sears building had stopped some time after the New Year.  The developer basically "ran out of money". However new financing was attained and construction continued in March. The building will house DeVry University and add 59 new residential apartments.

The play-lot at McPherson Elementary in Lincoln Square. A new turf field addition is planned for the school.

McPherson Elementary: McPherson is a neighborhood Chicago Public School serving Lincoln Square. The school is to build a new turf field as part of $1.4 million in state funds coming it way. McPherson is working hard to achieve 1+ status among several nearby top ranked schools. A 1+ rated school district is a boon to local real estate prices.