The Chicago neighborhood known as Wrigleyville is not only the home of the Chicago Cubs but also a fun and vibrant area filled with many bars, restaurants, sports stores and more! Located about 5 miles north of The Loop, Wrigleyville is part of the central Lakeview neighborhood and is named for historic Wrigley Field which, when built in 1914, drew thousands of people to the area.
Be sure to check out all of our self-guided walking tours of Chicago.
This self-guided tour takes you 1.3 miles north along North Clark Street, and includes 10 stops, but be sure to enjoy all that this neighborhood has to offer!
To get to the starting point by the L system, take the Red, Brown, or Purple Line to the Belmont Stop and head east to begin the adventure.
;
1. Ragstock 812 W. Belmont Ave.
Head east off of the Belmont Stop towards N. Clark Street. Just past the Belmont/Clark intersection you will start to see large signs saying “Ragstock Upstairs”. Follow these signs to enter the eclectic store that has been fulfilling the costume and wardrobe needs of the younger generation for over 25 years. Based out of Milwaukee, this store carries half vintage or “recycled”, half new clothing options. With more than fair prices, this store is the busiest during the Halloween season but remains a staple to fulfill your Christmas Sweater needs.
2. Strange Cargo 3448 N. Clark St.
From Ragstock take a right on Belmont, cross to the west side of N. Clark Street, and take a right to head north. In 0.4 miles you will stumble upon Strange Cargo. Going on year 33, this Chicago classic is run by two brothers. Through traveling the country, these brothers discovered the best in vintage fashion that has inspired their own store. Inside you will find a variety of Chicago merchandise and accessories, as well as random trinkets such as “Saved by the Bell” trading cards. The friendly staff of this store pride themselves on their same day custom printing. Strange Cargo provides one-of-a-kind shirts, appropriate for any occasion!
3. Lucky’s Sandwich Co. 3472 N. Clark St.
Continue north on N. Clark Street a couple hundred feet until you reach Lucky’s Sandwich Company. As seen on the Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food, stop in here to give the Lucky’s Challenge a shot. Finish three sandwiches in an hour, following all the rules, for your picture to be on the wall of fame. Plus, you get a t-shirt and your sandwiches are free of charge! These overstuffed sandwiches are piled high with meat, cheese, tomatoes, french fries, and coleslaw. This popular sandwich shop also offers daily beer specials and a full bar. So grab a seat at one of their numerous high top tables as you enjoy a rather big bite to eat.
4. Sluggers World Class Sports Bar 3540 N. Clark St.
As you work your way further north one block on N. Clark Street, you will discover Sluggers World Class Sports Bar. A Wrigleyville classic establishment since 1985, this sports bar goes above and beyond just showing a game or two. Watch all the action on massive HD screens and more than 30 TV’s. Then make your way to the second story to partake in the action yourself with a sports complex featuring batting cages, air hockey, a trampoline, skee-ball, and a host of other arcade games. In case that is not enough, Sluggers also features dueling pianos that play for the crowds every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night.
5. The Cubby Bear 1059 W Addison St.
A couple of doors over from Sluggers, you will discover The Cubby Bear. Located right across the street from Wrigley Field, this is a classic post-game party spot to celebrate the Cubs. Beyond just baseball season, live music and DJ’s, five full service bars, and 30,000 square feet of space have made this a year round favorite. As a Chicago staple since 1953, this bar is one of the most famous landmarks north of The Loop, and has been voted as one of the best sports bars by Sports Illustrated.
6. Wrigley Field 1060 W. Addison St.
Across the street you will find yourself standing before the historic Wrigley Field, taking up an entire and unusual city block. The building of Wrigley Field in 1914 began to change this formerly working-class neighborhood into what it is today. This park was initially named Weeghman Park, and was home to the Chicago Whales. This baseball team disintegrated after the 1915 season, and the Cubs played their first game in their new stadium on April 20, 1916. The field was renamed Cubs Park from 1920-1926, before being renamed once again to Wrigley Field in 1927. From 1921 to 1970, Wrigley field was shared by the Cubs and the Chicago Bears.
This is the second oldest baseball stadium in the major leagues, after Fenway Park in Boston, but remains the oldest park in the National League. Wrigley Field was the last park to install lights in 1988, after being told they would not be able to host post-season games without them. Some of the most unique features of this ballpark include the ivy covered outfield wall, and the scoreboard that is still hand-turned. With a seating capacity of 41,268, this ballpark is holds many loyal fans who have waited over a century to see their team win another World Series.
Surrounding the ballpark are four statues to honor individuals who helped make the Cubs who they are today.
- Billy Williams Statue (2010) Find Billy Williams at the corner of Sheffield Avenue and Addison Street. This Hall of Famer played outfield and first base for the Cubs from 1959 to 1974.
- Ernie Banks Statue (2008) Ernie Banks, affectionately known as “Mr. Cub,” played shortstop and first base for the Cubs from 1953 to 1971. This Hall of Famer was located at the corner of Clark and Addison but might be relocated due to renovations.
- Harry Caray Statue (1999) Harry Caray ended his career as a dynamic broadcaster for the Cubs for 16 years starting in the season of 1982. His statue is located at the corner of Waveland and Sheffield Avenue.
- Ron Santo Statue (2011) This most recent addition to the statues is for Hall of Famer Ron Santo, third baseman for the Cubs from 1960 to 1973. After his career as a player, Santo was a broadcaster for the Cubs for 21 years. Find him on the corner of Sheffield Avenue. and Addison Street.
If you would like to see the inside of Wrigley without attending a game, you can take a guided tour for$25 per person. For information on a tour of Wrigley Field, click here.
7. Metro Bar and Smart Bar 3730 N. Clark St.
After circling the ballpark to get a glimpse of all the statues, continue north on N. Clark Street past Waveland Avenue. Along this block you will find the music venue that is home to both Metro and Smart Bar. This beautiful building was first built in 1927 as a Swedish Community Center, and was opened in 1982 as the concert hall and dance club that it is today. With the intention of showcasing local and regional musicians, as well as bringing good dance music to the city, the founder Joe Shanahan opened Metro and Smart Bar. Buy tickets to Metro to hear live music, and then head downstairs to Smart Bar to dance the night away until the early hours of the morning.
8. Uncommon Ground 3800 N. Clark St.
One block north on N. Clark Street is Uncommon Ground. This eatery is a great option for any meal. With outdoor seating during the warm months, and cozy fireplaces for the chillier months, this is a popular spot during any time of the year. Providing a complete menu full of seasonal comfort food, this place is known for local and organic ingredients. Combine your meal with a local craft beer, organic cocktail, or glass of wine from the American wine list.
9. Nuts on Clark 3830 N. Clark St.
Work your way north a couple more buildings until you reach the family run classic. You won’t be able to miss the sign for Nuts on Clark. Started in 1979 by Herbert Kenney and his wife Estelle, this Chicago favorite produces the best popcorn flavors with fresh ingredients. This family business provides excellent service and will ship popcorn across the continental United States. Stop in to grab their famous Caramel corn and Cheese corn mix to snack on as you make your way to the final stop.
10. Graceland Cemetery 4001 N. Clark St.
Continue north on North Clark Street to reach the final destination of this tour, Graceland Cemetery. Just past Irving Park Road you will see the steal iron gate that guards the final resting place for many of Chicago’s most famous residents. This peaceful, park-like cemetery was built in 1860, and remains an active cemetery today. The land for this private cemetery was first purchased by Chicago lawyer Thomas Bryan. Bryan hired landscape architect H.W.S. Cleveland to design the cemetery.
Known as the “Cemetery of Architects,” other prominent people, such as William Le Baron Jenney, continued to develop this plot of land, creating it into a serene escape. Some notable figures buried here include Louis Sullivan (architect), Marshall Fields (businessman), Ernie Banks (Cubs Hall of Famer), and Cyrus McCormick (businessman and inventor).
The cemetery is open for visitors every day of the year but with varying seasonal hours. See their website to make sure the gates are open when you plan to visit. Stroll through the open paths here to catch a glimpse of the resting place of the politicians, businessmen, architects, and athletes that shaped Chicago into the city that it is today.
We hope you enjoyed this self-guided tour! We also offer a pay-what-you-wish Lakeview/ Wrigleyville Tour as well as other tours of the windy city! For information on all our tours, click here.
