River West

 

 

 

Part of the West Loop community, River West is bounded by the Chicago River to the east, Chicago Avenue to the north, the Kennedy Expressway to the west, and Grand Avenue to the south. Like the rest of the West Loop and the nearby area of West Town, the area has witnessed a renaissance in the last 20 years. Where once stood factories and warehouses are now trendy restaurants, lofts, and office spaces.

 

One thing that has stood the test of time in the River West/Fulton Market area is the Blommer Chocolate Factory. Since 1939, the Blommer Chocolate Factory has been operating out of a large brick building on Kinzie and Desplaines, fanning the sweet smell of chocolate across the neighborhood!

 

A big draw to River West (besides the chocolate aroma) is its location. Close to the 6 corner intersection of Milwaukee, Halsted, and Grand, River West is a great place to live and work in. Accessible to the highway and the city’s major thoroughfares, and the CTA blue line, River West puts you close to downtown but outside the gridlock.

 

Quick Facts

• Originally considered part of River North
• Parts of River West are often considered to be part of its surrounding neighborhoods, like Noble Square, Ukrainian Village and East Village.
• Like its neighbors, River West has transformed from an industrial district to a super trendy hot spot in the last 20 or so years.

Schools

• Noble Charter High Schools
• Otis Elementary School
• Frances Xavier Warde School

Dining, Nightlife, and Shopping

On the dining front, there is an emerging scene (The Dawson, Piccolo Sogno, The Roost Carolina Kitchen, Frontier) that is coinciding with some neighborhood old school heavy hitters, like Richard’s Bar and La Scarola, as the neighborhood attracts more new construction residential developments. River West’s walkability means there are several great local options, and more on the way as it grows in popularity.

​​​​​​​Real Estate Options

Like neighboring Fulton Market, River West’s aged warehouses are being transformed into innovative lofts for urbanites seeking the chic and unconventional. With slightly lower rents than what might be found in River North, River West is especially attractive to younger crowds, artists, and entrepreneurs. There’s also a slew of mid and high-rise newly constructed condos, if you are looking for luxury with all the amenities.