City In Review: Chicago

Bridgeport · Then vs Now

Bridgeport: 2025-02 vs 2026-02

A side-by-side look at how Bridgeport shifted between two periods.

2025-02 2026-02 Change
Building permits 14 27 +93%
Construction value ($) $492,709 $2,031,129 +312%
New business licenses 7 23 +229%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 890 939 +6%
Reported crimes 95 115 +21%
Violent crimes 27 25 -7%
Failed food inspections 4 2 -50%

2025-02

Bridgeport permit value drops 92% to $493k

Bridgeport's construction spending fell off a cliff in February—from $6 million the month before to under $500k. The count of permits dropped too, from 21 to 14, with eight of those express permits. No new businesses registered and none closed. Service requests eased 11% to 890, led by 153 graffiti removal calls. Crime dropped a quarter, from 126 incidents to 95, including three fewer violent offenses. Four food establishments failed inspections. The permit-value nosedive stands out—whatever big-ticket work drove January didn't repeat.

2026-02

Bridgeport crime more than doubles, permits hit $2m

Crime in Bridgeport more than doubled in February — 115 incidents, up from 53 the month before. Violent crime rose from 17 to 25. Permit value jumped 83% to just over $2 million, driven by 27 pulls (17 of them express permits). New business licenses dropped 55%, but the neighborhood still added F1 Head Spa, Lance's Gym, and Couples Relax Foot Spa. Service requests climbed 30%, led by 156 tree trim calls for a category the city no longer accepts. Two food inspection fails ended a clean streak.

New businesses — 2025-02

  • Charis Listening Bar (Tavern)
  • LITTLE EINSTEINS AFTER-SCHOOL CENTER (Children's Services Facility License)
  • Foundation Sports Group, LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • MAYRA'S BEAUTY SALON LLC (Limited Business License)
  • THUNDER GRAPHIC (Limited Business License)
  • Phils Pizza of Bridgeport inc. (Retail Food Establishment)
  • BLUE FROG THAI (Retail Food Establishment)

New businesses — 2026-02

  • F1 HEAD SPA (Limited Business License)
  • ED & SON'S AUTO CENTER (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • Midwest AV (Limited Business License)
  • Lance's Gym (Regulated Business License)
  • UNITED FOODS CORPORATION (Wholesale Food Establishment)
  • CVS/PHARMACY #8738 (Package Goods)
  • COUPLES RELAX FOOT SPA (Regulated Business License)
  • BEAUTY SUPPLY (Limited Business License)
  • CVS/PHARMACY #8738 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • GL LED US LIGHTING (Limited Business License)