City In Review: Chicago

Lincoln Square · Then vs Now

Lincoln Square: 2025-02 vs 2026-02

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

2025-02 2026-02 Change
Building permits 24 48 +100%
Construction value ($) $2,071,601 $4,651,406 +125%
New business licenses 26 24 -8%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 804 897 +12%
Reported crimes 145 150 +3%
Violent crimes 40 36 -10%
Failed food inspections 8 4 -50%

2025-02

Violent crime climbs to 40 as overall crime drops 12%

Lincoln Square logged 40 violent crimes in February, up from 33 the month before, even as total crime fell 12% to 145 incidents. The neighborhood filed 804 service requests—121 for tree trimming (a category the city no longer accepts), 100 for snow removal, and 85 for graffiti. Permits dropped 29%, from 34 to 24, though construction value stayed flat at $2.1 million. Half the permits issued were express permits. No businesses opened or closed.

2026-02

Lincoln Square adds Jerry's Sandwiches, 24 new businesses

Lincoln Square logged 24 new businesses in February, up 71% from January. Jerry's Sandwiches picked up both a retail food license and one for on-premises consumption. Soccer Post and Pigtails and Crewcuts also opened. Permit count jumped 78% to 48, though total dollar value fell 63% to $4.7 million—most work came through the express permit program. Service requests dipped 5% to 897, led by 156 tree-trim calls. Crime dropped 7% to 150 incidents, with violent offenses down to 36. Four food establishments failed inspections, unchanged from January.

New businesses — 2025-02

  • KB AMUSEMENT (Regulated Business License)
  • THE ECO CAFE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • ROGERS PARK MONTESSORI SCHOOL (Raffles)
  • WMK.20 LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • REYES' TIRE SHOP, INCORPORATED (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • 5TH CLOUD (Regulated Business License)
  • ANNIE FOR PETS (Regulated Business License)
  • L C PHO RESTAURANT (Retail Food Establishment)
  • AFC Sushi @ Tony's FIner Foods #1167 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • NOBLE COYOTE (Regulated Business License)

New businesses — 2026-02

  • SIL LA BELLE BEAUTY SALON (Limited Business License)
  • FRIENDS OF WATERS (Raffles)
  • Soccer Post (Limited Business License)
  • PIGTAILS AND CREWCUTS - CHICAGO (Limited Business License)
  • JERRY'S SANDWICHES (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • JERRY'S SANDWICHES (Retail Food Establishment)
  • CVS PHARMACY # 5987 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • HAN BAT RESTAURANT (Retail Food Establishment)
  • WINNEMAC FOOD & LIQUOR (Package Goods)
  • MB CONSULTING / MONARCH BEAUTY FARM (Regulated Business License)