Pioneering spirit on Wilson and Magnolia avenues in Uptown

When businessman Nick Novich decides to open a new bar, he picks a neighborhood that he thinks could use some pioneering. Last summer, Novich, who has taverns in Wicker Park and on Sheridan Road in Uptown, decided to open another Uptown establishment, Nick’s on Wilson at 1140 W Wilson Ave.

“I think it’s a neighborhood in transition,” Novich tells Yo. “I think it’s an underserved neighborhood in terms of business and general retail. There obviously are some very positive things on that street – you have the el station and the 34,000 people attending Truman College. My customer base has been people living within three, four, five blocks … there are some people who have been there for quite some time, who’ve been urban pioneers there for 10 years or five years or whatever, and there are some people who are brand new.”


The stretch of Wilson near Magnolia (and Magnolia itself) has long had a reputation as sketchy. Nick’s on Wilson was, of course, once home to the notorious Wooden Nickel bar, which lives on in urban lore (and memory, for many) as a dive bar in the true sense of the word, the kind of place few trucker cap-wearing hipsters would dare enjoy a PBR, no matter how cheap the prices.

Five years ago, Magnolia Café opened at 1224 W Wilson. Within its exposed brick walls, it dishes up such delicacies as duck-confit spring rolls and grilled lamb loin. Alma Pita is a popular local restaurant. New arrivals over the past few years to the area include Starbucks and Godfather’s Pizza. Police last year installed a security camera at Magnolia and Wilson to monitor drug dealing. We hope to give you an update on Wilson Yard soon. Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation was scheduled to demolish the original Aldi store and beginning construction on Target and the residetnial portion of the project in February or March, and we’re trying to confirm the status of the development with Holsten.

(Visited 450 times, 1 visits today)