Neighborhood boosters in Rogers Park really want to see Morse Avenue transform into something special. The plan is to entice restaurants and cafes to the area, but we hear that there are a few obstacles in the way.
An upscale grocery store chain has expressed interest in setting up shop along Morse Avenue, as have a number of cafe and restaurant operators.
But nothing has happened so far because the newcomers want to buy the buildings that they would operate out of and the current building owners don’t want to sell, even though their buildings are not fully occupied.
Let’s hope they can work something out. There are some good restaurants in Rogers Park, but they are scattered all around the neighborhood. It would be nice to see a thriving little restaurant strip. Locals are getting tired of trooping off to Evanston for a night out.
What upscale grocier store is considering to open on Morse?
The word on the street when we were living in RoPa was that the local grassroots organizations were vocally opposed to said upscale grocery. I see their point, if the word was in fact accurate – an area of the neighborhood that is desperately wanting for basic and affordable amenities doesn’t need a WholePaycheck.
It was an absolutely crap store, but the loss of the Osco/Jewel on Morse took a significant bite out of the Morse Avenue retail landscape. In its place we have a much-needed bank, granted, but also yet another dollar store. Fortunately, the Morse “L” pharmacy and the Fruit & Meat Market have been able to absorb most of the Osco customer base; the rest, however, seem to take their money out of the neighborhood entirely.
I appreciate wanting to increase the concentration of decent restaurants and cafes in the area, but am wary of this talk of “transforming” one of the last bastions of affordable housing on the northeast side. Too often this kind of transformation benefits those just “discovering” the neighborhood, not those who have made it their home.
Another yuppie take-over. I swear, yuppies have become a disease. Just come in, take over, wipe everything out until you get bored, and then move back to the suburbs. Ugh.
One other thing, we already have enough cafes, people! Ennui, Heartland, Metropolis, and many others. Frequent those before building more!!! We need to continue to nurture and encourage positive community activities for the children and teens, neighborhood fest, affordable housing, etc.