When German and Swedish settlers appeared on the scene in the late
1800s, Roscoe Village was a community wedged between two industrial
corridors lying at the eastern and western borders of the area.
Following WWII, a boom of residential construction occurred in Roscoe
Village, including many two-story brownstones. The decline after the
Great Depression kept development to a minimum – a slump which
continued over the next four decades. By the 1980s Roscoe Village was
on the rebound.
Today, this little corner of the Lakeview Community Area features a
wealth of great restaurants, bars and boutiques and its shady and
tranquil side streets make it an attractive locale for families. The
majority of housing here is two- and three-flats, vintage walk-ups and
single family homes with an injection of new condo constructions from
recent building booms. Conversions like the Eversharp Pencil Factory
(turned modern condominiums) offer even more options for new
home-buyers in the area.
Antiques Row, the largest collection
of antique stores in the Midwest is on Roscoe Village's southern
border. Lazy Dog Antiques, Night and Day Vintage, Good Old Days
Antiques and Father Time Antiques will keep the antique collector busy
for days at a time. And when you're done searching through the dusties,
keep in mind that Roscoe Village has its share of fashionable boutiques
with never-been-used merchandise, too. Collection Privee features
designer clothes, Skyscraper Heels has ultra-hip shoes styles, and
Cinnamon stocks accessories. Niche shops in Roscoe Village include
Little Threads, which has all the coolest labels in kids clothing and
baby gear. Of Mutts and Men caters to the neighborhood's pampered pet
population and if it's tunes you're after, head to Hard Boiled Records
and Video to flip through new and used vinyl and CDs.
Roscoe
Village has quite the established dining district, which is always
important when it comes to finding that perfect location to settle
down. The vegetarian-menu at Victory's Banner offers great alternatives
for meatless meals, including a great brunch selection and plenty of
vegan-friendly dishes. If you are feeling a little more carnivorous,
Kitsch'n on Roscoe can hook you up with a tasty brunch, just be
prepared to line-up for it. This place is no secret and come 11 am on a
weekend it really starts to fill up. Pizza pie and a bottle of wine is
always a good combo. For that be sure to check out Frasca Pizzeria and
Wine Bar. La Mora is another great option for Italian food, but that is
just the beginning of Roscoe Village's tour of international
restaurants. El Tinajon serves up tasty Guatemalan cuisine while
Turkish cooking is the specialty at Turquoise Cafe. Kaze Sushi brings
you Japan's culinary gift to the world and Thai Cafe treats with the
flavorful delights from Southeast Asia.
For on-the-go food,
Roscoe Village has a whole other level of eateries and cafés. For
starters, the neighborhood is home to the original Costello's location
(there's one in Lincoln Square now as well). Costello's is a terrific
alternative to the fast foodness of Quizno's or Subway. The turkey
Rueben is pretty darn tasty and with a side of mash potatoes (skins
on!) that makes for a pretty substantial meal. What would the
restaurant business be without a little competition, though? Jimmy
Johns Gourmet Sandwiches is right down the street and for desert
there's nothing better than frozen custard from Scooter's, a Roscoe
Village family favorite. Yes there's a Starbucks in Roscoe Village
(there's a few actually), but for a more laidback neighborhood vibe,
MoJoe's Cafe Lounge can satisfy your caffeine needs and if it's bubble
tea you're after, BeBoBa Bubble Tea House is right around the corner
with over 50 varieties to chose from.
For a night out on the
town, Four Moon Tavern is a cozy neighborhood haunt, often frequented
by actors. Bar food, jukebox, pool table and outdoor seating, the Moon
meets all the criteria for a quality local hangout. Another great spot
for getting a drink and chilling with friends is the Village Tap. They
do the bar, food and beer garden combo just as well as anybody, and the
great thing about their beer garden is – it's open year-round. The
staff just pulls the canopy down to protect from the elements and heats
the enclosed area with an outdoor fireplace. Genius!
Public
transportation in Roscoe Village is pretty convenient. You can catch
the CTA Brown Line train at one of two stops – Paulina or Addison –
both are on in the northeast corner of the neighborhood. Bus routes
that service the area include the Addison Street bus (which includes
the Wrigley Field Express) and Belmont, which both run east/west.
Travel north/south through the neighborhood on the Damen and Western
Avenue buses as well as the Lincoln Avenue bus, which cuts through
Roscoe Village diagonally.