United Center Park
Part of the larger Near West Side, United Center Park is the neighborhood surrounding the United Center Sport Arena (where the Chicago Bulls play). The residential real estate options in this area cover a wide range of housing styles, especially since the recent construction and economic boom inspired a wave of new condo development. Low-rise flats, two-and three-story walk-ups, and smaller single-family homes and bungalows make up the majority of the United Center Park housing market.
The center of the neighborhood, of course, is the United Center. This gigantic sports arena opened its doors at the height of Bulls Championship Fever in 1994, replacing the beloved Chicago Stadium. The United Center is not only home to the Bulls, but to the Blackhawks (Chicago’s pro hockey team) and the occasional WWF bout or Peal Jam concert. At a cost of $175 million dollars and 960,000 square feet to work with, the United Center can seat between 20,000 and 25,000 people, depending on the event.
Whether you live in United Center Park, or are just in the neighborhood to catch a concert or a game at the Arena, you'll have plenty of good eating options while you're here. For a traditional American breakfast with eggs done your way, United Center Park residents rely on Uncle Mike's Place. Mike's not only sets you up with the most important meal of the day, but it also serves a tasty and inexpensive lunch menu with a few vegetarian options to boot. Moon's Sandwich Shop, which has been a Chicago institution since 1933, boasts it is "One of Chicago's Original Sandwich Shops." Corned beef, meatloaf and a host of classic sandwiches are on offer at this clean, well-serviced neighborhood delicatessen. Like most restaurants in United Center Park, Moretti's Ristorante & Pizzeria gets busy on a game or concert night. The joint even has a sports bar vibe with huge plasma screens providing coverage of the Bulls and Blackhawks games – for those who couldn't get tickets but still want to feel like they're a part of the action. Get yourself a meatball sub or a pizza pie and root for the home team. For delivery, and reasonably priced take-out or dine-in, Pizza-Ria is a United Center Park favorite. Cafe Penelope is also a popular local choice with catering, delivery, dine-in and a full-service bar, all done with a homey atmosphere and homemade dishes. For cheap Chinese take-out, check out China Dragon.
If you're looking for a spot to get some great bar grub, toss back a pint, and maybe catch a good rock show in the process, the Cobra Lounge is your best bet in United Center Park. Dark but not dingy, the Cobra is a hotbed for loud music, performed live or played by the DJ. And, Betty's Blue Star Lounge can sure get shaking on a Saturday night. This late-hour bar and dance club has long been a neighborhood fave for booty-shakers.
Even though entertainment figures highly in United Center Park’s community culture, it’s not all about the nightlife. The neighborhood has a few stretches of retail businesses that include a mini collection of furniture stores, in case you're looking to deck out your new digs. European Furniture Warehouse has a 70,000+ square foot showroom for you to peruse. Their wares may be on the pricey side but it has the quality to match. Milk Design and Metalworks offers a variety of furnishings from classic to contemporary concepts as well as metal masterpieces to outfit your doors, windows and railings. Looking for that future heirloom? That's the goal of Troscan Design. Their designers and craftspeople make modern yet timeless furniture in the hopes that these pieces will be passed down from generation to generation.
The Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) runs along United Center Park's southern border providing easy access for residents commuting to and from work as well as for sports and music fans to get to the United Center Arena. The CTA Green Line has a stop at Ashland and the Blue Line Western Avenue stop is just beyond United Center Park's southern border.
- CLICK HERE FOR UNITED CENTER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD MAP
- CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT REAL ESTATE IN UNITED CENTER PARK
Dining in United Center Park
| China Dragon 2008 W. Madison Cuisine: Chinese |
Dionises Restaurant 2058 W. Chicago Cuisine: Greek |
| II Jack's Italian 1754 W. Grand Cuisine: Italian |
Privata Cafe 1936 W. Chicago Cuisine: European |
| Bacino's 118 S. Clinton |
Sweet Maple Cafe 1339 W. Taylor |
| Angelo's Lunch Box 601 W. Adams |
All Time Bar BQ 2939 W. Madison |
| Spiro's Van Buren Restaurant 560 W. Van Buren |
Siam Pot 1509 W. Taylor |
| Rick's Bar and Cafe 2343 W. Taylor |
Regimental Bar and Grill 10 S. Riverside |
| Racine Cafe and Lounge 228 S. Racine |
Pete The Greek Drive In 1225 S. Ashland |
| Cafe Penelope 230 S. Ashland |
Palace Grill 1408 W. Madison |
| Nicki's Restaurant 1301 S. Damen |
My Thai 555 W. Madison |
| Couscous 1445 W. Taylor |
Coffee Creations 117 S. Clinton |
| Clinton Street Grill 115 S. Clinton |
China Dragon 2008 W. Madison |
| Chicago and North Western Station/Citicorp food court 500 W. Madison |
Cherub's Deli 1054 W. Monroe |
| Carmichael's Steak House 1052 W. Monroe |
Cafe Italo 555 W. Madison (Presidential Towers) |
| Cafe Espanol 1115 W. Madison |
Bombacigno's J & C Restaurant 558 W. Van Buren |
| Billy Goat Inn 1535 W. Madison |
Bendely's Deli 135 N. Jefferson |
| Annette's Kitchen 1339 W. Taylor |
Ann's Restaurant 2335 W. Lake |
Resources in United Center Park
| Libraries Mabel Manning Library 6 S Hoyne Midwest Public 2335 W. Chicago |
Post Office 2419 W. Monroe |
Entertainment in United Center Park
| Ukrainian Cultural Center 2247 W. Chicago |
United Center 1901 W. Madison |
| Duncan
YMCA Chernin Center for the Arts 1001 W. Roosevelt |
Lou
Conte Dance Studio 1147 W. Jackson |
| Addams/Medill Park 1301 W. 14th |
Union Park 1501 W. Randolph |
| Skinner Park 111 S. Throop |
Porcelain enamel-on-steel murals 600 W. Madison |
| Harpo Studios, home of The Oprah Winfrey Show 1058 W. Washington |
Jane Addams Hull House Museum 800 S. Halsted |
Shopping in United Center Park
| Alcala's 1733 W. Chicago |
Decoro Studio 2000 W. Carroll |
| Edie's 1937 W. Chicago |
H & R's Sports 1741 W. Chicago |
| Salvage One Artifacts 1840 W. Hubbard |
Tomato Tattoo 1855 W. Chicago |
Schools in United Center Park
| Crane Tech Prep School 2245 W. Jackson |
Ellen Mitchell School 2233 W. Ohio |
| Foundations School 2040 W. Adams |
Malcolm X College 1900 W. Van Buren |
| Mancel Talcott School 1840 W. Ohio |
Ukranian Catholic University 2247 W. Chicago |
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