What is the best neighborhood in Chicago to open an American Restaurant?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the best neighborhood in Chicago to open an American Restaurant is Palmer Square, ranked #1 at 84.0% at a good address and 82.7% at a typical address. 33 of the 99 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% at a typical address.

What is the average survivability for American Restaurant across Chicago's ranked neighborhoods?

Across the 99 ranked neighborhoods in Chicago, the average projected chance that an American Restaurant lasts two or more years is 64.9% at a typical address. Palmer Square, ranked #1, is at 82.7% at a typical address.

What are the worst neighborhoods for American Restaurant in Chicago?

The most challenging neighborhoods in Chicago for American Restaurant include Marynook (ranked last, at 53.7% at a good address and 51.5% at a typical address), West Woodlawn, and Scottsdale. These rankings are based on the latest available data; check StreetSpring for real-time updates.

How accurate are StreetSpring's American Restaurant survivability predictions?

StreetSpring publishes its accuracy on the methodology page, stated with its base rate: how often the model tells an open business from a closed one on cities held out of training, its precision on risk flags, and its discrimination. Each score draws on 100+ factors and is reported as the projected chance of lasting two or more years, never as a guarantee. StreetSpring scores the exact storefront address, not only the neighborhood around it.

Survivability Rankings for American Restaurant in Chicago

Q: Where in Chicago would an American Restaurant make the most money?

It depends on the exact address. The Revenue Capture Score is the most important factor in choosing a location: StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address. Check it in the live tool for each Chicago address you are weighing.

Q: Can an American Restaurant succeed in lower-ranked neighborhoods in Chicago?

Yes, neighborhood rankings are averages that mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Static rankings provide a useful baseline, but the live tool captures changes that have occurred since publication.

StreetSpring's 2026 ranking of Chicago neighborhoods to open an American Restaurant, at a good address, from Palmer Square (84.0% survival) to Marynook.

April 24, 2026•13 min read

By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: October 2026 | Methodology

Quick Summary

Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address

#1 Neighborhood: Palmer Square: 84.0% at a good address, 82.7% at a typical address for American Restaurant

Neighborhoods at or above 70% at a typical address: 33 of 99 ranked

Average across the 99 ranked neighborhoods (typical address): 64.9% for American Restaurants

Most challenging area: Marynook: 53.7% at a good address, 51.5% at a typical address

Revenue Capture Score: the most important factor in choosing a location, StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address

Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

Summary
10 Best Neighborhoods
Where Would an American Restaurant Make the Most Money?
What Should I Consider?
Where Should I Start?
FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
FAQ: Can an American Restaurant Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
FAQ: Is an American Restaurant a Good Tenant?
Landlord Survivability Data
Best Neighborhoods for Any Business

Summary

Opening an American Restaurant in Chicago? Our 2026 analysis identifies Palmer Square as the top location, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.0% at a good address and 82.7% at a typical address. Its highest scored address is at 84.0% and its lowest at 76.8%. The last-ranked neighborhood is Marynook, at 53.7% at a good address and 51.5% at a typical address. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool.

What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Chicago to Open an American Restaurant?

Palmer Square ranks #1 of the 99 ranked neighborhoods in and around Chicago for American Restaurant survivability, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.0% at a good address as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

Rank	Neighborhood	Metro	At a good address	Average (typical address)	Best Locations	Challenging Locations
1	Palmer Square	Chicago	84.0%	82.7%	84.0%	76.8%
2	Logan Square	Chicago	83.6%	79.5%	84.0%	59.7%
3	Boulevard District	Chicago	83.6%	78.0%	84.0%	61.5%
4	Sheffield Neighbors	Chicago	83.5%	80.8%	84.0%	71.4%
5	Avondale	Chicago	83.1%	77.7%	83.6%	56.1%
6	West Town	Chicago	83.1%	76.6%	83.6%	53.4%
7	Hermosa	Chicago	83.1%	72.2%	83.6%	49.4%
8	Goose Island	Chicago	83.1%	69.9%	83.6%	49.4%
9	Belmont Gardens	Chicago	83.0%	77.4%	83.6%	66.4%
10	Irving Park	Chicago	83.0%	75.8%	83.6%	58.8%

Neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation: always check your specific address. Our live tool reflects the latest competitive landscape: these static rankings may already be slightly out of date.

The ranking runs on the good-address figure (the 90th percentile of the scored addresses in each neighborhood). Average is the typical address; Best and Challenging Locations are the highest and lowest scored address in the neighborhood. Every figure is the projected chance of lasting two or more years, as printed in the linked file. See our full methodology →

Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.

Where in or Around Chicago Would an American Restaurant Make the Most Money?

Where an American Restaurant would make the most money in or around Chicago comes down to the exact address. The Revenue Capture Score is the most important factor in choosing a location: StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address.

Palmer Square is ranked #1 for American Restaurant survivability, at 84.0% at a good address and 82.7% at a typical address; Marynook is ranked last of the 99, at 53.7% at a good address and 51.5% at a typical address. Revenue at a specific storefront is what the Revenue Capture Score estimates, so check it for each address you are weighing.

Where you sign the lease is a choice you can check against the published scores before you commit. Opening an American Restaurant in Chicago requires careful location choice. Across the 99 ranked neighborhoods, the average projected chance that a new American Restaurant lasts two or more years is 64.9% at a typical address. Survivability predictions are business-type-specific because consumer behavior differs fundamentally across categories.

What Should I Consider When Opening an American Restaurant in or Around Chicago?

When selecting a location for an American Restaurant in or around Chicago, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. When evaluating a potential location, Revenue Capture Score should be the first number you look at. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. The analysis behind these rankings spans millions of data points across competition, spending, and mobility. Neighborhoods with a mix of similar businesses frequently outperform isolated locations. StreetSpring's proprietary algorithms power these predictions. StreetSpring scores 500+ business types: 153 base business types, most of them at 5 price points, which is 569 type-and-price combinations you can choose in the tool.

This can be summarized as:

Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. New competitor openings and closures happen weekly: the live tool ensures you see the latest picture.

Where in or Around Chicago Should I Start an American Restaurant?

Our models highlight the following neighborhoods as top performers: Palmer Square, Logan Square, and Boulevard District, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Marynook, West Woodlawn, and Scottsdale. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool. For the most accurate predictions, always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform.

Related Articles:

Business Survivability Rankings: Chicago
Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Chicago
National City Survivability: American Restaurant
National Neighborhood Survivability: American Restaurant

What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Open an American Restaurant?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for an American Restaurant in Chicago is Palmer Square, at 84.0% at a good address and 82.7% at a typical address, followed by Logan Square and Boulevard District. 33 of the 99 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% at a typical address.

Neighborhood rankings are useful, but the exact odds for your location can only be seen by running a current survivability check in StreetSpring.

Can an American Restaurant Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in Chicago?

Yes, neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Market conditions are changing daily and it is best to use StreetSpring's most up-to-date data. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.

How Often Are American Restaurant Rankings in Chicago Updated?

StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in Chicago.

Is an American Restaurant a Good Tenant for Chicago Landlords?

In Palmer Square, the projected chance that a new American Restaurant lasts two or more years is 82.7% at a typical address and 84.0% at a good address, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for American Restaurant in Chicago

Should you rent your storefront to an American Restaurant? The answer depends heavily on your neighborhood. Palmer Square is ranked first, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 82.7% at a typical address, followed by Logan Square at 79.5% at a typical address, and Boulevard District at 78.0% at a typical address. See which business types are most likely to succeed at your property address right now.

StreetSpring analyzes your specific address against comparable businesses to forecast success.

What Are the Best Neighborhoods in or Around Chicago for My Business Overall?

You can see the best neighborhoods in or around Chicago to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Chicago.

Business Survivability Rankings: Chicago: See how American Restaurant compares to all other business types in Chicago
Best Cities to Open an American Restaurant in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for American Restaurant
Business Survivability in Palmer Square, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
Business Survivability in Logan Square, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
Business Survivability in Boulevard District, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #3 neighborhood

Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for Chicago are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.

View technical data for Chicago

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the figures shown here.

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