Survivability Rankings for Barbecue Restaurant in Chicago

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

•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 Barbecue Restaurant
  • Neighborhoods at or above 70% at a typical address: 35 of 99 ranked
  • Average across the 99 ranked neighborhoods (typical address): 65.1% for Barbecue 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 →

Table of Contents

Summary

Palmer Square leads Chicago's 2026 survivability rankings for Barbecue Restaurant operators, 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. A low-ranking neighborhood can still contain high-potential storefronts: the address matters most.

What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Chicago to Open a Barbecue Restaurant?

Palmer Square ranks #1 of the 99 ranked neighborhoods in and around Chicago for Barbecue 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:

RankNeighborhoodMetroAt a good addressAverage (typical address)Best LocationsChallenging Locations
1Palmer SquareChicago84.0%82.7%84.0%76.8%
2Boulevard DistrictChicago83.6%77.9%84.0%61.5%
3Logan SquareChicago83.5%79.6%84.0%60.2%
4Sheffield NeighborsChicago83.2%80.8%83.6%71.4%
5HermosaChicago83.2%72.8%83.6%49.4%
6AvondaleChicago83.1%77.8%83.6%55.2%
7Belmont GardensChicago83.1%77.7%83.6%67.4%
8West TownChicago83.1%76.5%83.6%53.8%
9Lake View EastChicago83.1%73.7%84.0%52.5%
10Park WestChicago83.1%71.2%83.6%53.4%

These averages are directional, not definitive; the best decision comes from analyzing your specific storefront. Market dynamics shift frequently; validate these insights with real-time data from StreetSpring.

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 a Barbecue Restaurant Make the Most Money?

Where a Barbecue 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 Barbecue 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.

Location is one of the few things about a new business you can measure before it opens. Opening a Barbecue Restaurant in Chicago requires careful location choice. Across the 99 ranked neighborhoods, the average projected chance that a new Barbecue Restaurant lasts two or more years is 65.1% at a typical address. A high-traffic corner that works well for a coffee shop may be entirely wrong for a specialty retailer.

What Should I Consider When Opening a Barbecue Restaurant in or Around Chicago?

When selecting a location for a Barbecue Restaurant in or around Chicago, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. Revenue Capture Score comes first when comparing locations: it turns local competition and consumer spending into the share of revenue a business can expect to win. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. StreetSpring's training dataset includes millions of transactions and business lifecycle events. Competition density is not inherently negative: it often signals an established customer base. These forecasts are generated using StreetSpring's unique analytical framework. 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

Related: Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Because local conditions evolve weekly, the live survivability tool offers a more current snapshot than any published ranking.

Where in or Around Chicago Should I Start a Barbecue Restaurant?

Our data ranks the top-performing neighborhoods as Palmer Square, Boulevard District, and Logan Square, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Marynook, West Woodlawn, and Scottsdale. However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. Market dynamics shift frequently; validate these insights with real-time data from StreetSpring.

Related Articles:

What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Open a Barbecue Restaurant?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Barbecue Restaurant in Chicago is Palmer Square, at 84.0% at a good address and 82.7% at a typical address, followed by Boulevard District and Logan Square. 35 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 a Barbecue 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. These rankings are based on the latest available data; check StreetSpring for real-time updates. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.

How Often Are Barbecue 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 a Barbecue Restaurant a Good Tenant for Chicago Landlords?

In Palmer Square, the projected chance that a new Barbecue 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 Barbecue Restaurant in Chicago

For landlords evaluating tenant applications, StreetSpring's data provides a clear comparison across the top neighborhoods. In Palmer Square, a Barbecue Restaurant has a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 82.7% at a typical address. In Boulevard District, it is 77.9% at a typical address, and in Logan Square, 79.6% at a typical address. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

With StreetSpring, you can see the precise probability of success for countless business models at any exact location.

Related: How Landlord Representatives Can Reduce Vacancy & Increase Tenant Longevity

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.

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.