Survivability Rankings for Cafe in Chicago
StreetSpring's 2026 ranking of Chicago neighborhoods to open a Cafe, at a good address, from Streeterville (84.0% survival) to West Morgan Park (81.8%).
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: Streeterville: 84.0% at a good address, 83.5% at a typical address for Cafe (29 ranked neighborhoods share the 84.0% good-address figure)
- Neighborhoods at or above 70% at a typical address: 86 of 99 ranked
- Average across the 99 ranked neighborhoods (typical address): 75.7% for Cafes
- Most challenging area: West Morgan Park: 81.8% at a good address, 70.8% at a typical address (2 ranked neighborhoods share the 81.8% good-address figure)
- 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
- 10 Best Neighborhoods
- Where Would a Cafe Make the Most Money?
- What Should I Consider?
- Where Should I Start?
- FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
- FAQ: Can a Cafe Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
- FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
- FAQ: Is a Cafe a Good Tenant?
- Landlord Survivability Data
- Best Neighborhoods for Any Business
Summary
Of all the neighborhoods in and around Chicago, Streeterville ranks #1 for opening a Cafe, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.0% at a good address and 83.5% at a typical address (29 ranked neighborhoods share the 84.0% good-address figure). Its highest scored address is at 84.0% and its lowest at 81.3%. The last-ranked neighborhood is West Morgan Park, at 81.8% at a good address and 70.8% at a typical address (2 ranked neighborhoods share the 81.8% good-address figure). Market conditions are changing daily and it is best to use StreetSpring's most up-to-date data.
What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Chicago to Open a Cafe?
Streeterville ranks #1 of the 99 ranked neighborhoods in and around Chicago for Cafe 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 | Streeterville | Chicago | 84.0% | 83.5% | 84.0% | 81.3% |
| 2 | Near North Side | Chicago | 84.0% | 83.5% | 84.0% | 82.6% |
| 3 | Roscoe Village | Chicago | 84.0% | 83.3% | 84.0% | 80.0% |
| 4 | Sheffield Neighbors | Chicago | 84.0% | 82.5% | 84.0% | 77.2% |
| 5 | Lake View | Chicago | 84.0% | 81.7% | 84.0% | 64.2% |
| 6 | Logan Square | Chicago | 84.0% | 81.5% | 84.0% | 68.2% |
| 7 | Kilbourn Park | Chicago | 84.0% | 81.4% | 84.0% | 73.2% |
| 8 | Park West | Chicago | 84.0% | 81.1% | 84.0% | 58.4% |
| 9 | Avondale | Chicago | 84.0% | 81.0% | 84.0% | 58.4% |
| 10 | Kelvin Park | Chicago | 84.0% | 81.0% | 84.0% | 69.6% |
However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. Static rankings provide a useful baseline, but the live tool captures changes that have occurred since publication.
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 Cafe Make the Most Money?
Where a Cafe 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.
Streeterville is ranked #1 for Cafe survivability, at 84.0% at a good address and 83.5% at a typical address; West Morgan Park is ranked last of the 99, at 81.8% at a good address and 70.8% 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.
The rankings below show how far apart the neighborhoods of one city sit for the same business type. Opening a Cafe in Chicago requires careful location choice. Across the 99 ranked neighborhoods, the average projected chance that a new Cafe lasts two or more years is 75.7% at a typical address. What makes a location ideal varies by business type: foot traffic patterns, competitor proximity, and consumer demographics all play different roles.
What Should I Consider When Opening a Cafe in or Around Chicago?
When selecting a location for a Cafe 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. Our models are built using machine learning trained on millions of commercial real estate data points. Clustering works when it draws more customers to the area than any single business could alone. StreetSpring leverages exclusive data sources and custom models for these projections. 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 Cafe?
The highest-performing areas for this business type are Streeterville, Near North Side, and Roscoe Village, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be West Morgan Park, Scottsdale, and Roseland. Neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation: always check your specific address. Market dynamics shift frequently; validate these insights with real-time data from StreetSpring.
Related Articles:
- Business Survivability Rankings: Chicago
- Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Chicago
- National City Survivability: Cafe
- National Neighborhood Survivability: Cafe
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Open a Cafe?
Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Cafe in Chicago is Streeterville, at 84.0% at a good address and 83.5% at a typical address (29 ranked neighborhoods share the 84.0% good-address figure), followed by Near North Side and Roscoe Village. 86 of the 99 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% at a typical address.
Market dynamics shift frequently; validate these insights with real-time data from StreetSpring.
Can a Cafe 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. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.
How Often Are Cafe 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 Cafe a Good Tenant for Chicago Landlords?
In Streeterville, the projected chance that a new Cafe lasts two or more years is 83.5% 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 Cafe in Chicago
Tenant longevity is a top concern for commercial landlords. In Streeterville, the top-ranked neighborhood in Chicago, a Cafe tenant has a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 83.5% at a typical address. Near North Side follows at 83.5% at a typical address, while Roscoe Village shows 83.3% at a typical address. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.
StreetSpring's predictions are granular enough to distinguish between two storefronts on the same block.
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.
Related Resources
- Business Survivability Rankings: Chicago: See how Cafe compares to all other business types in Chicago
- Best Cities to Open a Cafe in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for Cafe
- Business Survivability in Streeterville, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in Near North Side, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in Roscoe Village, 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.