Survivability Rankings for Convenience Store in Chicago
StreetSpring's 2026 ranking of Chicago neighborhoods to open a Convenience Store, at a good address, from Palmer Square (85.0% survival) to Wildwood.
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: 85.0% at a good address, 83.7% at a typical address for Convenience Store (25 ranked neighborhoods share the 85.0% good-address figure)
- Neighborhoods at or above 70% at a typical address: 81 of 99 ranked
- Average across the 99 ranked neighborhoods (typical address): 76.4% for Convenience Stores
- Most challenging area: Wildwood: 74.7% at a good address, 62.8% 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
- 10 Best Neighborhoods
- Where Would a Convenience Store Make the Most Money?
- What Should I Consider?
- Where Should I Start?
- FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
- FAQ: Can a Convenience Store Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
- FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
- FAQ: Is a Convenience Store a Good Tenant?
- Landlord Survivability Data
- Best Neighborhoods for Any Business
Summary
Palmer Square leads Chicago's 2026 survivability rankings for Convenience Store operators, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 85.0% at a good address and 83.7% at a typical address (25 ranked neighborhoods share the 85.0% good-address figure). Its highest scored address is at 85.0% and its lowest at 81.4%. The last-ranked neighborhood is Wildwood, at 74.7% at a good address and 62.8% at a typical address. 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 Convenience Store?
Palmer Square ranks #1 of the 99 ranked neighborhoods in and around Chicago for Convenience Store survivability, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 85.0% 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 | 85.0% | 83.7% | 85.0% | 81.4% |
| 2 | Wrightwood Neighbors | Chicago | 85.0% | 83.4% | 85.0% | 78.2% |
| 3 | Old Town | Chicago | 85.0% | 83.3% | 85.0% | 72.8% |
| 4 | Lincoln Park | Chicago | 85.0% | 83.2% | 85.0% | 77.4% |
| 5 | Lake View East | Chicago | 85.0% | 82.9% | 85.0% | 75.1% |
| 6 | Roscoe Village | Chicago | 85.0% | 82.6% | 85.0% | 75.6% |
| 7 | Irving Park | Chicago | 85.0% | 82.3% | 85.0% | 72.8% |
| 8 | North Center | Chicago | 85.0% | 81.6% | 85.0% | 63.4% |
| 9 | Ravenswood | Chicago | 85.0% | 81.3% | 85.0% | 58.0% |
| 10 | Goose Island | Chicago | 85.0% | 81.3% | 85.0% | 65.6% |
The highest and lowest scored addresses inside one neighborhood can sit far apart, so the neighborhood figure is a starting point. StreetSpring refreshes survivability data continuously: check the tool for the most current score at any address.
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 Convenience Store Make the Most Money?
Where a Convenience Store 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 Convenience Store survivability, at 85.0% at a good address and 83.7% at a typical address; Wildwood is ranked last of the 99, at 74.7% at a good address and 62.8% 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 same business type carries a different projected chance in every ranked neighborhood of a city, so the address is worth testing before you sign. Opening a Convenience Store in Chicago requires careful location choice. Across the 99 ranked neighborhoods, the average projected chance that a new Convenience Store lasts two or more years is 76.4% at a typical address. The interplay between location characteristics and business type produces unique survivability scores for every combination.
What Should I Consider When Opening a Convenience Store in or Around Chicago?
When selecting a location for a Convenience Store 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. Our models are built using machine learning trained on millions of commercial real estate data points. Some of the best-performing locations are surrounded by complementary competitors that drive foot traffic. Our forecasting system combines proprietary data with machine learning models unavailable anywhere else. 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. Our live tool reflects the latest competitive landscape: these static rankings may already be slightly out of date.
Where in or Around Chicago Should I Start a Convenience Store?
According to StreetSpring's data, optimal neighborhoods include Palmer Square, Wrightwood Neighbors, and Old Town, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Wildwood, Southeast Area, and Douglas Park. However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. The live platform incorporates the most recent competitor, housing vacancy, and spending data for your exact address.
Related Articles:
- Business Survivability Rankings: Chicago
- Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Chicago
- National City Survivability: Convenience Store
- National Neighborhood Survivability: Convenience Store
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Open a Convenience Store?
Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Convenience Store in Chicago is Palmer Square, at 85.0% at a good address and 83.7% at a typical address (25 ranked neighborhoods share the 85.0% good-address figure), followed by Wrightwood Neighbors and Old Town. 81 of the 99 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% at a typical address.
StreetSpring refreshes survivability data continuously: check the tool for the most current score at any address.
Can a Convenience Store 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 averages are directional, not definitive; the best decision comes from analyzing your specific storefront. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.
How Often Are Convenience Store 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 Convenience Store a Good Tenant for Chicago Landlords?
In Palmer Square, the projected chance that a new Convenience Store lasts two or more years is 83.7% at a typical address and 85.0% at a good address, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.
Landlord Survivability Data for Convenience Store in Chicago
Reducing vacancy starts with choosing tenants whose business type matches the neighborhood's strengths. For Convenience Store tenants, Palmer Square is ranked first (83.7% at a typical address). Wrightwood Neighbors and Old Town follow at 83.4% at a typical address and 83.3% at a typical address respectively. See which business types are most likely to succeed at your property address right now.
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 Convenience Store compares to all other business types in Chicago
- Best Cities to Open a Convenience Store in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for Convenience Store
- Business Survivability in Palmer Square, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in Wrightwood Neighbors, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in Old Town, 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.