Survivability Rankings for Grocery Store in Chicago
StreetSpring's 2026 ranking of Chicago neighborhoods to open a Grocery Store, at a good address, from Palmer Square (85.0% survival) to Wildwood (59.4%).
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, 84.2% at a typical address for Grocery Store
- Neighborhoods at or above 70% at a typical address: 34 of 99 ranked
- Average across the 99 ranked neighborhoods (typical address): 66.0% for Grocery Stores
- Most challenging area: Wildwood: 59.4% at a good address, 52.6% 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 Grocery Store Make the Most Money?
- What Should I Consider?
- Where Should I Start?
- FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
- FAQ: Can a Grocery Store Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
- FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
- FAQ: Is a Grocery Store a Good Tenant?
- Landlord Survivability Data
- Best Neighborhoods for Any Business
Summary
Of all the neighborhoods in and around Chicago, Palmer Square ranks #1 for opening a Grocery Store, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 85.0% at a good address and 84.2% at a typical address. Its highest scored address is at 85.0% and its lowest at 77.8%. The last-ranked neighborhood is Wildwood, at 59.4% at a good address and 52.6% 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 Grocery Store?
Palmer Square ranks #1 of the 99 ranked neighborhoods in and around Chicago for Grocery 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% | 84.2% | 85.0% | 77.8% |
| 2 | Cunningham | Chicago | 84.6% | 83.0% | 84.6% | 81.0% |
| 3 | Boulevard District | Chicago | 84.6% | 79.4% | 85.0% | 69.2% |
| 4 | Irving Park | Chicago | 84.6% | 76.5% | 85.0% | 62.5% |
| 5 | Logan Square | Chicago | 84.5% | 79.2% | 85.0% | 63.0% |
| 6 | Sheffield Neighbors | Chicago | 84.1% | 81.7% | 84.6% | 76.9% |
| 7 | Avondale | Chicago | 84.1% | 76.9% | 84.6% | 64.3% |
| 8 | Big Woods Marmion | Chicago | 84.1% | 74.8% | 85.0% | 54.8% |
| 9 | Pigeon Hill | Chicago | 83.9% | 74.2% | 84.6% | 52.2% |
| 10 | University Village/Little Italy | Chicago | 83.6% | 72.4% | 84.6% | 49.9% |
Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform. 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 Grocery Store Make the Most Money?
Where a Grocery 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 Grocery Store survivability, at 85.0% at a good address and 84.2% at a typical address; Wildwood is ranked last of the 99, at 59.4% at a good address and 52.6% 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 Grocery Store in Chicago requires careful location choice. Across the 99 ranked neighborhoods, the average projected chance that a new Grocery Store lasts two or more years is 66.0% 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 Grocery Store in or Around Chicago?
When selecting a location for a Grocery Store in or around Chicago, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. StreetSpring's proprietary Revenue Capture Score, the revenue a business can capture at a specific address, is the factor that matters most when choosing where to open. 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 has analyzed hundreds of thousands of business outcomes across major US metros. Areas with complementary competitors tend to generate higher overall foot traffic. The prediction engine behind these rankings is entirely proprietary: developed in-house over years of research. 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. However, market conditions change daily, and it's best to use StreetSpring's live data to check the Survivability Score for a specific address.
Where in or Around Chicago Should I Start a Grocery Store?
StreetSpring's analysis shows the best areas are Palmer Square, Cunningham, and Boulevard District, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Wildwood, West Morgan Park, and Kenwood. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool. 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: Grocery Store
- National Neighborhood Survivability: Grocery Store
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Open a Grocery Store?
Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Grocery Store in Chicago is Palmer Square, at 85.0% at a good address and 84.2% at a typical address, followed by Cunningham and Boulevard District. 34 of the 99 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% at a typical address.
For the most accurate predictions, always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform.
Can a Grocery 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. The highest and lowest scored addresses inside one neighborhood can sit far apart, so the neighborhood figure is a starting point. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.
How Often Are Grocery 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 Grocery Store a Good Tenant for Chicago Landlords?
In Palmer Square, the projected chance that a new Grocery Store lasts two or more years is 84.2% 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 Grocery Store in Chicago
From a risk-assessment perspective, a Grocery Store tenant in Palmer Square, the top-ranked neighborhood, has a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.2% at a typical address. Cunningham is at 83.0% at a typical address, and Boulevard District at 79.4% at a typical address. Get a live Survivability Score for your specific storefront in the live tool.
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 Grocery Store compares to all other business types in Chicago
- Best Cities to Open a Grocery Store in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for Grocery Store
- Business Survivability in Palmer Square, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in Cunningham, 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.