Survivability Rankings for Seafood Restaurant in Chicago
StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in Chicago to open a Seafood Restaurant, from Rogers Park (73% survival) to West Sid...
By Bobby Koons | Last reviewed: April 28, 2026 | Updated weekly | Methodology
Quick Summary
- #1 Neighborhood: Rogers Park — 73% average survivability for Seafood Restaurant
- Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 31 of 86 analyzed
- City-wide average: 68% for Seafood Restaurants
- Most challenging area: West Side at 62%
- Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~6.5% more expected revenue in Rogers Park
- Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →
Table of Contents
- Summary
- 10 Best Neighborhoods
- Where Would a Seafood Restaurant Make the Most Money?
- What Should I Consider?
- Where Should I Start?
- FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
- FAQ: Can a Seafood Restaurant Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
- FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
- FAQ: Is a Seafood Restaurant a Good Tenant?
- Landlord Survivability Data
- Best Neighborhoods for Any Business
Summary
Of all the neighborhoods in and around Chicago, Rogers Park ranks #1 for opening a Seafood Restaurant with 73% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 80% and the most challenging locations in Rogers Park at 61%. The worst neighborhoods include West Side with 62% average chance. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool.
Where Seafood Restaurants Thrive in Chicago
Rogers Park ranks #1 of 86 neighborhoods analyzed in and around Chicago for Seafood Restaurant survivability with a score of 73% as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:
What separates the top neighborhoods from the rest
| Rank | Neighborhood | Best Locations | Average Locations | Challenging Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rogers Park | 77.0% – 81.0% | 71.3% – 74.8% | 60.0% – 64.0% |
| 2 | Kenwood | 74.0% – 78.0% | 70.6% – 74.0% | 63.0% – 67.0% |
| 3 | Budlong Woods | 74.0% – 78.0% | 70.4% – 73.8% | 53.0% – 57.0% |
| 4 | Printers Row | 75.0% – 79.0% | 70.3% – 73.8% | 60.0% – 64.0% |
| 5 | West Town | 76.0% – 80.0% | 70.2% – 73.7% | 53.0% – 57.0% |
| 6 | New Eastside | 74.0% – 78.0% | 70.2% – 73.7% | 60.0% – 64.0% |
| 7 | Southwest | 77.0% – 81.0% | 70.1% – 73.5% | 50.0% – 54.0% |
| 8 | River West | 77.0% – 81.0% | 70.1% – 73.5% | 57.0% – 61.0% |
| 9 | North Austin | 78.0% – 82.0% | 70.0% – 73.4% | 51.0% – 55.0% |
| 10 | Andersonville | 76.0% – 80.0% | 69.9% – 73.4% | 53.0% – 57.0% |
How rent and competition shape the leaderboard
Neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation — always check your specific address. StreetSpring refreshes survivability data continuously — check the tool for the most current score at any address.
Survivability ranges reflect best and worst storefront conditions within each neighborhood. 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.
Which Chicago Neighborhoods Drive the Highest Seafood Restaurant Revenue?
In Rogers Park, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~6.5% more than the average location in or around Chicago.
On the other hand, in West Side, the worst possible location could result in making ~9.8% less than the average location in the city.
Location is the biggest factor in a business's future success. Opening a Seafood Restaurant in Chicago requires careful location choice. Across 86 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new Seafood Restaurant is 68% for lasting more than 2 years — due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. Two businesses on the same block can have very different survivability scores depending on their category.
What Matters Most When Opening a Seafood Restaurant in Chicago
Picking the right location is the single highest-leverage decision in launching this business — Survivability Score is the lens that frames the rest of the decision. Among all factors in our model, Revenue Capture Score carries the most weight in determining long-term survivability. 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. Neighborhoods with a mix of similar businesses frequently outperform isolated locations. Our prediction system is built from scratch using proprietary data pipelines and validated against actual business lifecycles.
| Factor | Where new owners get tripped up | Questions to ask before you sign |
|---|---|---|
| Build-out budget | Underestimating mechanical, electrical, and plumbing — the "hidden" 30-50% of build-out cost. | Get 3 quotes from licensed contractors and pad budget by +20% for surprises. Confirm landlord TI allowance in writing. |
| Permits & licensing | Assuming a 30-day permit timeline, hitting 90+ days, paying rent on a non-operating storefront. | Call the local zoning office before signing. Confirm your use is already permitted; if not, factor a 2-3 month variance timeline. |
| CAM + hidden costs | Stated rent looks great, then CAM fees, signage charges, and after-hours utilities add 15-30%. | Get the full operating expense breakdown for the past 2 years. Ask which costs are landlord-capped vs. uncapped. |
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
Our model is rebuilt regularly from current competitive, demographic, and walkability data — but the ground truth changes daily. For an address-specific score, check the live StreetSpring tool rather than relying on static rankings.
Where in or Around Chicago Should I Start a Seafood Restaurant?
Based on our analysis, the leading neighborhoods are Rogers Park, Kenwood, and Budlong Woods, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be West Side, Pilsen, and West Lawn. Our data shows that roughly 15% of top-performing locations sit in neighborhoods ranked below the city median. Neighborhood rankings are useful, but the exact odds for your location can only be seen by running a current survivability check in StreetSpring.
Related Articles:
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Open a Seafood Restaurant?
Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Seafood Restaurant in Chicago is Rogers Park with 73% average survivability, followed by Kenwood and Budlong Woods. 31 of 86 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.
Neighborhood rankings are useful, but the exact odds for your location can only be seen by running a current survivability check in StreetSpring.
Are Bottom-Tier Chicago Neighborhoods a No-Go for Seafood Restaurants?
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.
The Update Schedule for Chicago Seafood Restaurants Data
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.
What Makes a Seafood Restaurant a Strong (or Weak) Chicago Tenant?
In Rogers Park, StreetSpring forecasts a 71.3% – 74.8% average chance for a new Seafood Restaurant to survive more than 2 years, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.
Landlord Survivability Data for Seafood Restaurant in Chicago
Tenant longevity is a top concern for commercial landlords. In Rogers Park, a Seafood Restaurant tenant averages 71.3% – 74.8% chance of lasting more than 2 years — the strongest outlook in Chicago. Kenwood follows at 70.6% – 74.0%, while Budlong Woods shows 70.4% – 73.8%. You can see the Survivability Score for your location for any business right now.
Our tool delivers pinpoint accuracy down to the exact storefront location for any business category.
Related: How Landlord Representatives Can Reduce Vacancy & Increase Tenant Longevity
Where in Chicago Should You Open a Seafood Restaurant?
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 static ranges shown here.
Visual Data
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Neighborhood-Specific Questions
More questions answered with neighborhood-specific data from our 2026 corpus.
How healthy is the Chicago economy for new Seafood Restaurants?
Chicago's ACS-tracked employment rate is approximately 94%, with a metro median household income near $103K. These macro factors feed into the survivability model alongside business-type-specific signals — Seafood Restaurants in Chicago average 69%.
Do Seafood Restaurants need walkable locations in Chicago?
Median Chicago commute is ~35 minutes. Accessibility-driven foot-traffic variation contributes to the 38-92% survivability range Seafood Restaurants see across the metro.
What other business types score similarly to Seafood Restaurants in Chicago?
Chicago subtypes scoring within 2 points of Seafood Restaurants's 69% average include Grocery Store, Watch Store or Repair Shop, Vitamin & Supplement Store. Survivability convergence at the metro level usually reflects shared local factors like saturation density or demographic fit.
Which US cities have the highest survivability for Seafood Restaurants?
Per StreetSpring's 24-metro model, the top three US cities for Seafood Restaurants survivability are Miami, Dallas, Tampa Bay. Chicago ranks #18, averaging 69%.
How does Chicago's demographic profile affect a Seafood Restaurant?
ACS data puts Chicago's metro median household income at ~$103K and median age at 37. StreetSpring's survivability model factors these alongside ~100 other location signals; the average score for Seafood Restaurants in Chicago is 69%.