University Village Marketplace—a unique mix of shopping, services, dining 

By Eva Hofmann 

Living or working in Chicago can get pretty hectic. It can also be a lot of fun. To help streamline your to-do list, University Village Marketplace offers everything you need plus the convenience to get things done efficiently. It also offers plenty of ways to enjoy life in the big city. Here, you can run errands, work out at the gym, then relax and treat yourself to lunch or dinner and coffee or cocktails with friends. 

FOOD, DRINKS, DESSERT

Caribou Coffee, 1328 S. Halsted St., (312) 738-3570. Featuring gourmet coffee, tea, pastries, and gifts.

 Cold Stone Creamery, 1316 S. Halsted St., (312) 226-2800. Offering the ultimate cold dessert experience with ice cream, ice cream cake, shakes, and smoothies the way you want them.

Dinner By Design, 716 W. Maxwell St., (312) 997-5100, www.dinnerbydesignkitchen.com. A fun, convenient, cost-effective way of getting dinner on the table. Dinner By Design makes it simple and fun for you to prepare healthful, home-cooked meals with family-friendly menus and high-quality, wholesome ingredients. 

Express Grill, 1260 S. Union Ave., (312) 738-2112. This 24-hour eatery, featuring burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches, is best known for serving the original Maxwell Street Polish. Another bestseller is a Maxwell Street classic, the bone-in pork chop sandwich.

Franconello Italian Restaurant, 1301 S. Halsted St., (312) 421-1301. Traditional Italian fare including banana peppers stuffed with crumbled sausage, sun-dried tomato and smoked mozzarella pizza, braised short ribs with creamy polenta, and, of course, tiramisu.

Hashbrowns, 731 W. Maxwell St., (312) 226-8000, fax (312) 226-8080, www.HashBrownsCafe.com. Breakfast and lunch. Try the house hash browns, (served alongside the restaurant’s egg dishes or sandwiches), or the egg panini. Breakfasts are served any time and include specialty omelets and old standbys. Lunches feature soups, salads, and sandwiches. Kids menu available. Open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week.

Jamba Juice, 1322 S. Halsted St., (312) 738-3660, fax (312) 738-3668. Healthful, energizing, delicious smoothies to treat your body better.

Jim’s Original Hot Dog, 1250 S. Union Ave., (312) 733-7820, featuring the original Maxwell Street Polish sausage as well as pork chops, hamburgers, hot dogs, and more.

Joy Yee Noodles, 1335 S. Halsted St., (312) 997-2128, Pan Asian cuisine, combining dishes and styles from across Asia into one expansive menu in a cheery little dining room. Features good food, large portions, and low prices. Dishes range from traditional Asian favorites to innovative twists on classics. Open 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Mon. through Thurs., 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fri. and Sat., and noon to 10 p.m. Sun.

Junior’s Sports Lounge, 724 W. Maxwell St., (312) 421-2277, www.juniorschicago.com. Upscale sports bar with hip décor, a great selection of martinis and specialty drinks, and an extensive menu featuring appetizers, salads, burgers, chicken, sandwiches, and desserts. Junior’s offers a Sat. and Sun. brunch, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for $10.

Kohan Japanese Restaurant, 730 W. Maxwell St., (312) 421-6254, www.kohanchicago.com. Japanese steak and sushi eatery featuring a display kitchen fitted with a teppan grill. Sushi made on the spot. Open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; and for dinner 4 to 10 p.m. Mon. through Thurs., 4 to 11 p.m. Fri. and Sat., and 4 to 9 p.m. Sun.  Monday's feature is traditional Japanese sushi and teppan dining.

Lalo’s Mexican Restaurant, 773 W. Maxwell St., (312) 455-9380, www.lalos.com. Lalo’s has been bringing refined Mexican cuisine to Chicago diners for nearly 30 years. Today, about a dozen Lalo’s restaurants dot the Chicago area and remain entirely family owned. Lalo’s offers a full bar and is famous for its margaritas.

Massa Italian Café, 807 W. Roosevelt Rd., (312) 433-0123, www.massacafe.com. A casual, comfortable European-style restaurant and café with an eclectic Euro design and extensive Italian-inspired menu. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner or just some espresso or dessert. Featuring grilled panini, pizza, panzerotti, salads, fried dough, pasta, pizza, salads, gelato, gourmet coffee, and specialty drinks.

Morgan’s on Maxwell, 1325 S. Halsted St., (312) 243-4800. This bar and grill offers 24 domestic and imported beers on tap and 12 flat-screen televisions. The menu includes salads, pasta, burgers, sandwiches, chicken, ribs, steaks, seafood, and pizza.

Quizno’s Subs, 1332 S. Halsted St., (312) 563-9010, fax (312) 563-9011. Great taste and convenience at reasonable prices with menu items like subs, salads, bread bowls, soups, beverages, sides, desserts, and a kids' menu. Offering delivery and catering. Open for breakfast 7 a.m. Mon. through Fri. and 8 a.m. Sat. and Sun.

Reggio’s Pizza, 1339 S. Halsted St., (312) 455-1211, fax (312) 226-2653, www.reggios.com. Dine in, carry out, or delivery. Delivery radius of Fullerton Ave. (north), 51st St. (south), Lake Shore Dr. (east), and Western Ave. (west). Try Reggio’s famous butter crust pizza—a Chicago tradition for more than 35 years. Open seven days a week: 11:30 a.m. to midnight Mon. through Thurs., 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fri. and Sat., 1 p.m. to midnight Sun. This location accepts online orders every day from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Wow Café & Wingery, 717 W. Maxwell St., (312) 997-9969, www.wingery.com. This New Orleans-inspired restaurant has something for everyone, including kids. Besides wings, the extensive, varied menu offers tenders, quesadillas, salads, fajitas, shrimp specialties, wraps and sandwiches, soups, extras and sides, and desserts.

 

SHOPPING

7 Eleven, 1350 S. Halsted St., (312) 491-1537. Featuring foods to go, tasty beverages, an ATM, phone cards, and many other conveniences.

American Mattress, 1236 S. Halsted St., (312) 421-0707, www.AmericanMattress.com. Family owned and operated with more than 75 locations, American Mattress will help you sleep better at night with a wide selection of headboards, mattresses, daybeds, bunk beds, futons, and accessories.

            Barbara’s Bookstore, 1218 S. Halsted St., (312) 413-2665, www.barbarasbookstore.com. Keep an eye out for exciting literary events at this location, the largest Barbara’s Bookstore anywhere. Children’s story hour is held every Saturday at 11 a.m. Drop by any time to enroll your child in Barbara’s birthday club. A wide range of selections includes a sale book section offering 50% to 75% off.

            Breathe, a modern clothing lounge, 1252 S. Halsted St., (312) 997-2411, re-opening soon as Gourmet Clothing Co.

            Foot Locker, 1240 S. Halsted St., (312) 850-1002. Well known brands of athletic shoes for a variety of sports and training as well as athletic clothing, accessories, and fan gear.

            Image Arts, 1344 S. Halsted, (312) 850-3495, www.imageartsetc.com. High quality picture framing and photo studio. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon. through Sat.

Lissa on Maxwell, 729 W. Maxwell St., (312) 563-9470, www.lissaonmaxwell.com. Chicago’s destination clothing boutique for hard-to-find, edgy, and fashion-forward pieces from emerging New York, Los Angeles, and international collections. Also features handbags, jewelry, and accessories. Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon. through Fri., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun.

Lush Wine & Spirits, 1306 S. Halsted St., (312) 738-1900, www.lushwineandspirits.com. Wine tasting throughout the day. The boutique vineyard-focused inventory includes nearly 300 choices ranging from $11 to $800 and about 50 wines costing $10 or less. The inventory also features hard-to-find, high-end spirits and off-the-beaten-path beers. Be sure to check out the wine glass chandeliers above the tasting bar. Open every day noon to 10 p.m.

 

FEELING GOOD, LOOKING GOOD

Anytime Fitness, 708 W. Maxwell St., (312) 829-6620, www.anytimefitness.com. Open 24/7. Membership reciprocity program allows access to Anytime Fitness clubs nationwide. Enjoy a welcoming, clean, supportive environment regardless of fitness level or ability.

            Great Clips, 1342 S. Halsted St., (312) 491-1000, www.greatclips.com. A no-appointment hair salon. Great haircuts. Professionally trained stylists take special care to listen to every word you say so the haircut you ask for is always the cut you get. Specializing in perms and updos at reasonable prices.

Maximum Rehabilitation Services, 711 W. Maxwell St., (312) 379-0088, www.max-rehab.com. Dedicated to providing high-quality rehabilitation and home care. Focus on developing and implementing the best individual, cost-effective healthcare programs to help clients achieve their best health. Rehabilitation by physical and occupational therapists. Home health care provides curative medical care for those who want to remain at home with loved ones.

Sean Patrick’s Salon & Spa, 1304 S. Halsted St., (312) 829-6100. www.spsalonspa.com. Full-service salon specializing in hair, skin, hand, and foot care; waxing; massage; and body treatments. Sean Patrick’s Salon and Spa is widely known for attracting top professionals in the industry and for its innovative training.

 

KID STUFF

            The Little Gym, 704 W. Maxwell St., (312) 628-3119, www.thelittlegym.com. Children’s fitness programs offering non-competitive motor skill development. Classes include gymnastics, sports skills, and karate, taught in a fun, safe, nurturing environment. The Little Gym encourages children to develop at their own pace, building the self-esteem they need for fulfilling and successful lives.

 

SERVICES

MidAmerica Bank, 1314 S. Halsted St., (312) 840-6003. Paying a higher rate of attention. MidAmerica’s primary mission is enriching the lives of families through quality financial products competitively priced and delivered with outstanding service and personal attention.

Montecristo Chicago Properties, Montecristo Realty, 1238 S. Halsted St., opening soon.

            University Cleaners, 1254 S. Halsted St., (312) 733-7773. Convenient, high-quality cleaning and laundry services.