New Lululemon On the Gold Coast

Someone who describes herself as a "sometimes reader" (what's up with that?) of this blog e-mailed us these pictures today of the newly erected retail space at the corner of Rush and Walton.

This was formerly the location of a Gino's East pizza joint that was torn down.  Then it was used for construction storage while the Elysian Chicago was built.  Now it's retail, and from the signs in the window -- it looks like it's going to be a Lululemon yoga place (with an address of 930 North Rush Street).  No opening date is posted, but a note on the Lululemon web site notes that the Rush and Walton location is "coming soon!"

Last we heard about this location was a Crain's article from last year that stated that men's clothier Varvatos was heading into this space.  While the chances of me practicing yoga at Lululemon or anywhere else are pretty close to zero, it's nice to have this space filled, and we welcome Lulu to the neighborhood.

And for those of you who don't get our Tweets, it looks like the Sur La Table nearby is going to become a Sprinkles cupcake joint by March.

Status Update: Almost Done at 930 North Rush

We've been following the lot at the corner of Rush and Walton streets for a while  here, here, here and here) as it was transformed from a condemned Gino's East pizza restaurant into what is almost but not quite yet the district's latest retail boutique.

Today 930 North Rush Street looks pretty good, and went up in what felt like record time once construction finally began. The wood, glass, and steel exterior which faces the main shopping drag works well with the Urban Outfitters across the street, and even makes the Diesel store's facade look slightly less like a Tim Burton film.

Our big worry as this corner was being filled out was the Walton Street side, which is mostly just a brick wall.  But planters have been installed with climbing frames for vines and a wide swatch of exterior wood panelling make it seem less industrial and more warm.  It looks good right now, but it also remains to be seen what a couple of good Chicago winters will do to it.

Status Update: 930 North Rush

it's hard to tell from this CrappyCameraPhone™ picture, but there's a welder working on the steel beams that form the third floor of the new 930 North Rush Street.  The former Gino's East location, shut down by the city's health department years ago, is finally being replaced by something.

It's supposed to be upscale retail, of the sort that has fled the mallification of Michigan Avenue for the side streets.  Last we read (in Crain's) was that Varvatos, the men's clothier, is going in that location.

We also hear that the remaining stores on that stretch of Walton Place may not be long for this world.

There's a shoe repair shop and a subterranean jazz club frequently mentioned on WDCB.  Someone from the club is telling people that in 2011 the brownstones between 930 and the brand new Walgreen's may be demolished.  To make way for what, we haven't heard.

And apropos of nothing -- Since we mentioned WDCB/Glen Ellyn, there's good news for Chicago jazz fans.  90.9 is no longer the only jazz station in town.  Clear Channel has moved the smooth jazz music formerly heard on Mega95.5 to WNUA-HD2/Chicago.  It's not much, but we'll take whatever we can get.