Survivability Rankings for American Restaurant in Chicago
StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in Chicago to open an American Restaurant, from West Morgan Park (83% survival) to W...
By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: September 2026 | Methodology
Quick Summary
- Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address
- #1 Neighborhood: West Morgan Park: 83% average survivability for American Restaurant
- Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 99 of 99 analyzed
- City-wide average: 79% for American Restaurants
- Most challenging area: Wicker Park at 75%
- Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~10.1% more expected revenue in West Morgan Park
- Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →
Table of Contents
- Summary
- 10 Best Neighborhoods
- Where Would an American Restaurant Make the Most Money?
- What Should I Consider?
- Where Should I Start?
- FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
- FAQ: Can an American Restaurant Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
- FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
- FAQ: Is an American Restaurant a Good Tenant?
- Landlord Survivability Data
- Best Neighborhoods for Any Business
Summary
StreetSpring's 2026 analysis shows the best neighborhood in and around Chicago to open an American Restaurant is West Morgan Park with 83% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 84% and the most challenging locations in West Morgan Park at 81%. The worst neighborhoods include Wicker Park with 75% 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.
What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Chicago to Open an American Restaurant?
West Morgan Park ranks #1 of 99 neighborhoods analyzed in and around Chicago for American Restaurant survivability, with a 83% chance of lasting two or more years as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:
| Rank | Neighborhood | At a good address | Average Locations | Best Locations | Challenging Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Morgan Park | 83.5% | 80.0% to 84.0% | 82.0% to 84.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% |
| 2 | West Lawn | 83.1% | 79.0% to 84.0% | 83.0% to 84.0% | 78.0% to 80.0% |
| 3 | Morgan Park | 83.1% | 78.0% to 83.0% | 82.0% to 84.0% | 77.0% to 79.0% |
| 4 | Scottsdale | 83.1% | 77.0% to 82.0% | 83.0% to 84.0% | 77.0% to 79.0% |
| 5 | West Beverly | 82.6% | 79.0% to 84.0% | 82.0% to 84.0% | 79.0% to 81.0% |
| 6 | Kennedy Park | 82.6% | 79.0% to 84.0% | 82.0% to 84.0% | 79.0% to 80.0% |
| 7 | Beverly | 82.6% | 78.0% to 83.0% | 83.0% to 84.0% | 77.0% to 79.0% |
| 8 | East Beverly | 82.6% | 78.0% to 83.0% | 81.0% to 83.0% | 77.0% to 79.0% |
| 9 | Wildwood | 82.2% | 78.0% to 83.0% | 81.0% to 83.0% | 78.0% to 80.0% |
| 10 | Archer Heights | 82.2% | 78.0% to 82.0% | 82.0% to 84.0% | 76.0% to 78.0% |
However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. For the most accurate predictions, always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform.
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.
Where in or Around Chicago Would an American Restaurant Make the Most Money?
In West Morgan Park, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~10.1% more than the average location in or around Chicago.
On the other hand, in Wicker Park, the worst possible location could result in making ~9.8% less than the average location in the city.
Nothing influences a business's future more than its location. Opening an American Restaurant in Chicago requires careful location choice. Across 99 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new American Restaurant is 79% for lasting more than 2 years, due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. What makes a location ideal varies by business type: foot traffic patterns, competitor proximity, and consumer demographics all play different roles.
What Should I Consider When Opening an American Restaurant in or Around Chicago?
When selecting a location for an American Restaurant 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. The analysis behind these rankings spans millions of data points across competition, spending, and mobility. A certain density of competitors signals strong demand and can benefit all businesses. StreetSpring's proprietary algorithms power these predictions. 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. New competitor openings and closures happen weekly: the live tool ensures you see the latest picture.
Where in or Around Chicago Should I Start an American Restaurant?
Based on our analysis, the leading neighborhoods are West Morgan Park, West Lawn, and Morgan Park, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Wicker Park, Noble Square, and Budlong Woods. Our data shows that roughly 15% of top-performing locations sit in neighborhoods ranked below the city median. However, market conditions change daily, and it's best to use StreetSpring's live data to check the Survivability Score for a specific address.
Related Articles:
- Business Survivability Rankings: Chicago
- Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Chicago
- National City Survivability: American Restaurant
- National Neighborhood Survivability: American Restaurant
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Open an American Restaurant?
Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for an American Restaurant in Chicago is West Morgan Park with 83% average survivability, followed by West Lawn and Morgan Park. 99 of 99 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.
New competitor openings and closures happen weekly: the live tool ensures you see the latest picture.
Can an American Restaurant 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. Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.
How Often Are American Restaurant 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 an American Restaurant a Good Tenant for Chicago Landlords?
In West Morgan Park, StreetSpring forecasts a 80.0% to 84.0% average chance for a new American 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 American Restaurant in Chicago
Landlords in Chicago's top three neighborhoods for American Restaurant can expect the following average survivability for new tenants:
- West Morgan Park: 80.0% to 84.0%
- West Lawn: 79.0% to 84.0%
- Morgan Park: 78.0% to 83.0%
You can see the Survivability Score for your location for any business right now.
Each prediction is calibrated to the specific address, factoring in competition, vacancy, and consumer spending at that exact location.
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 American Restaurant compares to all other business types in Chicago
- Best Cities to Open an American Restaurant in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for American Restaurant
- Business Survivability in West Morgan Park, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in West Lawn, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in Morgan Park, 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 static ranges shown here.