What is the best neighborhood in Chicago to open a Grocery Store?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the best neighborhood in Chicago to open a Grocery Store is Dunning, with 80% average survivability. 95 of 99 neighborhoods analyzed exceed the 70% two-year survival threshold.

How much more revenue can a Grocery Store make in the best vs. average Chicago neighborhood?

In Dunning, the best possible Grocery Store location in Chicago offers approximately 7.6% more expected revenue than the average location. The worst-performing neighborhoods could yield approximately 11.5% less than average.

What is the city-wide average survivability for Grocery Store in Chicago?

The city-wide average survivability for Grocery Store across Chicago is 78% for surviving more than 2 years. Top neighborhoods like Dunning substantially outperform this average, reaching 80%.

What are the worst neighborhoods for Grocery Store in Chicago?

The most challenging neighborhoods in Chicago for Grocery Store include Northeast Area with 74% average survival chance, Lake View East, and Pigeon Hill. Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform.

How accurate are StreetSpring's Grocery Store survivability predictions?

StreetSpring publishes its accuracy on the methodology page, stated with its base rate: how often the model tells an open business from a closed one on cities held out of training, its precision on risk flags, and its discrimination. Each score draws on 100+ factors and is reported as the projected chance of lasting two or more years, never as a guarantee. StreetSpring delivers pinpoint accuracy down to the exact storefront location.

What should I consider when opening a Grocery Store in Chicago?

Revenue Capture Score matters more than any other single metric when predicting business outcomes. StreetSpring computes Revenue Capture Score by projecting the business's market share based on competitor quality and quantity, mobility patterns, and forecasted consumer spending for the specific business type.

Survivability Rankings for Grocery Store in Chicago

Q: Can a Grocery Store succeed in lower-ranked neighborhoods in Chicago?

Yes, neighborhood rankings are averages that 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 live platform incorporates the most recent competitor, vacancy, and spending data for your exact address.

StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in Chicago to open a Grocery Store, from Dunning (80% survival) to Northeast Area (7...

September 25, 2026•12 min read

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: Dunning: 80% average survivability for Grocery Store

Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 95 of 99 analyzed

City-wide average: 78% for Grocery Stores

Most challenging area: Northeast Area at 74%

Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~7.6% more expected revenue in Dunning

Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

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

StreetSpring's 2026 analysis shows the best neighborhood in and around Chicago to open a Grocery Store is Dunning with 80% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 83% and the most challenging locations in Dunning at 75%. The worst neighborhoods include Northeast Area with 74% average chance. These rankings are based on the latest available data; check StreetSpring for real-time updates.

What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Chicago to Open a Grocery Store?

Dunning ranks #1 of 99 neighborhoods analyzed in and around Chicago for Grocery Store survivability, with a 80% 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	Dunning	82.7%	78.0% to 83.0%	82.0% to 84.0%	74.0% to 76.0%
2	West Beverly	82.4%	77.0% to 82.0%	81.0% to 83.0%	76.0% to 78.0%
3	West Lawn	82.2%	77.0% to 82.0%	82.0% to 84.0%	74.0% to 76.0%
4	Wildwood	82.1%	76.0% to 81.0%	82.0% to 84.0%	72.0% to 74.0%
5	Beverly	82.0%	78.0% to 82.0%	82.0% to 84.0%	73.0% to 75.0%
6	West Elsdon	81.9%	78.0% to 82.0%	81.0% to 83.0%	76.0% to 78.0%
7	Galewood	81.6%	76.0% to 81.0%	82.0% to 84.0%	74.0% to 76.0%
8	Chicago Lawn	81.4%	78.0% to 83.0%	81.0% to 83.0%	78.0% to 80.0%
9	Brighton Park	81.4%	78.0% to 82.0%	82.0% to 84.0%	76.0% to 78.0%
10	Gage Park	81.4%	78.0% to 82.0%	81.0% to 83.0%	76.0% to 78.0%

Location-level factors like visibility and adjacent tenants can override neighborhood-level trends. However, market conditions change daily, and it's best to use StreetSpring's live data to check the Survivability Score for a specific 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.

Where in or Around Chicago Would a Grocery Store Make the Most Money?

In Dunning, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~7.6% more than the average location in or around Chicago.

On the other hand, in Northeast Area, the worst possible location could result in making ~11.5% less than the average location in the city.

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 99 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new Grocery Store is 78% for lasting more than 2 years, due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. The same location can be excellent for one business type and poor for another.

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. Revenue Capture Score matters more than any other single metric when predicting business outcomes. 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. Our data shows that businesses in moderately competitive clusters survive longer than isolated storefronts on average. These forecasts are generated using StreetSpring's unique analytical framework. 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

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Because local conditions evolve weekly, the live survivability tool offers a more current snapshot than any published ranking.

Where in or Around Chicago Should I Start a Grocery Store?

According to StreetSpring's data, optimal neighborhoods include Dunning, West Beverly, and West Lawn, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Northeast Area, Lake View East, and Pigeon Hill. These averages are directional, not definitive; the best decision comes from analyzing your specific storefront. New competitor openings and closures happen weekly: the live tool ensures you see the latest picture.

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 Dunning with 80% average survivability, followed by West Beverly and West Lawn. 95 of 99 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.

Our live tool reflects the latest competitive landscape: these static rankings may already be slightly out of date.

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. Market conditions are changing daily and it is best to use StreetSpring's most up-to-date data. 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 Dunning, StreetSpring forecasts a 78.0% to 83.0% average chance for a new Grocery Store to survive more than 2 years, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for Grocery Store in Chicago

Tenant longevity is a top concern for commercial landlords. In Dunning, a Grocery Store tenant averages 78.0% to 83.0% chance of lasting more than 2 years: the strongest outlook in Chicago. West Beverly follows at 77.0% to 82.0%, while West Lawn shows 77.0% to 82.0%. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

StreetSpring provides highly detailed forecasts: revealing how long hundreds of business types are likely to last at a specific address.

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.

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 Dunning, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
Business Survivability in West Beverly, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
Business Survivability in West Lawn, 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.

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