What is the best neighborhood in Chicago to open a Smoke Shop?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the best neighborhood in Chicago to open a Smoke Shop is Boulevard District, ranked #1 at 85.0% at a good address and 81.1% at a typical address. 31 of the 99 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% at a typical address.

What is the average survivability for Smoke Shop across Chicago's ranked neighborhoods?

Across the 99 ranked neighborhoods in Chicago, the average projected chance that a Smoke Shop lasts two or more years is 65.8% at a typical address. Boulevard District, ranked #1, is at 81.1% at a typical address.

What are the worst neighborhoods for Smoke Shop in Chicago?

The most challenging neighborhoods in Chicago for Smoke Shop include Scottsdale (ranked last, at 57.1% at a good address and 52.7% at a typical address), Wildwood, and West Beverly. Market conditions are changing daily and it is best to use StreetSpring's most up-to-date data.

What should I consider when opening a Smoke Shop in Chicago?

The most important factor for a business's success is the Revenue Capture Score for the business at the location it selects. 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 Smoke Shop in Chicago

Q: Where in Chicago would a Smoke Shop make the most money?

It depends on the exact address. The Revenue Capture Score is the most important factor in choosing a location: StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address. Check it in the live tool for each Chicago address you are weighing.

Q: Can a Smoke Shop 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. Static rankings provide a useful baseline, but the live tool captures changes that have occurred since publication.

StreetSpring's 2026 ranking of Chicago neighborhoods to open a Smoke Shop, at a good address, from Boulevard District (85.0% survival) to Scottsdale.

April 24, 2026•13 min read

By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: October 2026 | Methodology

Quick Summary

Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address

#1 Neighborhood: Boulevard District: 85.0% at a good address, 81.1% at a typical address for Smoke Shop

Neighborhoods at or above 70% at a typical address: 31 of 99 ranked

Average across the 99 ranked neighborhoods (typical address): 65.8% for Smoke Shops

Most challenging area: Scottsdale: 57.1% at a good address, 52.7% at a typical address

Revenue Capture Score: the most important factor in choosing a location, StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address

Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

Summary
10 Best Neighborhoods
Where Would a Smoke Shop Make the Most Money?
What Should I Consider?
Where Should I Start?
FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
FAQ: Can a Smoke Shop Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
FAQ: Is a Smoke Shop a Good Tenant?
Landlord Survivability Data
Best Neighborhoods for Any Business

Summary

Boulevard District leads Chicago's 2026 survivability rankings for Smoke Shop operators, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 85.0% at a good address and 81.1% at a typical address. Its highest scored address is at 85.0% and its lowest at 74.6%. The last-ranked neighborhood is Scottsdale, at 57.1% at a good address and 52.7% at a typical address. The highest and lowest scored addresses inside one neighborhood can sit far apart, so the neighborhood figure is a starting point.

What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Chicago to Open a Smoke Shop?

Boulevard District ranks #1 of the 99 ranked neighborhoods in and around Chicago for Smoke Shop survivability, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 85.0% at a good address as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

Rank	Neighborhood	Metro	At a good address	Average (typical address)	Best Locations	Challenging Locations
1	Boulevard District	Chicago	85.0%	81.1%	85.0%	74.6%
2	Palmer Square	Chicago	84.6%	83.2%	85.0%	74.2%
3	Sheffield Neighbors	Chicago	84.6%	81.0%	84.6%	73.8%
4	Logan Square	Chicago	84.6%	79.8%	85.0%	62.5%
5	Pigeon Hill	Chicago	84.6%	79.3%	84.6%	59.4%
6	Big Woods Marmion	Chicago	84.1%	76.2%	85.0%	55.8%
7	Old Town	Chicago	84.1%	71.4%	85.0%	56.2%
8	Cunningham	Chicago	83.6%	76.4%	84.1%	67.0%
9	University Village/Little Italy	Chicago	83.6%	75.0%	84.6%	55.3%
10	Humboldt Park	Chicago	83.6%	72.0%	85.0%	49.9%

Market conditions are changing daily and it is best to use StreetSpring's most up-to-date data. However, market conditions change daily, and it's best to use StreetSpring's live data to check the Survivability Score for a specific address.

The ranking runs on the good-address figure (the 90th percentile of the scored addresses in each neighborhood). Average is the typical address; Best and Challenging Locations are the highest and lowest scored address in the neighborhood. Every figure is the projected chance of lasting two or more years, as printed in the linked file. 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 Smoke Shop Make the Most Money?

Where a Smoke Shop would make the most money in or around Chicago comes down to the exact address. The Revenue Capture Score is the most important factor in choosing a location: StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address.

Boulevard District is ranked #1 for Smoke Shop survivability, at 85.0% at a good address and 81.1% at a typical address; Scottsdale is ranked last of the 99, at 57.1% at a good address and 52.7% at a typical address. Revenue at a specific storefront is what the Revenue Capture Score estimates, so check it for each address you are weighing.

Your choice of location is one of the few business decisions you can test against data before you commit. Opening a Smoke Shop in Chicago requires careful location choice. Across the 99 ranked neighborhoods, the average projected chance that a new Smoke Shop lasts two or more years is 65.8% at a typical address. The interplay between location characteristics and business type produces unique survivability scores for every combination.

What Should I Consider When Opening a Smoke Shop in or Around Chicago?

When selecting a location for a Smoke Shop in or around Chicago, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. The most important factor for a business's success is the Revenue Capture Score for the business at the location it selects. 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. Some competition is beneficial to attract customers with similar intents to the same area. Our prediction system is built from scratch using proprietary data pipelines and validated against actual business lifecycles. 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. Neighborhood rankings are useful, but the exact odds for your location can only be seen by running a current survivability check in StreetSpring.

Where in or Around Chicago Should I Start a Smoke Shop?

StreetSpring's analysis shows the best areas are Boulevard District, Palmer Square, and Sheffield Neighbors, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Scottsdale, Wildwood, and West Beverly. Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool.

Related Articles:

Business Survivability Rankings: Chicago
Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Chicago
National City Survivability: Smoke Shop
National Neighborhood Survivability: Smoke Shop

What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Open a Smoke Shop?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Smoke Shop in Chicago is Boulevard District, at 85.0% at a good address and 81.1% at a typical address, followed by Palmer Square and Sheffield Neighbors. 31 of the 99 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% at a typical address.

For the most accurate predictions, always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform.

Can a Smoke Shop 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. However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.

How Often Are Smoke Shop 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 Smoke Shop a Good Tenant for Chicago Landlords?

In Boulevard District, the projected chance that a new Smoke Shop lasts two or more years is 81.1% at a typical address and 85.0% at a good address, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for Smoke Shop in Chicago

Should you rent your storefront to a Smoke Shop? The answer depends heavily on your neighborhood. Boulevard District is ranked first, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 81.1% at a typical address, followed by Palmer Square at 83.2% at a typical address, and Sheffield Neighbors at 81.0% at a typical address. Our tool shows the survivability outlook for any business type at your exact address, updated regularly.

StreetSpring scores the exact storefront address, not only the neighborhood around it.

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 Smoke Shop compares to all other business types in Chicago
Best Cities to Open a Smoke Shop in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for Smoke Shop
Business Survivability in Boulevard District, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
Business Survivability in Palmer Square, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
Business Survivability in Sheffield Neighbors, 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 figures shown here.

Table of Contents