Ann Sather Opens in Wicker Park as Bucktown Adds New Pizza and Sushi Restaurants

CHICAGO - Wicker Park and Bucktown are getting a fresh wave of restaurant activity this summer, led by a familiar Chicago name making a highly watched neighborhood move.

Ann Sather is opening a new location at 1819 W. Division Street on the Wicker Park-West Town border, taking over the former Yolk space. The move comes after the longtime Belmont Avenue flagship in Lakeview prepared to close as redevelopment moves forward on that site.

For longtime Chicago diners, Ann Sather’s arrival on Division Street is more than a new breakfast option. It brings one of the city’s most recognizable comfort-food names into a corridor already known for restaurants, bars, walkability, and neighborhood energy.

Ann Sather Brings Cinnamon Rolls to Division Street

The new Ann Sather location is expected to serve the restaurant’s familiar breakfast and lunch menu, including the cinnamon rolls that have made the brand a Chicago staple.

The space also includes a to-go bakery section, giving neighbors a quicker option for cinnamon rolls, pastries, and carryout items. Outdoor dining on Division Street is expected to be added, which should help the restaurant feel more connected to the neighborhood’s street-level activity once fully operating.

Owner Tom Tunney, the former alderman who operated Ann Sather for decades, has a deep history with the brand and with Chicago neighborhood restaurant life. Ann Sather previously had a Wicker Park presence on Milwaukee Avenue in the early 2000s, so the Division Street opening also marks a return to this part of the city.

That history matters. In a neighborhood where restaurants change quickly, Ann Sather brings name recognition, nostalgia, and a built-in customer base.

Western Avenue Adds New Casual Dining Options

The restaurant news is not limited to Division Street.

Along the Western Avenue corridor, Bucktown has added two new casual dining spots that give the area more everyday options near transit and residential blocks.

Bucktown Pizza recently opened at 1912 N. Western Avenue, right under the Western Blue Line CTA station, taking over the former Oromo Cafe space. The restaurant is described as a casual counter-service spot focused on thin-crust slices and whole pies, with a limited early menu that includes cheese, Margherita, pepperoni, sausage, and garlic white pizza.

The location is important because Western Avenue is a high-traffic connector between Bucktown, Logan Square, Wicker Park, and Humboldt Park. A slice shop under the Blue Line fits the way many residents actually move through the area, whether they are commuting, walking home, or grabbing something quick before heading out.

Less than a block away, JOMON Sushi & Izakaya opened at 1858 N. Western Avenue, taking over the former Wave Sushi and Sake space. The restaurant brings sushi, izakaya-style dishes, skewers, hot plates, rice dishes, noodles, beer, sake, and wine to the corridor.

Together, Bucktown Pizza and JOMON add more variety to a stretch of Western that already benefits from strong transit access and steady neighborhood foot traffic.

Vajra Restarts Weekend Dine-In Service

In Wicker Park, Vajra at 2039 W. North Avenue has restarted weekend dine-in service after shifting formats several times in recent years.

The Nepalese-Indian restaurant is known for Indian classics, Nepalese momo dumplings, biryanis, tikka masala, rich sauces, and a cocktail program that gives the restaurant more of a full night-out feel.

Current dining hours include dinner from Friday through Sunday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., plus a weekend lunch buffet on Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

That is a meaningful comeback for neighbors who have followed Vajra since its earlier West Town days and later move to North Avenue. It also gives the Wicker Park dining scene another sit-down option with a more distinct cuisine focus.

Why This Matters for Wicker Park and Bucktown

Restaurant openings are not just food news. They are neighborhood signals.

In areas like Wicker Park, Bucktown, and West Town, restaurants help define how people use the neighborhood day to day. A breakfast institution, a slice shop, a sushi and izakaya concept, and a revived weekend dining room all serve different needs.

Ann Sather is bringing its well-known breakfast menu and cinnamon rolls to 1819 W. Division Street, while Bucktown Pizza and JOMON Sushi & Izakaya add new casual dining options near the Western Blue Line corridor. Meanwhile, Vajra is welcoming diners back for weekend lunch and dinner service on North Avenue.

For residents, this means more everyday options across breakfast, pizza, sushi, izakaya-style dishes, and Nepalese-Indian dining. For the neighborhood, it is another reminder that restaurant momentum continues to be one of the biggest lifestyle drivers in Wicker Park, Bucktown, and West Town.

Looking to Live Near Chicago’s Best Restaurant Corridors?

From Wicker Park and Bucktown to West Loop, River North, South Loop, and other walkable Chicago neighborhoods, dining access is a major part of everyday lifestyle. Connect with The Cory Tanzer Group at Option Premier for expert guidance on finding a home near the restaurants, transit, and neighborhood energy that fit your routine.

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