The Scene in the West Loop

Throngs of foodies making their way past factories, meat warehouses and produce markets. The rumble of the 'L' train overhead while late night revelers hop between bars. A worker manning a forklift is on the move while bicyclists, BMWs and delivery trucks navigate through­.

Day or night, the barrage of activity shows a neighborhood transforming right before your eyes. And at hyper speed. A burgeoning tech-scene is on the rise in the West Loop and Fulton Market District and shared office co-working spaces are all the rage these days. 

The zip codes that cover West Loop real estate are 60661 and 60607. The majority of real estate inventory in the West Loop is comprised of industrial brick and timber lofts, concrete lofts and modern lofts. With interior exposed brick and large floor to ceiling windows, this industrial style of condo gives West Loop real estate special characteristics that will be harder to find anywhere else in the city. Townhouses for sale can also be found in the West Loop.

Find It in the West Loop

Randolph Street between Ogden Avenue and Halsted Street — aka "Restaurant Row" — is the hub for a chef-driven dining scene that shows no sign of stopping. Extending from here is the historic Fulton Market District, a pocket of turn-of-the-century buildings and streetscapes. The parcels of land that fill the gap from Fulton Street to Grand Avenue (the West Loop's northern border) have an industrial edge to them, and are belted by train tracks. Around the intersection of Halsted Street and Jackson Boulevard, the ethnic enclave Greektown adds a Mediterranean flair to the culinary landscape of the West Loop.

Get Around the West Loop

The Morgan station, for the Green Line and Pink Line 'L' trains, was added in 2012 and paved the way for the influx of office tenants, and residents, to move in. Convenient and quick commuting via this central station on Lake Street is rounded out by 'L' stations all around the edges of the West Loop: UIC-Halsted, Racine and Grand are Blue Line stops, while Ashland is another Green/Pink Line stop.

The Kennedy Expressway and Eisenhower Expressway are also neighborhood boundaries, though keep in mind that it's easy to get on the roadways yet parking in the West Loop is a big challenge.

Several bus lines, and Metra/Amtrak trains at nearby Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station in the West Loop Gate, add to the neighborhood's accessibility and provide easy access to and from the suburbs surrounding Chicago. 

West Loop Real Estate Market Snapshot

MODERN LOFTS | SOFT LOFTS | INDUSTRIAL LOFT CONDOS | NEW CONSTRUCTION | TOWNHOMES

The West Loop home buyer inventory is primarily comprised of industrial-style condo lofts for sale in turn-of-the-century warehouses converted to residential buildings. Modern hard lofts, soft lofts and townhomes are also available for sale in the West Loop. Interested in buying a condo in the West Loop? Contact the West Town Team to get expert real estate advice from an experienced and knowledgeable West Loop real estate agent.

Learn more about the market trends with a West Loop real estate expert:

Michael Samm, West Loop REALTOR®
312-767-7504

Eat & Drink in the West Loop

Culinary powerhouses have made this a sector of the city synonymous with dining. Randolph and Fulton Streets are the stomping grounds of Chicago's biggest chefs building their food empires, while Halsted Street is the city's historically Greek neighborhood and has the saganaki and spanakopita to prove it.

The Publican (837 W Fulton Market) a meat market in a different sense, this rollicking dining hall packs in plenty of pork and seafood on the menu.

The Black Barrel Tavern (1061 W Madison St) a local favorite, Black Barrel Tavern is a casual dining establishment that offers top-notch pub food with craft cocktails and has an excellent weekend brunch.

Monteverde (1020 W Madison St) is renowned for inventive Italian dishes serving fresh pastas and a stellar wine collection with many wines and ingredients imported directly from Italy. They also host a gluten-free menu.

Au Cheval (800 W Randolph St) one of the neighborhood's best kept secrets... jk. The lines can still max out at 3 hour waits, even years after winning Best Burger in America by both Bon Appetit and Food Network.

Cruz Blanca Cervecería (904 W Randolph St) television host and award-winning chef Rick Bayless continues to wow West Loop crowds with Mexican food, this time pairing a taquería with new world brews that are interpretations of classic German, Austrian, and French styles of beer.

Kaiser Tiger (1415 W Randolph St) where brats and sausages adorn the plates of hungry West Loopers with a wide variety of beer selections to boot.

The Aviary (955 W Fulton Market) takes cocktails to uncharted territory with concoctions so uber-creative they come with instructions.

Lazy Bird Bar at The Hoxton Hotel (200 N Green St) one of the hottest nightlife hangouts in the West Loop with luscious cocktails and live music.

Federales (180 N Morgan St) a simple premise (tacos, ceviche and tequila-based cocktails) get upgraded to party proportions when a retractable roof and "Ice Glass Shots" get thrown into the mix.

Pizza Parlor West Loop (108 N Green St) two words... outdoor rooftop! Strung with string lights, the second story deck overlooks the sprawling patio and both boast tables filled with wood-fired pizzas and the biggest, cheese-smothered loaf of Craziest Bread you ever laid eyes on.

City Winery (1200 W Randolph St) a 35,000 sq. ft. one-stop-shop that combines restaurant, winery, event space and concert hall.

Greek Islands Restaurant (200 S Halsted St) serving Greek fare in the heart of the West Loop since 1971.

Athena Greek Restaurant (212 S Halsted St) traditional Greek flavors with city skyline views — tables on the rooftop veranda look right out to the Willis Tower.

Anchoring the West Loop

A recreational playground, Union Park (1501 W Randolph St) rests on the western border of the West Loop. Find 13 acres for all-seasons activities — swimming, tennis, basketball — though some weekends swell with crowds for summer festivals like Pitchfork.

Very popular with the stroller set, Mary Bartleme Park (115 S Sangamon St) is a gem of greenery amid a surrounding of brick buildings and glass towers. A children's area, off-leash dog park and misting water plaza encourage play. The stunning park design, particularly the shining steel sculptures with a skyline backdrop, encourage Instagram selfies.

The National Hellenic Museum (333 S Halsted St) was first founded as the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center in 1983. It has since grown its collections to 17,000 artifacts spanning thousands of years, and has moved to more modern digs: a 4-story building of its own in the heart of Greektown.

Michael Samm | West Loop Real Estate Agent
312-767-7504

Known as one of the top West Loop real estate agents in Chicago, Michael Samm takes pride in assisting West Loop home buyers get the best prices for their home purchase and West Loop home sellers get the most money for their homes.

Michael is an expert in the West Loop real estate market and his knowledge of the neighborhood combined with his more than 15 years of marketing and public relations experience, make him the #1 choice when choosing a top realtor in the West Loop area.

If you are looking for a West Loop realtor with excellent client reviews that is passionate about the neighborhood, contact Mike today to learn more about buying or selling a home in the West Loop.