Too Big a Bite
Local favorite Portillo’s had ambitious plans to go national. But the restaurant chain’s rapid expansion has left it choking.
All Stories
Stealing Home
Despite all the hoopla, the White Sox’s proposed move from Guaranteed Rate Field to the 78 is anything but guaranteed.
La Salle Street Blues
As businesses desert the once-vibrant corridor, boosters worry the mayor won’t get behind a mixed-use revitalization plan.
Office Complex
As companies flee big headquarters and office parks, suburbs are scrambling to reinvent those spaces — and themselves.
Gown vs. Town
Northwestern’s plan to replace Ryan Field with a sports and entertainment complex is causing a hometown hassle.
Too Much to Bear?
A new football stadium and mixed-use complex could be a boondoggle rather than a boon for Arlington Heights.
Who Needs Townships?
Illinois has far more local governments than any other state. Many have outlived their usefulness. So why aren’t we getting rid of them?
The Lean Mile
COVID, crime, and online shopping are emptying Michigan Avenue’s swankiest stretch. Will it ever be magnificent again?
Big Players Place Big Bets on Sports Gambling in Illinois
Casinos, a racetrack, and major sports teams are all trying to cash in on Illinois’s $5 billion a year sports betting habit.
Glitter and Glue
A truth and reconciliation commission worked in South Africa. Could it in Chicago — or would it be purely performance?