Construction cranes hang consistently throughout the Wrigleyville neighborhood, most notably within the few blocks that surround Wrigley Field. The iconic stadium has been going through renovations itself, even before the Cubs brought home the World Series Championship trophy. But now, the desire to build up the neighborhood is even stronger. Hotels, apartments, restaurants, and retail are popping up like crazy around Addison and Clark streets.

Rendering courtesy of 1111 W. Addison St.

The seven-story Hotel Zachary is expected to open this spring with 175 rooms, and by August an Addison and Clark mixed-use development is slated to deliver 148 apartments and 150,000 square feet of retail space. Earlier this month, officials revealed plans to move forward with the project at 1111 W. Addison St. that will replace a Taco Bell with a climbing gym. 

With all the developments taking shape, one trend is sure to please new and old Wrigleyville residents — it’s becoming a food hub. Just like baseball fans can now get Doug Sohn’s famous hot dogs and sausages and Food Network star Jeff Mauro’s pork sandwiches at the field, the quantity and quality of cuisine around the park are increasing.

Among the notable Wrigleyville newbies is a slew of restaurants and dining options, many of which are already known in the Chicago scene. Earlier this month, the Boka Group announced it has a restaurant in the works near Wrigley Field. The Boka Restaurant Group is most known for Girl and the Goat and GT Fish & Oyster, but the team isn’t ready to share too many details about the Wrigleyville project.

News broke that Boka’s Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz were planning an endeavor near the home of the Cubs at its employee holiday party. The two, who are known to be big Cubs fans, buried the announcement in a video shown at the party. And while the video was taken off YouTube, a spokesperson from Boka acknowledged the video to Eater Chicago. According to the publication, Katz and Boehm announced the restaurant as the only opening expected for 2018.

This is just one of the big announcements made in February for the neighborhood. Eater also reported that Cubs manager Joe Maddon is getting in on the action with a restaurant next door to Wrigley. Working with regarded chef Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia and River Roast, this isn’t Maddon’s first foray into the restaurant industry: In 2014, he opened Ava, an Italian restaurant in Tampa where he managed the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s also a known oenophile.

Rendering courtesy of  One Off Hospitality and Design Bureaux

The Chicago Tribune reported that cuisine will be a mix of Italian and Polish. While the two have experience in Italian cuisine, the Polish flair comes from Maddon’s half-Polish ancestry. Mantuano told the Tribune that the food is going to be rustic but sophisticated, “inspired by our aunts and uncles from working-class towns.” The kitchen will cook with wood — wood oven, wood-fired grill, and a custom smoke box.

The unnamed restaurant will occupy two stories with the first one featuring an exposed kitchen and bar and the upstairs space to be decorated in a bohemian style. Maddon is expected to host his radio show upstairs every day when the Cubs are in town. There’s no word on when the restaurant will be open, but Mantuano hopes to be ready by the fall in time for the World Series — even better if the Cubs are in it again.

The city mourned the exit of the Wrigleyville Taco Bell, so it’s only fitting that one of Chicago’s favorite taco joints fill the void. Wicker Park’s Big Star announced it is opening a massive two-story, 9,000-square-foot bar inside the Hotel Zachary. Scheduled to debut in time for Cubs home opening day, the second location of Big Star will have enough space for 300 patrons and have an outdoor patio that overlooks the park. 

The design concept unveiled by One Off Hospitality and Design Bureaux stays pretty in-line with the Wicker Park location’s decor. The modern industrial design will have a laid-back vibe and space for occasional live music.