Wrigleyville Taco Bell sees its last day

Demolition is Thursday, then the site will become a climbing gym

It’s the Wrigleyville Taco Bell’s last day serving tacos to the late-night crowd—the site is scheduled for demolition Thursday, November 1. As the last traces of old Wrigleyville are razed, the neighborhood’s hooligans mourned the fast food joint in the only appropriate way: an Irish wake at Nisei Lounge.

Down the street from Wrigley Field and its beloved Taco Bell, mourners gathered at @NiseiLounge and showed us what it means to truly “live más.” @laurencomitor: https://t.co/bErevJXB25

— The Athletic (@TheAthleticCHI) October 29, 2018

In August 2017 it was announced that the Taco Bell at 1111 W. Addison would be going down for a new development, just like the McDonald’s did for Hotel Zachary. Then a few months later developers released plans that showed the site will become a climbing gym, Planet Granite. The real estate was sold to West Addison Development in July 2017 for $8.9 million, according to Crain’s.

In just a very short amount of time, Wrigleyville has transformed from a beloved but rough around the edges neighborhood into a blur of shiny, new, generic development. The climbing gym, housed in three-story glassy modular building, will join other recently opened projects such as Wrigley Field’s town square Gallagher Way (formerly the Park at Wrigley), Hotel Zachary and its handful of restaurants, The Wheelhouse boutique hotel, Addison & Clark retail and apartments, and more.

Don’t worry too much, after a year of searching Taco Bell found a replacement location and opened up shop at 920 W. Belmont Avenue, according to Eater Chicago. Some think the new store is too far from Wrigley Field to have the same late-night magic but only time will tell.

As for the Taco Bell, you might want to say your goodbye sooner than later. Folks on Twitter are already sharing photos of trucks prepping for the store’s ultimate fate.

End of an era...RIP Wrigleyville Taco Bell @BarstoolBigCat @wrigleyreport @NiseiLounge pic.twitter.com/B5rNmAktVN

— Ryan Boothe (@Ryan_Boothe4413) October 30, 2018

• Taco Bell Opens its New Restaurant Near Wrigley Field [Eater Chicago]
• Wrigleyville Taco Bell redevelopment lands climbing gym as tenant [Curbed Chicago

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