The River North Neighborhood

Origins and Industrial Roots

​

The River North area is home to the oldest settled site of the City of Chicago. In the 1780s, on the northern banks of the Chicago River near today's Michigan Avenue Bridge, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable built the first known permanent colonial settlement in the area. As Chicago grew through the industrial revolution, the neighborhood took on a very different character. It became known as "Smokey Hollow" around the turn of the 20th century due to the many factories and forges in the area — the smoke was often so thick that sunlight was blocked. At the time, Smokey Hollow was a major transportation hub, with railroad tracks linking the ports along the Chicago River with the surrounding areas.

​

Immigration and Cultural Identity

​

As the 20th century arrived, the area evolved into "Little Sicily" as Italian immigrants established homes and businesses throughout the neighborhood. This era also brought a darker chapter to River North's story. The rooms above Schofield's Flower Shop were used as headquarters for the North Side Gang, which controlled bootlegging operations in what would later be called River North and the Gold Coast area of Chicago.

The neighborhood was also the birthplace of Chicago's deep-dish pizza tradition — Ike Sewell and his business partner opened a pizzeria at 29 East Ohio Street in 1943 and began serving what became known as the world's first deep-dish pizza.

​

Renaissance

​

Today, River North is one of Chicago's most vibrant and sought-after neighborhoods. The area is bursting with energy, with an array of fabulous art galleries and history-defining buildings like the twin "corncobs" at Marina City and the 330 N. Wabash skyscraper by Mies van der Rohe. One of the neighborhood's most famous landmarks is theMART, which sits on the award-winning Chicago Riverwalk — outside, visitors can experience Art on theMART, the world's largest video projection art installation, which takes over the building's massive facade in the evenings. Proclaimed foodies venture to the neighborhood to enjoy impressive dining, including multiple Michelin-rated restaurants, while art lovers explore the numerous galleries in the River North Gallery District. From 1990 onward, River North became one of Chicago's top neighborhoods for nightlife, especially along Franklin Street and Hubbard Street, and numerous high-rises dramatically increased the population, cementing its status as a top destination for restaurants, nightclubs, and urban living.