Union Ridge Facts

Location: About 13 miles northwest of the Loop
Boundaries: Kennedy Expressway (I-90) to the north, Nagle Avenue to the east, Foster Avenue to the south and Harlem Avenue to the west
Bordering Neighborhoods: Oriole Park, Old Norwood Park, Norwood Park, Jefferson Park, Big Oaks
Crime Statistics: go to CLEARMap to search specific streets and areas for crime incidents
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Then and Now

Nowadays Union Ridge is a pleasant residential neighborhood, but it wasn't always so densely populated. Back in 1835, there was just one man in the area -- a guy named Israel Smith. He constructed a cabin on a ridge and was later joined by his father and brothers. As neighbors began settling the area, they rather sensibly referred to the ridge as "Smith's Ridge," an informal name would ultimately lose out to the title "Union Ridge" after the Smith clan left the area. But the land the Smiths left behind would eventually make up the neighborhoods of Union Ridge and Big Oaks, nearby Ridgemoor Country Club, and parts of the Harwood Heights suburbs.

Today, the farms, cabins, and even the ridge are gone, and Union Ridge has become a quiet, mostly residential neighborhood. Most businesses, restaurants and stores operate off Higgins Road, the area's busiest street, which bisects the Chicago neighborhood, leaving ample room for housing.
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Real Estate

Union Ridge adheres to a standard Chicago neighborhood grid layout. The streets are shaded by mature trees, and edged by moderate lawn space. Sidewalks provide plenty of room for walking around and the roads are wide enough to park cars that don't fit in the alley-accessed garages. The vast majority of housing in Union Ridge is comprised of single-family detached homes that sit on modest lots. You'll find everything from two-story vintage-style new constructions to long-established raised ranches and bungalows. A number of reasonably sized townhomes also line the often one-way streets of Union Ridge and a few older brick condominiums also dot the area.

The neighborhood's only exception to the grid pattern is Union Ridge Cemetery, an older community cemetery utilized by people from the area. It may not feature monuments for famous politicians or criminals, but it has a rich history within Union Ridge. Aside from the cemetery, only the businesses of Higgins Road break up the tight rows of housing.

As far as pricing goes, a three-bedroom detached home can cost anywhere from around $300,000 to around $550,000. Adding another bedroom or two raises the price slightly, as the average for four or five bedrooms (within a house, as opposed to some "nothing but bedrooms" structure) is around $423,000, but several homes top out at over $800,000. Although there are few on the market in this area of Chicago, pricing for a one- or two-bedroom attached unit is around $180,000.

Norwood Park Residential Real Estate Info (Includes Union Ridge Neighborhood)

Source: Multiple Listings Service of Northern Illinois
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What's on the Menu?

For an area that's almost entirely residential, Union Ridge is home to a surprising variety of restaurants, with cuisine ranging from pizza to American diner fare to Eastern European delicacies.

As far as Eastern European specialties go, we'd be hard-pressed to find something better than Bona Cafe and Restaurant (5211 N. Harlem Ave., 773-775-6870), one of Chicago's most popular Polish restaurants. Bona Cafe features a sizable menu of Polish and Eastern European customary and gourmet dishes. The traditionally furnished dining area and bar have cozy decor, and the menu is packed with tasty options. This extensive menu offers everything you'd expect from Polish dining -- from pierogies (they have over eight styles of the Polish raviolis!) to borscht -- as well as a large assortment of filling entrees and fantastic desserts. If unsure how to approach Polish cuisine, we recommend the Taste of Polonia, which presents a nice sampler of traditional items: stuffed cabbage, pierogies, sausage with onions, and fried sauerkraut. And we insist you save room for a chocolate pear with whipped cream, which is just as decadent and delicious as it sounds.

For something slightly different, Mario's Caffe (5341 N. Harlem Ave., 773-594-9742) is one of Chicago's very few Bulgarian restaurants -- and we're lucky enough to have it right here in Union Ridge. In addition to making tasty traditional dishes, Mario's is very reasonably priced with all entrees costing less than ten dollars. So go ahead and try the kebabs, try the guvedze (a sausage stew with scrambled eggs and cheese on top -- hearty fare for a rainy day, we say), and try the baklava, which is a bit less sweet than the Greek variety, due to use of sugar and vanilla instead of honey. If you haven't already guessed, Union Ridge locals savor their sweets.

For those with more of a hankering for venerable American eats, this northwest side Chicago neighborhood has you covered. Mather's Cafe (7134 W. Higgins Ave., 773-774-4804) uses the slogan "More than a Cafe" on their sign and they are quite right to make such a boast. In addition to serving a variety of typical cafe fare (burgers, coffee, pancakes, sandwiches and the like), they also serve the community by aiming to enrich the lives of seniors in the area. They offer classes teaching seniors how to use computers and the internet, as well as sponsoring countless activities for the mature group of Union Ridge residents throughout the year. Additionally, Mather's hosts guest speakers, game and movie nights, and field trips. Also a hop, skip and a jump from your front door, Mr. K's Restaurant (5415 N. Harlem Ave., 773-631-4228), Sandy's Restaurant (7021 W. Higgins Ave., 773-467-4700), and Bakers Square Restaurant & Pies (5220 N. Harlem Ave., 773-792-8481) also offer the standard American cuisine, albeit without special programs or educational experiences.

Now if pizza's what you crave, Union Ridge has you covered. Dino's Pizzeria (7004 W. Higgins Ave., 773-763-4077) is a neighborhood favorite for dining, take-out, and delivery. The large casual dining room is joined by a bar and a beer garden where you can enjoy a delicious Dino's thin crust. Although their traditional pie toppings are top-notch, some of their more adventurous flavors are equally incredible. We're fans of the BLT pizza, a combination of bacon, mayo, tomato, and lettuce on a layer of gooey cheese covering Dino's patented thin crust. The menu branches away from the pizza pie as well, and the best time to sample other specialties is during their lunch buffets (offered on Tuesdays) that feature pastas, fish, chicken, beef, vegetables, and cookies. And for that next big party you're thinking of throwing, think of Dino's, which also caters. For some strictly delivery or take-out pizza, you can assuage your hunger quite well with Trio's Pizza (7009 W. Higgins Ave., 773-775-3974). Trio's has no dining area, but they make a good pizza with fresh ingredients and tons of cheese.
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Best Shopping Stops

With most of the neighborhood designated for residential use, Union Ridge's assortment of stores might be less than other Chicago neighborhoods, but it does have a handful of useful places to get your goods.

If you're hanging paintings, building a boat, or just found out that your new IKEA "easy assembly" couch requires you to supply your own screws, Schultz True Value (7029 W. Higgins Ave., 773-631-6425) is the place to go. The moderately-sized hardware store features excellent selection on pretty much anything you'd require for your hardware needs. Need one hundred pine two-by-fours? No problem. Need a single nail or screw of just the right size? Easy as pie -- especially thanks to the knowledgeable and helpful staff who go out of their way to make sure their customers get what they're looking for. You won't even have to stand bug-eyed in the middle of the aisle to get their attention ... these guys are vigilant and always on their game.

Say you were buying supplies to build your own dog house and then realized that, darn it, you don't have a dog. So then let's say you got a dog, but then realized you need to feed it. Well, that's not a problem here either, thanks to Pet Supplies Plus (5435 N. Harlem Ave., 773-594-1717), a pet store with all the essentials for your four-legged, or four-clawed, or two-winged, or aquatic friends. The shelves are packed with every imaginable pet food and animal amenity, which you're free to peruse with your pet in tow. The store also holds monthly special events, including animal adoptions, so stop on by and see what's going on.

Remember that hypothetical dog you were just buying food for? Say he got loose and chased the postal carrier) down the block all the way to the mail truck. So, the next day you get a lovely little note in the mailbox warning you to keep your dog secure. Obviously you'd feel bad about the whole situation and want to make it up to the poor public servant, but how? Nothing says "I'm sorry my dog tried to bite your calf as if it were a chicken wing" quite like flowers from Water Lilly Flower Shop (7152 W. Higgins Ave., 773-763-3322), a Union Ridge fixture for over thirty years. The florists of Water Lilly Flower Shop can arrange flowers for any occasion (graduations; parties; Valentines; receptions) or sentiment (I'm sorry; I love you; congratulations; get well soon!). Additionally, as they are an FTD florist, they also deliver anywhere in the Chicago area. Come by and check out their selected arrangements, or just pick up a couple roses for that special someone -- or your mailman.
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Night on the Town

The mostly residential Chicago neighborhood of Union Ridge is, as you might expect, a tad light on the nighttime excitement. Luckily, the bisecting Higgins Road provides a number of friendly sports bars.

Teaser's Pub (7123 W. Higgins Ave., 773-775-7975) is especially popular on Mondays during football season when it offers a free buffet of hot dogs and chili. Four giant-screen TVs (and several smaller sets scattered throughout) set up around the two large island bars keep the games always in sight when patrons' eyes aren't drifting over the walls of Chicago sports memorabilia. Over ten different beers are on tap and Mondays and Wednesdays offer a particular Teaser's deal: if you buy a specialty Teaser's one liter mug of beer for $4, you get unlimited refills of domestic drafts for two dollars each.

Just down the street a ways is Tommy's on Higgins (6954 W. Higgins Ave., 773-631-4451), another local Union Ridge sports bar. Operating since 1983, Tommy's offers a moderate selection of beers and spirits, but draws in patrons with its classic sports pub charm. In addition to a large screen TV, Tommy's features Golden Tee golf and a working fireplace, great to warm the soul on those cold winter evenings. The menu of burgers and pizza is augmented by daily specials, which provide a tasty complement to beer and game watching.
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Getting Around

Union Ridge is not a huge neighborhood, so walking about on your own two feet is one of the nicest ways to get around. Sometimes, however, that weather outside is frightful or a speedy trip would be delightful, so we recommend taking advantage of Chicago's excellent public transportation system (the Chicago Transit Authority) to travel about the neighborhood or to other city and suburb destinations

The CTA's elevated train system (known to locals as the "El") runs throughout Chicago connecting neighborhoods to the Loop -- the city's center. The Blue Line travels along the northern border of Union Ridge. The stop at Harlem allows riders to hop on a train heading toward either O'Hare International Airport or to downtown Chicago. From there, you can transfer to another train to take you anywhere in the city. If you'd prefer to grab a bus to downtown, we recommend grabbing bus #88 on Higgins Road and then transferring at the Jefferson Park station to bus #56 into the Loop. No one likes transfers, but it does beat driving.

If you do feel like taking a drive, Union Ridge is directly south of the Kennedy Expressway (I-90). The Kennedy takes you right into downtown Chicago without within minutes (depending on the time of day -- rush hour being a time to avoid). Or, take the Kennedy to the Edens Expressway (I-94) and head up to Wisconsin for a weekend getaway.
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School's in Session

In addition to the following list, you can find more information on Chicago area schools at our Chicago Guide Schools page.

Garvy Elementary School 5225 N. Oak Park Ave. - (773)534-1185
T. Kosciuszko School of Polish Language 5341 N. Harlem Ave. - (773) 775-1597
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Basic Needs

We've assembled a variety of places you can find all your essentials, from books to bacon, pharmaceuticals to postage.

Chicago Transit Authority - (888) 968-7282

Libraries

Oriole Park Branch 7454 W. Balmoral Ave. - (312) 744-1965

Post Office

Harwood Heights Post Office 7101 W. Gunnison St., Harwood Hts. (800) ASK-USPS

Pharmacies

CVS Pharmacy 6417 W. Higgins Ave. - (773) 631-5940
Higgins Pharmacy 7124 W. Higgins Ave. - (773) 763-1545
Norwood Drug 7124 W. Higgins Ave. - (773) 631-5333

Emergency Rooms

Resurrection Medical Center 7435 W. Talcott Ave. - (773) 774-8000

The following are just a taste of the dining, shopping and entertainment Union Ridge has to offer. Discover the rest as you explore the neighborhood for yourself.

SHOPPING

Pet Supplies Plus 5435 N. Harlem Ave. - (773) 594-1717
Schultz True Value 7029 W. Higgins Ave. - (773) 631-6425
Water Lilly Flower Shop 7152 W. Higgins Ave. - (773) 763-3322

DINING

Bars/Restaurants
Borrini Umberto 7014 W. Higgins Ave. - (773) 775-0616
Earnie's Tap 7112 W. Higgins Ave. - (773) 631-1843
Teaser's Pub 7123 W. Higgins Ave. - (773) 775-7975
Tommy's on Higgins 6954 W. Higgins Ave. - (773) 631-4451

American Cuisine
Mather's Cafe 7134 W. Higgins Ave. - (773) 774-4804
Mr. K's Restaurant 5415 N. Harlem Ave. - (773) 631-4228
Sandy's Restaurant 7021 W. Higgins Ave. - (773) 467-4700
Bakers Square Restaurant & Pies 5220 N. Harlem Ave. - (773) 792-8481

European Cuisine
Avantgarde BG 5211 N. Harlem Ave. - (773) 775-6870
Mario's Caffe 5341 N. Harlem Ave. - (773) 594-9742
Bona Cafe 5211 N. Harlem Ave. - (773) 775-6870

Greek Cuisine
Nick's Gyros 5238 N. Nagle Ave. - (773) 631-0233

Pizza
Dino's Pizzeria 7004 W. Higgins Ave. - (773) 763-4077
Trio's Pizza 7009 W. Higgins Ave. - (773) 775-3974
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Our neighborhoods guide is meant to give potential homebuyers a general overview of what every Chicago neighborhood has to offer and what makes it unique from the restand believe us, no two neighborhoods are the same! Searching for a new home isn't just about finding that prefect condo or house, making sure the setting fits your style and needs is just as important. And whether Union Ridge neighborhood is your ideal locale to settle down, or you've found the scene here just isn't your cup of tea, we're here to help you find the right place to make sure your home purchase a is total success. From the type of restaurants to the outdoor venues to the local schools, every detail is an essential factor in what makes a property of dream home. By utilizing our comprehensive accounts of each community, such as this one for Union Ridge, we hope to provide a detailed picture of not only the residential real estate available in the area, but also the additional features of the neighborhood. A quick glance and you'll know exactly what shopping, dining, entertainment and resources are in Union Ridge, all without ever having to go anywhere.
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