New Wrigleyville Plaza Will Have Cubs Merch Store, Restaurant & Farmers Market

By Rachel Cromidas in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 29, 2017 9:08PM

One major element of Wrigleyville's massive redevelopment into a theme park-esque Cubs fan epicenter is about to open next month: It's a newly remodeled plaza next to Wrigley Field that willl serve as a "town square" for the ballpark, according to an announcement from developer Hickory Street Capital, with a two-story Cubs merch "flagship" store, a new restaurant and Starbucks coffee bar, and a weekly Green City Market farmers market.

Wrigley Field and its surrounding area have been undergoing a major redevelopment for the past several years, in tandem with the team's rise to unexpected victory in the 2016 World Series. A hotel is also under construction, but at least some of the plaza and adjacent stores are slated to be open in time for the Cubs' April 10 home opener game against the Dodgers. The plaza, dubbed The Park At Wrigley, will be opened in a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. that morning.

The Cubs merchandise store will sell memorabilia and customizable apparel, with a bar where fans can add their own personal touches to the merchandise on the spot, according to the announcement. There will also be a jewelry store from Jostens, the company that designed the Cubs' championship rings. It will open after the championship ring ceremony on April 12, according to the Tribune. And after April 13, fans will also be able to visit the plaza's new Trophy Room, where the World Series trophy will be eventually be displayed.

Expect the new restaurant to open sometime later this year, and expect to see a host of weekly events start to pop up at the plaza throughout the year, including outdoor movie nights hosted by the Music Box Theatre and music from the Old Town School of Folk Music. The first event, according to the plaza's new website, will be a food and craft beer-tasting on May 13 and 14.