“The Chicago City Council has approved a proposed addition to the existing building at 458 W. Dickens. Planned by Carnival Grocery owner Arthur Paris, the existing building stands at the northeast corner of W. Dickens Ave and N. Cleveland Ave and is located within the Mid-North Historical District.

“Designed by Red Architects, the redevelopment will add two stories on top of the existing one-story section of the building that stands on the center and east portions of the site. At some point in time, multiple one-story buildings were connected to the front building to create the full grocery store footprint.

“On the W. Dickens Ave elevation, two former storefront sections have been infilled with plaster cladding and painted over with murals. The redevelopment continues those bays down the rest of the facade, creating new plater-clad panels with new murals planned. Existing and new metal posts separate the bays of plaster and will be extended up the facade with brick piers on the upper floors dividing up the new brick facade.

“The building currently has residential units in the existing three-story portion and will add new residential units in the two-story addition. While the official unit count was not presented, floor plans show the building will have a total of approximately 10 units including the existing apartments.

“The main residential entry will be through the existing access on N. Cleveland Ave and a secondary access point will be added on the east side via the alley. To replicate typical residential entrances in the historic district, a false entrance has been added on the W. Dickens Ave elevation. A real entrance there is not possible due to support spaces that serve the grocery store.” (Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 10/13/25)

“Carnival Grocery is a Lincoln Park classic. The traditional corner store sells meats, produce, bakery items and wine to thousands of Lincoln Park residents the old fashioned way – within walking distance of their homes.

“Established in the 1930s at half its current size, Carnival was purchased by George and Cynthia Costas in the 1950s and sold to its current owner, Arthur Paris, in 2000.

“The Costas family expanded the store, and after George passed in the early 1990s, his three children ran the business for about 10 years. George’s wife, Cynthia Costas, was a teacher at Lincoln Park High School, making the entire family heavily invested in the neighborhood.

“At the age of 24, Arthur Paris purchased John’s Finer Foods in Old Town in 1996. Four years later, he purchased Carnival from the Costas family. After selling John’s, in 2011, he renovated the store, opening up the floor plan, installing all new refrigeration and moving the meat department to the front. His investment paid off in 18 months as his customers approved of the upgrades.

“Though Paris has received several generous offers to purchase his building in the past several years, he has declined, stating that he is dedicated to the grocery business, and could not easily recreate the charming setting and welcoming atmosphere at Carnival that has proven so successful among his clientele.” (Carnival Grocery Featured Business, Mid-North Association)

Preservation Chicago applauds the owner, Arthur Paris and Red Architects for an outstanding, preservation-sensitive development project. Their design embraces the historic building’s beautiful design and high-quality craftsmanship, while creating a visually complementary new, higher density mixed-use building.

Preservation Chicago testified in support of this project before the Permit Review Committee of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks.

Read the full story at Urbanize Chicago and Mid-North Association

• City Council approves development at 458 W. Dickens; Two floors of residential units will be added on top of the grocery store, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 10/23/25
• PRC approves proposed residential addition at 458 W. Dickens, Two floors of residential units will be added on top of the grocery store, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 8/13/25
• Carnival Grocery Featured Business, Mid-North Association