“In a unique twist on the age-old notion of living above the store, the longtime owner of a corner grocery in Lincoln Park plans to add apartments over the flat-topped addition to his early-1900s building.

“Carnival Foods, which Arthur Paris has owned since 2000, is in a Chicago archetype at 458 W. Dickens Ave., a turreted corner building three stories high, and a one-story addition that runs east of it on Dickens. The three-story section, built in 1907, has housed a grocery on the ground floor since at least as far back as the early 1940s, according to old newspaper ads.

“Later this month, Paris will apply to the city for a building permit for a project that would add nine rental apartments in a two-story addition atop the one-story section, a plan that received City Council approval in late October.

“The project has a two-pronged rationale. Along with adding nine new rental units in a high-demand neighborhood, Paris said, the project is intended to help stabilize the income from a building whose biggest tenant, the grocery store, is subject to the fluctuations of the retail food business as competitors come and go.

“Local Ald. Timmy Knudsen, 43rd, is on board. Calling Paris’ project a ‘smart, well-designed development” in an emailed statement to Crain’s, Knudsen lauded its dual goals.

“It ‘respects the historic character of the block while adding new housing,” Knudsen wrote. ‘Importantly, the project also preserves Carnival Foods, a longtime neighborhood grocer and economic anchor, showing that we can add housing while strengthening the small businesses that serve our residents.’

“Designed by Red Architects, a Bucktown-based firm whose portfolio includes several multifamily residential buildings, the addition’s exterior will not compete visually with the candy-colored corner turret but will resemble and complement the brick walls that flank it on Dickens and around the corner on Cleveland Avenue.” (Rodkin, Crain’s Chicago Business, 1/14/26)

“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 Crain’s Chicago Business and Mid-North Association

• How this Lincoln Park grocer aims to survive retail churn: build housing, Dennis Rodkin, Crain’s Chicago Business, 1/14/26
• 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