Edgewater Celebrates 'Bob Newhart Way' with Historic Street Dedication Ceremony

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Edgewater · November 17, 2025

Edgewater residents and visitors can now walk along a special piece of Chicago television history following last Friday's official dedication of 'Bob Newhart Way' along Sheridan Road between Ardmore and Thorndale avenues. The honorary street naming ceremony drew approximately 200 community members and Newhart's children to celebrate the late comedian's connection to the neighborhood.

The tribute marks the spot where Newhart's fictional character Dr. Bob Hartley 'lived' in the Thorndale Beach North Condominium building at 5901 N. Sheridan Road during the iconic 1970s sitcom 'The Bob Newhart Show.' David Plier, CEO of the Museum of Broadcast Communications, remarked during the ceremony, 'Today, we mark this corner in Edgewater not just with a sign, but a reminder that Bob Newhart was ours. He was Chicago.' The designation, approved by City Council earlier this year, coincided with what would have been Newhart's 96th birthday.

Neighborhood residents interested in exploring this newly christened cultural landmark can visit the honorary street signs and the commemorative plaque installed in 2022 by the Edgewater Historical Society. The site has long been a pilgrimage spot for television fans, with the designation now formally recognizing the neighborhood's place in entertainment history.

Sources:
1. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/bob-newhart-chicago-edgewater-honorary-street-name/
2. https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-honors-bob-newhart-street-renaming-his-birthday
3. https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/08/bob-newhart-gets-a-block-named-after-him-in-edgewater/