T-Shirt Deli Celebrates 20 Years as Bucktown Landmark While Historic Danny's Tavern Building Makes Way for New Development

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Bucktown · January 13, 2026

In a tale of Bucktown's evolving landscape, longtime neighborhood fixture T-Shirt Deli is marking two decades of creative custom apparel service at its 1739 N. Damen Avenue location, while just blocks away, demolition has begun on the former Danny's Tavern building to make way for new residential housing.

The T-Shirt Deli, founded by Ninel Pompushko, has become a beloved Bucktown institution with its unique concept of serving custom-designed shirts wrapped in butcher paper with chips, mimicking a true delicatessen experience. "We have always felt proud and privileged to have our flagship store in Bucktown for the past 20 years," notes the company on its website. Recently featured on CBS Chicago, the shop continues to attract both tourists and locals with its innovative approach to personalized apparel.

Meanwhile, wrecking crews began dismantling the former Danny's Tavern building at 1951 W. Dickens Avenue this week. According to Block Club Chicago, a demolition permit was issued last week, with plans calling for construction of a four-story building containing three residential units. The popular Bucktown dive bar closed in late 2020 after more than 30 years as a neighborhood institution known for its themed dance parties and candlelit atmosphere. Though the building will soon be gone, the bar's iconic Schlitz On Tap neon sign lives on at Friends of Friends, a cocktail bar in West Town.

Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/12/dannys-tavern-building-in-bucktown-to-be-demolished/
2. https://tshirtdeli.com/pages/about
3. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/order-your-custom-shirt-at-the-t-shirt-deli-in-bucktown/