South Side BBQ Legend Uncle John's Brings Slow-Smoked Classics to Wrigleyville — Plus, Lake View's Fall Festival Calendar Is Stacked
By Socialhood News · Lake View ·
Lake View neighbors, if you've been waiting for a reason to make a pilgrimage to the corner of Addison and Clark, your moment has arrived — and it smells like hickory smoke.
Uncle John's BBQ, the South Side institution that has been feeding Chicago's barbecue faithful for nearly two decades, officially opened its second location this week at 947 W. Addison St. — directly beneath the Addison Red Line station and directly across from Wrigley Field. The ribbon-cutting, attended by 44th Ward Alderman Bennett Lawson and members of the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce, marked a genuine neighborhood milestone: one of Chicago's most beloved barbecue names planting its flag on the North Side for the very first time.
The original Uncle John's BBQ opened near 69th Street and Calumet Avenue in 2005 and has spent the better part of two decades earning its reputation as a South Side staple. Co-owner Darryl Townsend — who also owns the celebrated Dat Donut brand — is behind the Wrigleyville expansion. The new location carries the full weight of that legacy on its menu: brisket, baby back ribs, barbecue chicken, fried wings, rib tips, hot links, brisket sandwiches, and pulled pork sandwiches all make the trip north from the original. For neighbors who have long had to trek to the South Side for a proper plate of rib tips, this is the kind of arrival that genuinely changes your weekly routine.
Hours at the new Wrigleyville location are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with Sunday hours running slightly shorter — closing at 8 p.m. The address puts it squarely in the heart of Cubs country, and with the tail end of the baseball season still playing out at the Friendly Confines just steps away, the timing couldn't be better. Whether you're catching a game or just hunting down the neighborhood's newest great lunch, 947 W. Addison is now firmly on the Lake View food map.
Meanwhile, fall is arriving fast — and Lake View's event calendar is ready to match the energy. Mark your calendars now: the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts is scheduled for September 19–20, bringing the beloved annual tradition back to the Broadway corridor with artist booths, live music, and community celebration. Hot on its heels, Oktoberfest Chicago comes to Lakeview the following weekend, September 25–27, delivering the full steins-and-lederhosen experience to the neighborhood. And WingOut Chicago — a natural complement to all that new barbecue energy — is also scheduled for September 26–27 in Lakeview, giving wing lovers yet another reason to circle the last weekend of the month.
Taken together, this week's news paints a vivid picture of a neighborhood that never really slows down, even as summer edges into fall. Uncle John's BBQ arrival in Wrigleyville isn't just a restaurant opening — it's a cross-city story, a South Side institution reaching across Chicago's geographic and cultural divides to put down roots in one of the North Side's most iconic addresses. And a fall festival run that includes arts, Oktoberfest, and a wing festival in the span of two weekends is exactly the kind of schedule that makes Lake View residents feel lucky to live where they do.
Head to 947 W. Addison St. this week to welcome Uncle John's BBQ to the neighborhood — and start planning your September festival weekends now. As always, if you're spotting something new on your block or have neighborhood news to share, tag it on Socialhood. The best Lake View tips come from the people who live here.
Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/26/uncle-johns-bbq-expands-to-north-side-with-new-lakeview-location/
2. https://news.wttw.com/2026-chicago-festival-guide-summer-fall-events