Funky Wicker Park storefront turned residence seeks $950K

This old building is a hodgepodge of styles and building materials, but considering the rapid pace that development has been moving in East Village and Wicker Park, it’s amazing that it’s still hanging on. It’s tough to pinpoint the date on this one—the listing description says 1868. If that’s the case, that would mean that this old brick storefront predates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. However, the building does appear to have an American Craftsman flair to it, so it’s safe to say that this house was built at some point during the second half of the 1800s.

A quick Google search produces results that show that the space was a women’s boutique during the first couple of decades of the twentieth century. In a previous life, this house was a dress shop called Goldstein Bros. Today, it is a 3,400-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence. Former shop windows have been filled with glass brick to offer privacy, but otherwise, the house has what appears to be a mostly original exterior.

On the inside, we find unique finishes and a lot of custom work. There’s a sort of neo art deco feel going on with round edges and curved entryways. But there’s also a nice home office setup and a kitchen that opens up to an enclosed outdoor patio space. A spiraling staircase leads to the lower level that features a bonus room, laundry, and two bedrooms.

If you’re a fan of glass block, you’ve got some options right now. An old storefront conversion in North Center is seeking $869,000, meanwhile, this residence on the southern end of Wicker Park can be had for $949,900.

• 1233 N. Paulina Street, Chicago, IL 60622 [Redfin]
• Storefront turned single family home in Chicago’s North Center returns asking $869K [Curbed Chicago]