Chicago Cheat Sheet: Wiener’s Circle keeping Lincoln Park home after building sale…& more

Wiener’s Circle staying put

The infamous Wiener’s Circle restaurant will remain in its home in Lincoln Park after the restaurant’s owners stepped in to buy the property. The owners of the land at 2622-2624 North Clark Street and a neighboring apartment building put them up for sale last year. Last week, a group led by Wiener’s Circle owner Ari Levy bought the restaurant property for $1.5 million and plans to keep the hotdog stand there. SVN Chicago Commercial brokered the sale. The stand is best known for a staff that slings insults at customers as much as it slings food. [Crain’s]

Plans for new Arlington Heights “town center” advance

Arlington Heights officials are backing a plan that could clear the way for the creation of a new “town center” on the south end of the village. Officials this week approved zoning changes to 17 acres on the corner of Arlington Heights and Algonquin roads where Chicago developer Bradford Allen envisions multifamily buildings, restaurants, offices and possibly a hotel. Bradford Allen has bought several buildings on the site over the last 13 years. [Daily Herald]

Fifth Third, former MB Financial branches to shutter

Fifth Third Bank is closing 44 branches in the Chicago area next month as a cost-saving measure stemming from its recent $4.7 billion acquisition of MB Financial. The branches, which will include both Fifth Third and former MB Financial locations, are scheduled to close on July 9 and 10. Fifth Third put its name on the 91 MB Financial locations last month. Eight of the branches that are closing are in Chicago, while the rest are in the suburbs. [Chicago Tribune]

Apartment residents sue over looming evictions

A group of Avondale apartment tenants are suing their landlord, claiming that they have been harmed by redevelopment of the building. Real estate attorney Herb Linn bought the building 3108-3116 North Milwaukee Avenue in February and embarked on an overhaul that will involve kicking existing tenants out when their leases expire, renovating the building, and boosting rents to market rates. A representative of the building’s manager, Peak Properties, called the lawsuit frivolous. [Block Club]

Big addition planned at Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio

The Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio in Oak Park is getting a new visitor center. The addition designed by Chicago firm John Ronan Architects, will feature 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. In addition to a new outdoor plaza, new construction feature a conference room, design classrooms, exhibition spaces and administrative offices. Wright designed the original 1889 home on Chicago Avenue and later expanded it to include a studio where he and his pupils worked. [Curbed]