Inside these posts: Wrigleyville

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Ryan Dempster cuts price on home near Wrigley

Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster on the mound in August. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Tribune)

ELITE STREET | By Bob Goldsborough | Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster has reduced the asking price of one of his homes near Wrigley Field from $2.25 million to $1.95 million.

In December 2009, Elite Street broke the news of Dempster’s $2.25 million listing of the 13-room Lakeview mansion, which he purchased in early 2006 from its builder for $1.715 million. Dempster placed the five-bedroom home on the market because he traded up to another, newly-built house a few blocks away that he had purchased in late 2008 for $2.69 million. Get the full story »

Wrigleyville Harry Caray’s to be ‘Benchwarmers’

Harry Caray’s Tavern in Wrigleyville will be renamed “Benchwarmers” next week, after the parties that owned and managed the restaurant terminated their business relationship.

Harry Caray’s Tavern opened at 3551 N. Sheffield Ave., in 2008, in a spot formerly occupied by Hi-Tops Café. Harry Caray’s Restaurant Group had been retained to manage the Sheffield location, which is owned by Benchwarmers Inc.

Grant DePorter, president of the restaurant group, revealed that the tavern was closing during a press conference held Tuesday by the Chicago Cubs to discuss the team’s plans to renovate Wrigley Field. He attended in a show of support for the team’s project. Get the full story »

Confusion reigns over Ricketts’ Wrigley request

(E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

The day started with the Chicago Cubs touting the support of Chicago area labor officials for its Wrigley Field renovation plan, but by afternoon key lawmakers in Springfield seemed to be splashing mud on the deal amid contradictory statements.

House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) told reporters in Springfield Tuesday afternoon that the team’s owners, the Ricketts family, withdrew its proposal to finance a $200 million stadium renovation with a state bond sale that would be repaid with the anticipated growth in the 12 percent amusement tax levied on tickets sold at Wrigley. Get the full story »

Harry Caray’s Tavern in Lakeview to close Monday

Fans line up to get into the then-new Harry Carey's Tavern on Sheffield in 2008. (Charles Osgood/Tribune)

Harry Caray’s Tavern in Lakeview will close by Monday, the operator said. Harry Carry Restaurant Group CEO Grant DePorter made the surprise announcement during a press conference at Wrigley Field.

He said the relationship between the restaurant and the owner of the building on Sheffield Avenue has been like a “bad marriage.” Get the full story »

Ted Lilly cuts price on Wrigleyville home

ELITE STREET | By Bob Goldsborough | Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly on Tuesday cut the asking price of his five-bedroom, 5,400-square-foot house just west of Wrigley Field from $2.4 million to $2.1 million. Lilly, 34, was traded by the Cubs to the Los Angeles Dodgers in late July. Get the full story »

AT&T launches Wi-Fi hot zone in Wrigleyville

AT&T is launching a Wi-Fi “hot zone” in Chicago’s Wrigleyville as part of a pilot program that seeks to supplement the company’s beleaguered broadband network.

This will be the third Wi-Fi zone set up by the company, which is setting up the zones in area with the highest traffic and mobile data use. The first pilot was launched in New York City’s Times Square in May and was followed by a hot zone in downtown Charlotte, N.C. Get the full story »

Cubs warn rooftop operators about game-day sales

ct-biz-rooftops-web-two.jpgFans root for the Cubs from atop the rooftop venue “Wrigley Done Right” on Sheffield. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

By Ameet Sachdev | The Chicago Cubs are crying foul over alleged game day ticket sales to rooftop bars
across the street from Wrigley Field.

Cubs President Crane Kenney sent a letter last week to rooftop operators reminding them that game day sales violate a City of Chicago
ordinance governing the rooftop businesses. The letter was obtained by
the Chicago Tribune.

Get the full story »