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Gateway Centre at Howard and Clark

 is preparing to welcome Burlington

Burlington’s arrival marks a major step forward in the revitalization of one of Rogers Park’s most visible commercial corridors.

The new store will offer discounted clothing for all ages, kitchen accessories, small appliances, baby gear, and more—bringing added convenience for local families who currently travel outside the neighborhood for similar shopping.

As Burlington broadens its offerings beyond outerwear, it positions itself as a one-stop shop just steps from home.

“With Burlington setting up shop, Gateway Centre is poised for increased foot traffic, job creation, and renewed energy,” said Bill Morton, President of the Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce. “This is exactly the kind of development that helps strengthen our local economy.”

Job postings and partnership opportunities are expected soon, and the Chamber will share updates as they become available.

The addition of Burlington reflects a broader trend of investment and confidence in Rogers Park. As build-out continues, residents are optimistic this momentum will bring more amenities, cleaner storefronts, and sustained growth for the Howard Street retail corridor.

Pizza City Fest, a celebration of pizza and its makers, will be held in Chicago on the weekend of August 22-24, 2025 at a new location in River North, (430 N Rush Street, Chicago, IL. 60611).

The festival will feature 14 pizzerias each day, offering a variety of styles like tavern, deep-dish, and Sicilian, all made fresh on Marra Forni ovens.

In addition to pizza, the event includes a pizza box folding competition, seminars, classes, and a partnership with charitable organization Doughnate.

Along with our Rogers Park/West Ridge favorites, pizzerias from Albany Park, Archer Heights, Avondale, Edgewater, Fulton River District, Lake View, Lincoln Square, Little Village, Logan Square, Old Town, Streeterville, and West Loop will also be participating. 

Tickets are on sale now, and more information, including the full lineup, can be found on the festival's website.

In a diverse display of community collaboration, Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce representatives Bill Morton and Trudy Leong recently joined 11th Ward Alderperson Nicole Lee at the 46th Annual Chinatown Summer Fair, hosted by the Chinatown Chicago Community Foundation.

This event provided an excellent opportunity for the Chamber to extend its outreach beyond Rogers Park, fostering stronger ties across Chicago’s neighborhoods and promoting mutual support among local leaders and organizations.

By engaging directly with stakeholders in Chinatown, the Rogers Park

Chamber continues to build bridges that encourage cultural exchange and economic partnership city‑wide.

These efforts underscore the Chamber’s commitment to expanding its influence and advocacy, ensuring Rogers Park’s voice is heard throughout Chicago’s dynamic business community.

As of late July 2025, Chicago’s transit system faces severe cuts after the Illinois General Assembly adjourned in May without approving new funding. The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) — which oversees CTA, Metra, and Pace — is grappling with a $771 million shortfall as federal COVID relief expires.

Without intervention, the RTA’s 2026 budget will include deep service reductions that could eliminate up to 40% of operations, close dozens of CTA stations, cut Metra and Pace routes, and impact thousands of riders and workers.

The RTA has requested $1.5 billion in annual state funding to expand its operating budget and support a $9.5 billion five-year capital plan. Transit officials say this investment would prevent economic losses estimated at $2.6 billion, improve service reliability, and support regional growth.

However, lawmakers have made new funding conditional on structural reforms to unify CTA, Metra, and Pace — changes that transit leaders support but say cannot happen quickly enough to prevent immediate cuts. Without a special session or emergency funding, major service reductions could begin as early as January 2026.

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