Chicago Retail for Sale - Northwest City
FREESTANDING 2,900 SF RETAIL / AUTO BUILDING — VACANT, MOVE-IN READY — ELSTON AVENUE, CHICAGO — $1,000,000
Freestanding 2,900 SF commercial building on busy N Elston Avenue in Chicago's Irving Park neighborhood — fully vacant and available for immediate occupancy. Currently configured as a 3-bay automotive repair shop with office and parking on a 0.34-acre site, the flexible layout takes retail, service or automotive uses without a gut rehab. Elston carries approximately 13,900 vehicles per day past the door (Illinois Department of Transportation, 2025 average annual daily traffic). At $345/SF, it is competitively priced for the corridor — and there is no lease to inherit and no tenant to relocate: the keys are yours at closing.
WHY THIS BUILDING WORKS
Owner-user freedom is the whole story here. Vacant freestanding buildings on Chicago's arterial corridors are scarce — most of what trades is leased, and the buyer inherits someone else's tenant and timeline. This one is empty, visible, and ready. The C1-1 zoning is unusually friendly for the configuration: motor vehicle repair — both minor AND major, including body work and painting — is permitted BY RIGHT, along with retail, restaurant, personal service, medical, day care and animal services. Occupy it as an automotive operation using the existing bays, or convert the open layout to showroom, retail or service use.
THE BUILDING
2,900 SF freestanding masonry building on approximately 0.34 acres, built 1939. Currently built out as a 3-bay auto repair shop with office — bays and shop infrastructure in place (buyer to verify systems and condition). Flexible layout adaptable to retail, showroom or service configurations. On-site parking. Street visibility and signage potential on N Elston Ave. Vacant — immediate occupancy at closing.
LOCATION
Elston Avenue is one of Chicago's defining diagonal commercial corridors, running the length of the northwest side with I-90/94 access minutes from the property. The Irving Park location combines arterial traffic with dense surrounding residential neighborhoods and an established mix of auto-oriented, retail and service businesses — the customer base is already driving past.
IDEAL FOR
Auto repair shop, mechanic shop, auto body shop, body work and painting, auto service center, car wash, auto detailing, auto supply store, auto parts store, indoor auto sales showroom, indoor motorcycle sales, indoor boat sales, tire shop, oil change, owner-user automotive business, retail store, showroom, furniture showroom, appliance store, hardware store, grocery store, specialty food store, deli, bakery, restaurant, taqueria, cafe, coffee shop, tavern, bar, liquor store, personal service, hair salon, barbershop, nail salon, massage establishment, tattoo studio, body art studio, medical office, dental office, urgent care, chiropractor, physical therapy, veterinary clinic, animal hospital, pet grooming, dog boarding, kennel, dog daycare, day care center, child care, laundromat, dry cleaner, consumer repair shop, artist studio, art gallery, artist work space, maker space, recording studio, office, professional office, insurance agency, real estate office, bank, credit union, fitness studio, gym, indoor sports and recreation, martial arts studio, dance studio, amusement arcade, hotel (special use), drive-thru (special use), cannabis dispensary (special use), Irving Park commercial building, Elston Avenue retail, Chicago northwest side owner-user building, freestanding building for sale, investment property, redevelopment potential.
PROPERTY FACTS
2,900 SF freestanding building on ~0.34 AC. Built 1939. $1,000,000 — $345/SF. Vacant — immediate occupancy. Currently configured as 3-bay automotive repair with office. Approx. 13,900 VPD (IDOT 2025). Zoned C1-1, City of Chicago. 4185 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 (Irving Park).
Contact Jason Bitton — RE/MAX Commercial — 847-858-2909 — Jason@JasonCRE.com
ZONING: C1-1 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
City of Chicago Zoning Ordinance, Municipal Code Title 17, Table 17-3-0207 (current through Council Journal of March 18, 2026). Permitted (P) uses are allowed by right; Special (S) uses require Zoning Board of Appeals approval and are not guaranteed. Verify all uses independently with the City of Chicago Zoning Administrator before purchase. Broker makes no representation as to approvability of any use.
PERMITTED USES (BY RIGHT) INCLUDE: Motor vehicle repair shop — minor AND major (body work, painting and commercial vehicle repairs included). Car wash or cleaning service. Auto supply/accessory sales. Light equipment sales/rental, indoor (auto, motorcycle and boat sales). Retail sales, general. Food and beverage retail sales. Restaurants — limited and general. Taverns. Grade-level outdoor patios. Liquor store (package goods). Personal service — hair salon, nail salon, barbershop, massage establishment. Office. Medical service. Financial services — bank, savings bank, credit union, currency exchange. Day care. Animal services — veterinary, sales and grooming, shelter/boarding kennel. Indoor participant sports and recreation. Amusement arcades. Repair or laundry service, consumer — including coin-operated laundromat. Artist work or sales space. Body art services. Colleges and universities. Dwelling units above the ground floor.
SPECIAL USES (ZBA APPROVAL REQUIRED) INCLUDE: Drive-through facilities. Hotel/motel. Schools. Ground-floor dwelling units. Rooftop patios. Pawn shops. Payday/title-secured loan stores. Adult use cannabis dispensary. Artist live/work space on the ground floor. NOT ALLOWED in C1: gas stations, outdoor vehicle sales/rental lots, vehicle storage and towing yards, outdoor participant sports.
