Lincoln Park – The popular European‑style neighborhood market Piccadilly Market has opened a new 5,200‑square‑foot venue at 444 W. Fullerton Parkway, the former home of Emilio’s Tapas. The space combines a year‑round sandwich café, coffee program, wine shop, bar, lounge and an 80‑person outdoor courtyard called Piccadilly Square.
Local owners aim to create a “third space” for the community
Owner Aaron Zacharias, a lifelong Chicagoan who grew up in Lakeview, said the concept is meant to give neighbors many reasons to stop by – whether for a quick coffee on the way to work, a sandwich, a bottle of wine, a drink with friends, or a place to sit and work. “We’re trying to bring everything you love together under one roof to create a third space that engages the community in so many new and exciting ways,” Zacharias explained.
Piccadilly Market first opened in February 2025 on W. Lawrence Avenue, building a business around local and global food artisans, sandwiches, coffee, wine and specialty groceries. The Lincoln Park location expands that model, adding a larger food program led by Chef Mark Mendez, formerly of West Loop Spanish wine bar Vera.
Chef‑driven menu emphasizes local ingredients
Mendez’s menu features homemade English muffins, breakfast sandwiches, hot and cold sandwiches, house‑made focaccia, Roman‑style pizza and rotating cheese and charcuterie. He highlighted the importance of sourcing ingredients from Chicago producers such as Metric Coffee, Publican Quality Bread, Pretty Cool Ice Cream, Rare Tea Cellar, Katherine Anne Confections, Feed Your Head Vegan, Middle Brow and Phase Three Brewing.
“If you can buy a local tomato, obviously it’s going to be better than something that’s been shipped 500 miles,” Mendez said. “Local fruit, chances are, it’s going to taste a lot better.” The partnership with Phase Three Brewing even produced Piccadilly Proper, an English‑style mild ale brewed locally so it can be served fresh.
Bar, lounge and outdoor courtyard add social flexibility
The venue offers three wines and five beers or ciders on draft, cocktails, coffee drinks and a sommelier‑curated wine shop. Upstairs, patrons can choose between the bar, a lounge area or a quieter work zone. Large doors open onto the sidewalk, while a balcony provides additional seating with a view of activity along Clark Street and Fullerton.
Piccadilly Square, the outdoor courtyard, is designed as a gathering place in its own right. “You can choose where you hang,” Zacharias said. “It’s not just a market. It’s all about people. People coming in and then finding their own space here.” The space can accommodate up to 80 guests for casual meals, drinks or community events.
Team effort and local focus drive the project
Zacharias credited director Sarah Loberg for coordinating the project’s many details, from wayfinding to layout. Sommelier and Cicerone Nick Smock led beverage curation, while the opening team helped with final construction, stocking shelves and even painting the space.
Both Zacharias and Mendez emphasized that the market is not about any single individual but about the neighborhood itself. “It’s very much yours,” Zacharias said, pointing to the surrounding community.
Piccadilly Market’s Lincoln Park location adds a new gathering spot that blends food, drink and local commerce, reinforcing the market’s commitment to supporting Chicago producers and offering residents a convenient, family‑friendly place to eat, work and socialize.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
