Changes & Restaurant Closings Mean New Era For Chicago's Famous Gold Coast 'Viagra Triangle'

Changes are coming to Chicago’s Viagra Triangle. That’s the area where Rush and State streets intersect, and until recently, it’s been known for its Italian restaurants and old-school steakhouses.

It’s also been known for something else, as the nickname wasn’t by chance. Once known to attract older men and younger women, the area now seems to be attracting more people in their 30s and 40s.

Some reports point to the pandemic as the catalyst for changing how people eat out in Chicago. Over the past couple of years, some restaurants have closed completely, including several steakhouses in the city.

That may be one of the things fueling change in Viagra Triangle. While popular Tavern on Rush has been operating for nearly 25-years, it’s set to close for good at the end of the year when its lease runs out. It’s not known what will replace the restaurant.

Another popular location, Carmine’s, will temporarily close in the coming months. The building where Carmine’s is located sold earlier this year and the new owner plans to build something new, with a much larger space for Carmine’s.

That means Carmine’s will likely close this January, then perhaps not reopen again in its new space until summer of 2024. The new building is expected to house a Carmine’s bar on the first floor, then have its main restaurant, some private dining space, another bar, and a large terrace upstairs overlooking Rush Street.

Some expect changes like this to increase competition among nearby restaurants, as well as potentially drive more customers to the area. Already, the owners of some other local restaurants, which were renovated themselves in recent years, are considering making their own new upgrades, including possibly adding some second-floor balconies to better compete with plans for the new Carmine’s.