The Piggery, a Lakeview barbecue joint and bar that has been a neighborhood fixture for more than 15 years, is calling it quits. The longtime hangout at 1625 W. Irving Park Road, just west of Ashland and a quick ride from Wrigley Field, announced it will close permanently on Sunday, Jan. 18.
In a statement posted on social media, the restaurant thanked customers for years of loyalty and looked back on a turbulent run that included fires and a pandemic, writing, "What began as a dream turned into something far bigger." The closing announcement and date were reported by CBS Chicago.
Property listing points to next chapter
The building that houses The Piggery, along with an adjacent residential property, is on the market with an asking price of $2.9 million. That listing signals the owners may be ready to move on from the site entirely. The commercial posting highlights the mixed‑use building's square footage, its rooftop bar, and a nearly 3,900‑square‑foot surface parking lot that could figure into any future redevelopment, according to @properties.
A history of comebacks and a rooftop
The Piggery opened in 2010 and survived more than its fair share of drama. A fire in February 2012 forced the restaurant to close for over a year. It eventually roared back in June 2013 with a rooftop patio dubbed the "Sty Deck." In their farewell message, the owners nodded to that comeback story, as well as the strain of the pandemic, as defining chapters in the restaurant's life before this month's final curtain call.
Over time, The Piggery carved out a loyal following with a pork‑forward comfort menu: pork sliders, carnitas nachos, a Cuban sandwich, and pork belly burnt ends, alongside ribs, mac and chees,e and pizzas. A free shuttle to Cubs games and on‑site parking helped turn the spot into a reliable pregame stop, as well as a go‑to for low‑key neighborhood nights.
The restaurant's statement did not offer a specific reason for the shutdown, sticking instead to gratitude for staff and patrons who kept the place going. With the property now listed for sale, the stretch of Irving Park near Ashland is likely to draw fresh attention as the building heads toward whatever comes next.
