Gangnam Market, the West Town grocery that turned Korean snacks into a full-blown Chicago obsession, is quietly plotting a move into Lakeview with a compact “express” outpost at 802 W Belmont Ave. The new storefront, smaller than the flagship at 1001 W Chicago Ave and still clearly under construction, has surfaced in short video clips ricocheting around social media, but there is still no official word on when doors will open.
The construction peek came via TikTok and was quickly picked up in local coverage, which first tied the clip to the 802 W Belmont address and described the Lakeview spot as a trimmed down, curated version of the original. As reported by Secret Chicago, the video from user @andrew_chen_ shows the future shop wrapped in scaffolding with fresh signage already in place, but the outlet notes that any opening timeline is still a mystery.
From West Town To Lakeview
The original Gangnam Market at 1001 W Chicago Ave has become a neighborhood magnet, thanks to bright, overflowing snack aisles paired with an attached food court. The market’s own website lists that West Town address and advertises a full-service grocery plus an Asian food hall and bar, all laid out on the store’s contact page. Local reporting has also pegged the flagship at roughly 28,000 square feet with multiple dining stalls and a full bar, according to prior coverage.
Where The Lakeview Spot Fits
The Lakeview address is tucked onto a busy stretch of Belmont, just a short walk from the Belmont "L" station, and has appeared in commercial listings as 800–802 W Belmont Ave, marketed for either restaurant or retail use. A 2023 LoopNet listing described the corner space as a built-out restaurant with a ventilation hood, basement prep area and patio, features that line up neatly with an express grocery or grab-and-go setup. The listing notes additional details for would-be tenants.
What To Expect
The express format will likely lean into a greatest-hits version of the flagship’s viral shelves, with a tight mix of novelty ramen, Asian ice-cream treats and specialty snack imports. Chicago Magazine’s profile of the West Town store called out exotic candies, frozen roll cakes and konjac jelly drinks, and Secret Chicago reports that the Lakeview outpost is expected to stock a selection of the market’s most popular items.
So far, Gangnam Market has not officially acknowledged the Lakeview shop on its own channels, and the company’s contact page still lists only the West Town address. For now, the Belmont storefront looks like a smaller, satellite counterpart to the 1001 W Chicago Ave flagship, with an opening date that remains entirely up in the air.
