Retail availability across the Chicago metropolitan area continues to show a striking divide between the urban core and the suburbs, according to early 2026 data. Market-wide availability stands at 5.5%, moderately above the national average of 4.8%, yet several centrally located submarkets far exceed both benchmarks.
Chicago retail availability remains high in the urban core
Hybrid work keeps downtown storefront vacancies elevated while outlying corridors show steadier demand
CoStar Analytics
February 23, 2026 | 12:00 P.M.
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