Known as “the city of friendly people,” Northlake is a welcoming community great for families. This Chicago suburb is one of the area’s youngest, having only been incorporated in 1949, but Northlake is a diverse and growing city with a small-town atmosphere that you’ll love spending time in.
Named after its intersecting main thoroughfares, North Avenue and Lake Street, Northlake is home to Centerpoint Preserve, a 32-acre park full of nature, bicycle trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, sports courts and more. There’s even a sledding hill for snowy winter fun!
Northlake today is a far cry from how the community started out, making exploring it all the more interesting! The community was built by World War II veterans and their families without a master development plan. Construction took place primarily during the post-World War II housing boom and houses were built as shells – only the exteriors were built and homeowners had to finish the interiors upon moving in! Back then, Northlake only had gravel roads, with no curbs, streetlights, sidewalks or sewer systems.
Today, Northlake is a beautiful suburban community, well worth a visit. You’ll find excellent Mexican restaurants, including Alejandra’s Mexican Restaurant and Carnitas Don Alfredo. It also has Portillo’s, a famous Chicagoland fast food joint, but the best place in Northlake to grab a Chicago-style hot dog, a pizza puff and Italian beef is The Winking Dog, which will have you begging for more!
Northlake really is the place to be!
