Levy Takes Over NASCAR Street Race Food And Drink As Street Closures Begin

DOWNTOWN — As NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race approaches, a new hospitality group has taken over food operations and rolling street closures have begun Downtown.

Levy, a Chicago-based hospitality company, has been named the official food and beverage partner for July’s NASCAR Street Race, the racing organization announced this week. The race is July 5-6 in Grant Park.

Levy, which operates at venues such as Soldier Field and Wrigley Field, replaces Lettuce Entertain You, which handled operations the past two years.

Levy will bring two of its restaurants — Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap and River Roast — to race weekend concessions, along with locally owned restaurants including Mr. Beef, Bronzeville Winery, Lexington Betty Smokehouse, Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs and Josephine’s Southern Cooking. More restaurants will be announced closer to the race, according to a news release.

“As a Chicago-lifer, I’m definitely biased, but I truly believe there is no city with more energy than Chicago during the summer,” Levy CEO Andy Lansing said in a statement. “The NASCAR Chicago Street Race highlights our city and the sport in a totally unique way, and it’s been incredible to see fans rally behind it. We’re so excited to help elevate an already wonderful event with a new level of food, beverage and hometown hospitality.”

Some street closures around Grant Park started earlier this week, including Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. “No parking” restrictions are now in place along northbound and southbound Columbus Drive between Jackson and Balbo drives.

NASCAR has a three-year contract with the city that is set to expire after this year. The agreement allows for a two-year extension, though NASCAR and city officials have not said whether it will be renewed.

The race slashed ticket prices for its third year, with single-day general admission passes starting at $99 — down from $150 last year — and free general admission tickets for kids 12 and younger Saturday and Sunday with a ticket-holding adult.

The cost for a two-day general admission ticket is $150. Reserved seating starts at $200, with Frontstretch Premium Reserved seats priced at $350.

Last year, NASCAR generated $128 million in total economic impact for the city, a 17 percent increase from 2023, according to a Temple University study commissioned by the city’s tourism bureau, Choose Chicago.

But total attendance at the 2024 race was down from the inaugural year, when heavy rain forced delays and the cancellation of some races.

Here’s the schedule of rolling street closures through race weekend:

Pre-Race Activity In Grant Park

• Friday: Beginning 12:01 a.m.: Curb lane closure on northbound and southbound Columbus Drive between Jackson Drive and Balbo Drive.
• Monday: Beginning 12:01 a.m.: Full closure on Ida B. Wells Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive. Westbound lanes between Congress Plaza Drive and Michigan Avenue will remain open; eastbound lanes will be closed.
• Monday: 10 p.m. Monday-6 a.m. Tuesday: Temporary closure of northbound Michigan Avenue between Congress Plaza Drive and Jackson Drive.
• Wednesday: 10 p.m. Wednesday-5 a.m. Thursday: Temporary closure of northbound Columbus Drive between Balbo Drive and Jackson Drive.

Street Closures

• Thursday: Beginning 10 p.m.: Closure of Jackson Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive.
• June 27: Beginning 12:01 a.m.: Closure of Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to Michigan Avenue.
• June 28: Beginning 10 p.m.: Closure of Congress Plaza Drive.
• June 30: Beginning 12:01 a.m.: Closure of Columbus Drive from Jackson Drive to Roosevelt Road.
• July 2: Beginning 10 p.m.: Closure of westbound and eastbound Roosevelt Road from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
• July 3: Beginning 12:01 a.m.: Closure of southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road.
• July 3: Beginning 10 p.m.: Closure of northbound and southbound Michigan Avenue from Roosevelt Road to Jackson Drive, and northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road.

Race Weekend Street Closures – July 5-6

• Southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Randolph Street to McFetridge Drive
• Northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from McFetridge Drive to Randolph Street
• Northbound Michigan Avenue from Roosevelt Road to Monroe Street
• Southbound Michigan Avenue from south of Monroe Street to Eighth Street
• Monroe Street from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive
• Columbus Drive from Roosevelt Road to Monroe Street
• Roosevelt Road from DuSable Lake Shore Drive to Michigan Avenue
• Jackson Drive from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive
• Balbo Drive from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive
• Ida B. Wells Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive
• Congress Plaza Drive from Harrison Street to Van Buren Street
• Northbound Indiana Avenue from Roosevelt Road to 13th Street
• Post Place: Entrance and exit of Lower Wacker Drive
• Garvey Court: Entrance and exit of Lower Wacker Drive

Reopening — July 6-14 

Select streets will begin reopening following the conclusion of the event July 6. Priority streets to reopen are DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue.

• Northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive will begin reopening 6 a.m. July 7.
• All NASCAR-related demobilization is expected to conclude by the end of the day July 14.

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