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Craig Perman opens wine bar and shop in former Lush space

Craig Perman opens wine bar and shop in former Lush space

Money Moves Chicago, IL local

Perman Selections adds a West Town retail counter and bar; Lush remains open in Roscoe Village.

Today: Perman opens West Town wine bar and shop

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Craig Perman opened Perman Selections and Wine Bar in West Town on Nov. 6, taking over the storefront Lush vacated earlier this year. The shop sells European wines, cocktails and bar snacks, Block Club Chicago reported.

The new location pairs bottle sales with bar service, a different format from Perman's Near North wine shop. Lush still operates in Roscoe Village, so the West Town space changes hands rather than closing the brand.

Why it matters

A new West Town bar and wine shop adds an evening destination and shows how independent retailers use bar service to draw foot traffic.

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Key Indicators

2
Perman retail locations in Chicago
The Near North shop plus the new West Town wine bar and retail space.
2007
Year Perman opened first Chicago store
The original West Loop location closed in March 2018.
2026
West Town opening year
The new shop occupies the former Lush storefront.

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People Involved

CP
Craig Perman
Founder and owner, Perman Selections and Perman Wine Selections
Opened Perman Selections and Wine Bar in West Town in November 2026

Organizations Involved

PS
Perman Selections and Wine Bar
Wine bar and retail shop
Opened in West Town in November 2026

A West Town wine bar and retail shop selling European wines, cocktails and bar snacks.
Perman Wine Selections
Perman Wine Selections
Wine retailer
Operating in Near North

A Chicago wine shop founded by Craig Perman.
LU
Lush
Retail store
Closed West Town location; remains open in Roscoe Village

A retail chain that vacated its West Town storefront in 2026.

Timeline

September 2007 November 2026

5 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Perman opens West Town wine bar and shop

    Today Opening

    Perman Selections and Wine Bar takes over the former Lush space.

  2. Lush closes West Town storefront

    Closure

    Lush remains open in Roscoe Village, Block Club reports.

  3. Perman closes original West Loop shop

    Closure

    The West Loop location closes after about a decade.

  4. Perman opens Near North wine shop

    Opening

    The new store adds more selection, an event space and parking.

  5. Craig Perman opens Perman Wine Selections in West Loop

    Opening

    Perman opens his first Chicago wine shop at 802 West Washington.

Scenarios

1

Perman Selections remains open in West Town

Possible Resolves by Nov 6, 2027

Discussed by: Block Club Chicago reporting; no public forecasts available

The shop posts regular hours and continues operating at the former Lush address through its first year. That would make the opening a durable addition to West Town's retail mix.

2

West Town wine bar closes within a year

Possible Resolves by Nov 6, 2027

Discussed by: No public forecasts available

The new bar does not draw enough traffic and closes, leaving the former Lush space vacant again.

3

Perman adds a second wine-bar location

Unlikely Resolves by Nov 6, 2028

Discussed by: No public forecasts available

Perman expands the retail-plus-bar format beyond West Town, opening another Chicago location.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

September 2007

Perman Wine Selections opens in West Loop (2007)

Craig Perman opened his first Chicago wine shop in the West Loop after working at Alinea, Blackbird and Avec. The shop focused on curated wines from top regions.

Then

It gave Perman a retail base in Chicago's restaurant district.

Now

The shop became the foundation for his later Near North store.

Why this matters now

The West Town opening is Perman's latest Chicago retail location after that first shop.

October 2017

Perman opens Near North store (2017)

Perman opened a second location in Near North with more selection, an event space and parking.

Then

The new store expanded Perman's retail footprint.

Now

It became the remaining Perman shop after the West Loop location closed.

Why this matters now

The West Town wine bar adds a bar format to the retail model Perman built in Near North.

March 2018

Perman closes West Loop store (2018)

Perman closed the original West Loop shop about a decade after opening it.

Then

The Near North store remained open.

Now

Perman's Chicago retail presence narrowed to one shop until the 2026 West Town opening.

Why this matters now

The closure shows Perman has shifted locations before; West Town is his return to a second Chicago site.

Sources

(2)
Block Club Chicago Perman Wine