This suburb-bordering Chicago neighborhood is on the city’s far southwest corner, about 14 miles from the downtown Loop. It is a largely Irish-Catholic community that’s home to a number of city police officers, firefighters and union workers of Irish descent. Many of the educational facilities in Mount Greenwood are Catholic schools, including its university—Saint Xavier University, which has 5,000+ students and is recognized for its excellent nursing program. 

After WWII, Mount Greenwood grew extensively with the post-war baby boom. Between 1945 and the early 1950s, construction of new residences totaled 4,000. By 1950, the population swelled to over 12,000 (up from 3,300 in 1930). Much of Mount Greenwood’s residential areas were developed during these decades, including public parks and schools. The neighborhood’s population hit its peak in the 1970s (at approximately 23,000) and has been on a gradual decline ever since. At the time of the 2000 census, there were 18,820 inhabitants in Mount Greenwood. 

Much of Mount Greenwood is residential streets, with businesses and restaurants dotting the major thoroughfares. West 111th Street is considered the neighborhood’s main commercial corridor. Cafés, pizzerias, taquerias, fast food joints, bar and grills, and—of course—Irish pubs line the busy road, offering a sufficient selection of quick bites and sit down eateries. Lindy’s Chili and Gertie’s Ice Cream is a Chicago institution with a location on 111th Street in Mount Greenwood. Serving up the perfect dish for both cold Chicago winters (chili) and hot Chicago summers (ice cream), this hometown favorite is top choice for what you crave, no matter the time of year. 

Due to its Irish heritage, Mount Greenwood is a great place to find authentic Irish pubs. Probably the most popular stop for a pint of Guinness around these parts is Jeremy Lanigan’s Irish Pub on 111th Street. The bar’s owner is from Ireland and he strives to bring a bit of the Old Country to this Southwest Side community. Many of Jeremy Lanigan’s patrons are native-born or first generation Irish who speak with thick accents. Regulars abound, adding to the friendly mood of the bar and setting the standard for ordering frothy drafts and shots of Whiskey. Once a month, the pub offers up its stage to local musicians who play traditional Irish tunes on fiddles and guitars. All are welcome to share their songs, but if you want to be a crowd-pleaser make sure to throw in some old Irish classics.

When an island paradise awaits, with suitcase in tow you can leave your Mount Greenwood digs and jump on the #52A bus north to the Kedzie Orange Line station or take the #53A Pulaski Road bus north to the Pulaski Orange Line station. Once on the Orange Line, it's a short train ride to the end of the line at Midway. For more everyday commutes, you can head east on the #103 103rd Street bus for an easy connection to the Washington Heights Metra stations which you can use to cruise to Joliet or downtown Chicago