Use this website to find local hotels with rates provided through FIRST. Online reservations can be made through Experient by clicking here.
Less expensive (and less conveniently located) hotels can be found farther away and outside of Chicago, in the suburbs. Especially when reserving a hotel within city limits, be sure to check whether parking costs extra and whether bus parking is available, if needed.
Located on Polk – from UIC Pavilion, go South on Racine, then at Polk turn Left (East)
Carm’s Beef & Italian Ice – 1057 W Polk, (0.4mi. from UIC Pavilion) - (312) 738-1046. Vienna Hot Dogs, Italian Beef, Polish, etc. Takeout / Delivery ($20 min). Winter Hours - Mon-Fri: 7:30am-7pm, Sat: 8am-5pm. Menu, Map & Hours
Fontano’s Subs – 1058 W Polk (0.4 mi. from UIC Pavilion) - (312) 421-4474. 6” to 3’ Sub sandwiches. Hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm, Sat: 9am-4pm. Information, Menu
Located on W.Taylor Street – from UIC Pavilion, go South on Racine, then at Taylor turn Right (West)
Taylor Made Pizza – 1220 W Taylor (Between Racine & S Lytle – 0.5 mi. from UIC Pavilion) - (312) 850-2000. Online ordering available. Hours: Sun-Wed: 11am-11pm, Thu-Sat: 11am-3am. Website, Menu
Located on W. Taylor Street – from UIC Pavilion, go South on Racine, then at W. Taylor turn Left (East)
RoSal’s Italian Cucina – 1154 W Taylor (Between S Racine & S May - .04 mi. from UIC Pavilion) - (312) 243-2357. Italian, Family Style, Prix-Fixe. Hours: Mon-Thu: 11am-9pm, Fri: 11am-11pm, Sat: 4pm-11pm. Website, Menu
China Night Café – 1140 W Taylor (at S May – 0.5 from UIC Pavilion) – (312) 421-7130. Chinese – Takeout / Delivery (fee +$1.75). Hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-9:30pm. Information, Menu
Jimmy John’s – 1133 W Taylor (at S May – 0.5 mi. from UIC Pavilion) – (312) 666-3666. Sandwiches. Takeout / Delivery / Online Ordering. Hours: Daily: 10:30am-10pm. Menu, Online Ordering
Sophia’s Pizza – 1132 W Taylor (Between S May & S Racine – 0.5 mi. from UIC Pavilion) - (312) 432-0045. Hours: Mon-Thu: 11am-10pm, Fri: 11am-12am, Sat: 12pm-12am, Sun: 12pm-10pm. Pizza, Cheese-steaks, Paninis, Calzones, Salads, etc. On-line orders and delivery is available. Menu
Chicago’s Busy Burger – 1120 W Taylor (at S May – 0.5 mi. from UIC Pavilion) – (312) 226-7760. Char-broiled Burgers, Turkey Burgers, Vienna Hot Dogs, Sides, etc. Takeout / Delivery ($ 15.00 minimum order - fee +$2.95). Hours: Mon-Sat: 10am-12am. Information
Chez Joel Bistro – 1119 W Taylor (at S May St - 0.5mi. from UIC Pavilion) - (312) 226-6479. French Bistro serving lunch, dinner, brunch. Hours: Tue-Thu: 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm Sun: 3pm-9pm. Website
Al’s Beef - 1079 West Taylor (Between S Carpenter & S Aberdeen St – 0.6 mi. from UIC Pavilion) – (312) 226-4017. Italian Beef, Sandwiches, Hot Dogs – Carryout/Dine In, Cash Only. Hours - Mon-Sat: 9am-1am. Website, Menu
Great Nearby Places
Historic Connie’s Pizza - Not too much of a drive (about 3 miles) – PLENTY of FREE PARKING for both Cars and Buses! Online ordering and Delivery are also available.
Directions: South on Racine to Roosevelt. Turn Left (East). Continue on Roosevelt until S. Canal Street then turn Right at S. Archer. Phone: (312) 326-3443. Hours: Mon-Thu: 11am-11pm Fri-Sat: 11am-12am Sun: 12pm-10pm. Website
There are several hardware stores located in the general vicinity of the UIC Pavilion. Here are the closest ones:
Wacker Hardware Company - 1025 West Jackson Boulevard - (312) 733-6070. This store location is about 0.3 miles northeast of the UIC Pavilion.
ACE Hardware - 312 West Adams Street - (312) 726-7777. This store location is just over 1 mile east of the UIC Pavilion. I would call ahead to this location to see if they have what you need. There have been some complaints about this location, but it is the closest ACE Hardware store. The ACE Hardware store listed below has better reviews.
Gordons ACE Hardware - 440 North Orleans Street - (312) 527-4200. This is the next closest ACE Hardware store. It is located just over 2 miles northeast of the UIC Pavilion.
Chicago Wholesale Hardware - 171 North Halsted Street - (312) 782-2296. This store location is about 1-mile northeast of the UIC Pavilion.
The Home Depot - 1300 South Clinton Street, Chicago, IL - (312) 850-4836. This store location is just over 1-mile southeast of the UIC Pavilion. They have a convenient and free parking lot, in addition to street parking.
These are the copy centers located closest to the UIC Pavilion.
The UPS Store - 1137 West Taylor Street - (312) 226-8700
FedEx Office Print and Ship Center - 127 South Clinton Street - (312) 559-1324
Target - 1101 West Jackson Blvd. - (312) 279-3340
Team #71 - Team Hammond prepared this guide a couple years ago for visitors to Chicago, that gives some useful local information.