The results are in — now it’s time to dig deeper.
The Daily Northwestern has compiled over 500 responses to its 14th annual Best of Evanston poll. Daily staffers tapped into the city’s preferences, identifying local food and community standouts.
Let’s take a closer look at the numbers behind the last year of Evanston businesses, economy and culture.
Best Bakery was the most contentious category, with Bennison’s Bakery inching past Hewn by just two votes. In 2025, Bennison’s saw a much safer win, taking 198 votes compared to runner-up Hewn’s 115.
Voters agreed most on a first-time Best of Evanston winner: Witchy Woman World Apothecary. The handcrafted bath and body product store won Best Hidden Gem with around 20% of the vote compared to the runner-up’s 7%. Ironically, it appears it’s not so “hidden” after all.
Evanston Chicken Shack is the most decorated of this year’s winners, with nine all-time awards on its belt.
Sports bar Bat 17 has dominated Best of Evanston in the past. It had a fiery start with five awards in the inaugural 2013 edition and has since climbed to a total award count of 20. However, this year it wound up empty-handed.
The 2026 winners with the most all-time awards are four longtime Evanston staples, all of which opened before the 21st century. Chicken Shack opened in 1990. Bennison’s Bakery and Blind Faith Café (tied for second place) opened in 1938 and 1979, respectively. Joy Yee Noodle, in third place, has been around since 1994.
Best of Evanston has included an “In Memoriam” section since 2019 to honor some popular businesses that closed their doors in the past year. This edition mourns several painful losses, such as Chili’s Grill & Bar, the beloved Reza’s Restaurant and the trivia night hotspot Bob’s Pizza.
A total of nine businesses are “In Memoriam,” just a few less than last year’s twelve. Four of those nine — Bob’s Pizza, MOD Pizza, Happy Lemon and Coffee Lab — are past Best of Evanston winners.
The section was smaller in 2024 and years prior, generally highlighting between only two and four businesses. The only exception is 2021, when Evanston saw an onslaught of closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Retail vacancy rates in 2025 surpassed 2024 rates in every quarter, peaking in June at 7.3%. At the end of the year, the rate was 7.1%. This is about four percentage points higher than it was at the same time in 2024 and higher than it has been since at least 2018.
The office vacancy rate has declined since 2024, when it jumped from 9.9% in June to 13.7% in December – the highest rate since at least 2018. Still, amid the rise of remote work post-pandemic, a rate of 12.4% was reported at the end of 2025.
Unemployment rates fluctuated through 2025, though less than it did in 2024. It’s trending about on par with the national unemployment rate, which is 4.3% as of January 2026.
Sales taxes began 2025 at similar levels to the same time in 2024, but have since risen above them. They ended the year higher than they’ve been since at least 2018, at $2,646,052.29.
This data, alongside the votes in the Best of Evanston 2026 survey, offers a fascinating glimpse into Evanston’s current culture and economic landscape.
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Related Stories:
— In Memoriam: Chili’s flaming presence sizzles out of Evanston for good
— Best of Evanston: By the Numbers: Evanston’s notable businesses and economic landscape
