Wiklanski's Bakery moving west to Elmwood Park

Longtime Northwest Side staple plans to relocate this month after news of property demolition

Mar. 3, 2026 at 11:18pm

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Wiklanski's Bakery, a longtime fixture on Chicago's Northwest Side known for its traditional Polish baked goods, is moving its operations to the nearby suburb of Elmwood Park this month. The bakery, which has been located at 6006 W. Belmont Ave. since 2012, is relocating due to plans to demolish the current property and build a new Starbucks with a drive-thru.

Why it matters

The move highlights the changing demographics and development pressures impacting long-standing small businesses and cultural hubs in certain Chicago neighborhoods. Wiklanski's Bakery has been a community staple, but the owner cites uncertainty over the property's future as a key factor in the decision to relocate.

The details

Waclaw Wiklanski, the owner of Wiklanski's Bakery, said the move to 7717-19 W. Belmont Ave. in Elmwood Park is about 95% complete and he expects to open the new location in the middle of March. The bakery needs to install new windows and wait on a new refrigerator and some office furnishings before fully reopening. Wiklanski said he began working with the Village of Elmwood Park last year on the potential move after learning the current property would be demolished.

  • Wiklanski's Bakery opened at its current location at 6006 W. Belmont Ave. in 2012.
  • In early 2026, Wiklanski learned the current property would be demolished to make way for a new Starbucks with a drive-thru.
  • Wiklanski's Bakery is expected to complete its move to the new Elmwood Park location and reopen in mid-March 2026.

The players

Waclaw Wiklanski

The owner of Wiklanski's Bakery, which has operated on Chicago's Northwest Side since 2012.

Ruth Cruz

The 30th Ward alderwoman in Chicago, who plans to meet with property owners to discuss plans for the site of Wiklanski's former bakery location.

Kyokushin Karate 'Kanku' Dojo

A martial arts studio that previously operated on the same block as Wiklanski's Bakery but has since moved to Schiller Park.

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What they’re saying

“I'm ready to open right now but I have to finish a few more things. It's about 95 percent completed.”

— Waclaw Wiklanski, Owner, Wiklanski's Bakery

“They were supposed to demolish it. If they weren't going to demolish it I would have stayed here another 2 years. But every cloud has a silver lining, and moving locations is a breath of fresh air.”

— Waclaw Wiklanski, Owner, Wiklanski's Bakery

“There is no Polonia here anymore. So how does it make sense to have a Polish bakery here?”

— Waclaw Wiklanski, Owner, Wiklanski's Bakery

What’s next

Alderwoman Ruth Cruz plans to meet with the property owners to discuss plans for the site of Wiklanski's former bakery location on Belmont Avenue.

The takeaway

The relocation of Wiklanski's Bakery to Elmwood Park highlights the challenges facing long-standing small businesses and cultural hubs in certain Chicago neighborhoods as demographics shift and development pressures mount. The move underscores the importance of supporting community-rooted enterprises and preserving neighborhood character, even as cities evolve.