Street Named In Honor Of Lincoln Square's "Unofficial Mayor"

CHICAGO, IL — The city plans to unveil the honorary Jeanne Uzdawinis Way street sign in Lincoln Square on Thursday. The unveiling will take place at the cul-de-sac at Giddings Plaza near Café Selmarie at 10 a.m., the city announced. Jeanne Uzdawinis co-founded Cafe Selmarie in Lincoln Square with friend and partner Birgit Kobayashi.

Uzdawinis was a beloved Lincoln Square community member who passed away in October 2017 after a battle with cancer.

Uzdawinis lived in Lincoln Square for more than 35 years, just a few blocks from her restaurant. She and Kobayashi founded their small bakery café in 1983 and it expanded over the years to become one of the neighborhood’s most popular gathering places.

Uzdawinis was known and respected as the “unofficial mayor” of Lincoln Square, and was instrumental in shaping the economic development of the neighborhood, the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce said.

• WHERE: At the cul-de-sac at Giddings Plaza near Selmarie, in Lincoln Square.
• WHEN: Thursday, August 9 at 10 a.m.
• WHO: Brief comments will be offered by Uzdawinis’ husband John Boesche, as well as a representative from 47th Ward Alderman Ameya Pawar’s office.

Top image via Google Maps Streetview