If you stood at the corner of Madison and Wabash Chicago about fifteen years ago, you’d have been standing under one of the loudest, rustiest, and most charmingly gritty parts of the "L" tracks. The old Madison/Wabash station was right there. It was a relic. Honestly, it was a bit of a relic even back in the 90s, with its narrow wooden platforms and that weirdly satisfying rattle whenever a Brown Line train pulled in.
Today? That station is gone. Demolished. Vaporized. In its place is a sleek, white, "ribbed" station a block north, and the intersection itself has transformed from a transit bottleneck into the heart of a revitalized Jewelers Row. But if you think this corner is just another generic Loop intersection, you’ve got it wrong. There’s a specific kind of magic here where the city’s zero-zero point (Madison Street) meets the jewelry capital of the Midwest.
The Ghost of Madison and Wabash Chicago
People still get confused. You’ll see tourists looking at their phones, squinting at old Google Maps screenshots, wondering where the Madison/Wabash stop went. It officially closed on March 16, 2015.
The city didn’t just tear it down for fun. It was part of a massive $75 million project to consolidate two aging stations—Madison and Randolph—into the modern Washington/Wabash "super-station."
The old station was historic, sure. It opened in 1896. For over a century, it was the gateway for workers at the iconic Carson Pirie Scott department store. There was even a direct bridge from the station platform into the store. Can you imagine? Just walking off a train and straight into a world of high-end retail without even hitting the pavement. That bridge is a piece of Chicago lore now, but the intersection remains the literal baseline for the city's grid system.
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Why the "Zero" Point is a Big Deal
Madison Street is the dividing line between North and South. Wabash is just a few blocks east of the State Street "zero" for East and West. So, when you’re at Madison and Wabash Chicago, you are basically at the coordinate $(0,0)$ of the city’s soul.
Everything radiates from here. If you walk south, address numbers go up. Walk north, they go up. It’s the ultimate "you are here" marker.
The Glittering Survival of Jewelers Row
Most people think brick-and-mortar retail is dead, especially specialized stuff like diamonds. They’re wrong. Jewelers Row, which centers on this very intersection, is still kicking.
Look at the Heyworth Building on the southwest corner (29 E. Madison). Built in 1904 by D.H. Burnham & Company, it was designed specifically for the jewelry and watch trade. It has these massive windows—not just for aesthetics, but because diamond cutters needed every ounce of natural light they could get.
Noteworthy Buildings You Should Actually Look At:
- The Mallers Building (5 S. Wabash): This is the "Big Kahuna" of the district. It’s 21 stories of sheer hustle. Inside, there are hundreds of independent jewelers. It’s not a fancy mall; it feels like a hive.
- The Silversmith Hotel: Located at 10 S. Wabash, this used to be—you guessed it—a hub for silversmiths. Now it’s a boutique hotel that leans hard into that "industrial glam" vibe.
- The Sullivan Center: Just a stone's throw away. You can't miss the ornate, black cast-iron scrollwork by Louis Sullivan. It’s arguably the most beautiful facade in the city.
Honestly, the vibe at Madison and Wabash Chicago is different than Michigan Avenue. It’s less "tourist trap" and more "working city." You’ve got messengers on bikes weaving through traffic, students from the School of the Art Institute (SAIC) carrying huge canvases, and guys in suits carrying velvet bags worth more than your house.
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What’s Actually Happening There Now?
As of 2026, the area has moved past the "construction zone" phase that defined the late 2010s. The removal of the old L station opened up the "canyon." Without the low-hanging tracks at the intersection, more light hits the street level.
The Washington/Wabash station—with its skeleton-like white canopy designed by EXP—has become a landmark in its own right. It was designed to mimic the facets of a diamond, a nod to the jewelers below. It’s one of the most photographed CTA stops in the city, mostly because it looks like a giant ribcage from a sci-fi movie.
Where to Eat and Hang
If you're hanging around Madison and Wabash Chicago, skip the chains.
- Goddess and the Baker: It’s right there on Wabash. Yes, it’s trendy. Yes, the rainbow cake is a lot. But the coffee is legit, and it’s the best place to people-watch.
- The Pittsfield Building: Just north of Madison. The lobby is a hidden Art Deco masterpiece. There’s a small cafe inside where you can sit and feel like you’re in 1920s Chicago.
Surprising Details You Probably Missed
Did you know parts of the old Madison/Wabash station were sold at auction? When they tore it down, the CTA didn't just scrap everything. They sold off the old signs, the wooden benches, and even pieces of the corrugated metal roofing. You might be sitting in a coffee shop in Logan Square or Wicker Park right now that’s using a piece of the Madison and Wabash Chicago history as decor.
Another weird thing: the "Wabash Lights" project. For years, activists and artists have been trying to turn the underside of the L tracks along Wabash into an interactive light installation. It’s had its ups and downs with funding, but you can occasionally see "beta" stretches of it. It changes the whole mood from "dark alley" to "electric gallery."
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
If you're heading to the corner of Madison and Wabash Chicago, don't just walk through it.
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- Look Up, Not Forward: The architecture here is "Chicago School" at its peak. The cornices on the Heyworth Building are some of the most intact in the Loop.
- Go Inside the Mallers Building: Even if you aren't buying an engagement ring. The directory in the lobby is a fascinating list of family businesses that have been there for generations.
- Use the New Station for the View: Even if you aren't taking the train, go up to the Washington/Wabash platform. The view looking south toward Madison gives you the best perspective of the "Wabash Canyon."
- Check the Grid: Find the brass markers in the sidewalk or the street signs that denote the $0-0$ intersection. It’s a geeky Chicago rite of passage.
The intersection of Madison and Wabash Chicago isn't just a place where two streets meet. It's where the city's physical geometry meets its history of trade and craftsmanship. It’s survived the death of the department store, the demolition of its transit hub, and the rise of online shopping. It’s still here, and it’s still sparkling.
Next Steps:
To get the most out of this area, start your morning at the Sullivan Center to see the ironwork, grab a coffee at Goddess and the Baker, and then spend an hour "window" shopping through the upper floors of the Mallers Building. If you're into photography, wait for the "Golden Hour" when the sun hits the white ribs of the new Washington/Wabash station—it creates shadows on the pavement that are basically art.