deeply rooted

Plant-shop owner Cotto shares his top spots in Chicago's flourishing Logan Square neighborhood.

- KELSEY SCHAGEMANN

When Cotto walks the streets of Logan Square, childhood ghosts haunt him. The Discount Megamall? Gone. His dad's apartments? Occupied by new tenants. The Logan Theatre? Well, that's still there, minus the sticky floors and secondrun movies.

As someone who sells plants for a living, Cotto respects the cycle of growth and change. "It's a different neighborhood now, but I'm not mad about it," he says. "This is still home." When customers visit his shop, Terracotto Plants, they might leave with a potted succulent, a plant cutting or a list of where to venture next in this eclectic community on Chicago's Northwest Side. Here's what he recommends.

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