A sign is advertising an available lease at Gino's North, 1111 W. Granville Ave. View Full Caption DNAinfo/Benjamin Woodard

EDGEWATER — When a "For Lease" sign popped up in the window of Gino's North, some passersby worried it signaled the end of the Granville Avenue staple.

But not to worry, said owner Steve Kilian.

"We have no intention of leaving that space," he said.

The 10-year lease he has at 1111 W. Granville Ave. is set to expire and the Chicago Transit Authority is taking bids to renew it.

Kilian said he could be outbid for the space, but the CTA has assured him they'd consider his pizzeria and bar's history on Granville — and allow him to counter-bid.

The CTA's property management company had hosted tours of the storefront — and several others — last week for prospective tenants.

Cathrine Hosinski, a CTA spokeswoman, declined to discuss the Granville space because the CTA is still accepting bids for the property.

But, she said, the CTA considers five criteria when awarding leases, including the lease term and rent; applicant’s financial responsibility and business experience; applicant’s business concept and benefits provided to CTA riders and communities; and applicant’s involvement in the neighborhood in which the station is located.

"An established local business with long-term tenancy helps meet some of the key criteria sought in an application," she said.

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