The October calendar at Bell Works Chicagoland lists seven public events. All seven fall on a weekday. Four take place at Bell Market or right next to it, inside the food hall's posted window of Tuesday through Thursday, 3 to 8 p.m. If you live in Hoffman Estates and want to use the old AT&T campus at 2000 Center Drive this month, plan around a weeknight. The weekend calendar in town comes from somewhere else.
The same weekday pattern sets expectations for the next phase of the building, which the developer had projected to open by now.
Bell Market posts after-work hours
Bell Market opened June 23, 2025, according to Bell Works' announcement. The opening lineup was Honeybell Bakery & Cafe, Broadfork Greens + Grains, Jozu, Yeeroz, Beef & Bird, and a signature bar. All six still appear on Bell Market's own menu pages for the Center Drive location.
The hours differ from the original plan. Before opening, the Daily Herald reported that the pop-up's weekday hours of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. would continue in the permanent space, with evenings added until 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. The vendor pages now post one block of hours for every concept: Tuesday through Thursday, 3 to 8 p.m. They list no other regular days.
So the posted schedule matches the time between the end of a workday and a late dinner. A Saturday lunch at Jozu or a Monday coffee at Honeybell isn't on it. Check Bell Market's pages before you go, because those pages carry no publish date. The "On The Block" tenant directory on the Bell Works site still says "coming soon" for Bell Market, even though the hall has been open for over a year.
The October calendar, laid out by weekday
The Bell Works happenings page was last updated September 29 and lists events through October 28. Sorted by day of the week, the pattern is easy to see.
| Date | Day | Event | Time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 14 | Wednesday | Village Networking at Swing Loose Indoor Golf | 12 to 1:30 p.m. | Swing Loose |
| Oct. 14 | Wednesday | Pilates, Pumpkins, and Prosecco with FitLab | 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. | FitLab |
| Oct. 15 | Thursday | Vinyl Night feat. DJ Groove Thang | 4 to 7 p.m. | Bell Market |
| Oct. 20 | Tuesday | Blood Drive: Crystal Clean x FitLab | 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Bell Works |
| Oct. 22 | Thursday | Sundown Session feat. Riley Brothers Duo | 4 to 7 p.m. | Bell Market |
| Oct. 28 | Wednesday | Trick-or-Treat Around The Block | 3 to 5 p.m. | The Square |
| Oct. 28 | Wednesday | 90s Night! Halloween Party | 5 to 8 p.m. | Bell Market |
The daytime events, the networking lunch and the blood drive, are aimed at the people who work in the building. The evening events open up to the wider community. Vinyl Night pairs cocktails with a vinyl record pop-up run by DJ Groove Thang, and food and drinks are sold during the event. The Riley Brothers duo plays Bell Market from 4 to 7 p.m. on the following Thursday. For the FitLab Pilates class, the event page asks you to email for registration details.
October 28 is the only date this month that gives a family the whole afternoon. It runs in this order:
- 3 p.m.: Trick-or-Treat Around The Block opens at The Square. The invitation goes to "tenants and the community," and kids collect candy from participating tenants.
- 5 p.m.: The 90s Night Halloween Party starts at Bell Market and runs until 8. Bell Works calls it its annual Halloween party. Admission is free, an RSVP is requested, and food and drinks are sold.
Because it's a Wednesday, a parent coming from work can pick it up partway through. Families who can arrive by 3 can stay for both events.
No events for November or December were posted when this was written. Based on the pattern so far, expect any new listings to land on weekdays as well.
The tenants who keep different hours
Bell Market keeps to its weekday window, but some public-facing tenants in the building keep wider hours. These are the businesses that make Bell Works an option on other days. The Bell Works directory lists them as follows:
- Fit Lab: a full-service fitness center open to tenants and the local community, with 24-hour access for members.
- Game Night Out: a hosted party-game venue, open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. by reservation. It's the clearest weekend option in the building.
- Legenda Chicago: an Indonesian goods and food retailer with weekday and Saturday hours.
- Swing Loose: an indoor golf simulator with posted operating hours, also the host of the October 14 networking lunch.
- It Gym: group fitness classes on a weekly schedule.
- Party Cycle Movement: indoor cycling sessions booked through an app.
On a Saturday at Bell Works, you can play games, train, golf, or shop at Legenda. The food hall's posted hours don't cover it.
The west side was due last quarter
The next phase could change this pattern. On June 24, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the building's western half would open in the third quarter of 2026. The plans included West Side Square, a turf courtyard with seating for family events, an outdoor bar called Bar Bella, a public space called Bell Lounge with free Wi-Fi and workshops, 70,000 square feet of retail, and office space. The same article said leasing was close to signing a couple of tenants and that the retail could include a pizzeria and other eateries. None had been named.
A day later, the Daily Herald covered the ceremonial demolition of the wall between the two halves. Mayor Bill McLeod told the paper, "It's the beginning of Bell Works phase two. It's ready to go. It's the last phase of the whole Bell Works saga." The paper reported that more than 500,000 square feet on the west side would open "within the coming months." That total includes 430,000 square feet of offices, about 35,000 square feet of which are furnished "Ready-to-Wear" suites. The developer, Inspired by Somerset Development, announced no tenants at the event. McLeod said he expected a proposal for at least one more restaurant.
The third quarter ended September 30. The most recent public reporting on the west side still dates to that week in June. No source found for this post confirms an opening date, a signed restaurant, or that Bar Bella or Bell Lounge is running. Treat the west side as still pending.
That matters for the weekday pattern. An outdoor bar, a family courtyard, and a public lounge are the kinds of spaces that could stay open past Thursday.
The weekend is on the village's calendar
Most of the Saturday events in Hoffman Estates this month come from the park district and Village Hall, with NOW Arena filling in the evenings. On Saturday, October 17, two morning events overlap:
- Haunted Hoffman Family Fest and Trick or Treat Path runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fabbrini Park. General admission is free, and the trick-or-treat path requires paid pre-registration.
- Coffee with the Board starts at 10 a.m. in the Council Chambers at Village Hall, 1900 Hassell Road.
The next weekend fills up around the 24th. On Friday, October 23, the Sister Cities Commission hosts its Soirée Culinaire French dinner at Village Hall at 6 p.m. According to the village, tickets are $85 and space is limited. On Saturday morning at 10, the park district holds Howl-O-Ween, a free dog costume event at Freedom Run Dog Park, 6150 Russell Drive. Registration is required. That evening, NOW Arena hosts Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in concert, and the Windy City Bulls home schedule begins November 6.
Put the two calendars side by side and a plan for late October falls into place. Wednesday the 28th goes to Bell Works, with trick-or-treating at The Square and then the 90s party at Bell Market. The two Saturdays before it go to Fabbrini Park and Freedom Run.
When the Bell Works west side opens, it could change how the campus fits into daily life nearby and how buyers see the homes around it. Jake Kubota follows projects like this as part of pricing and preparing homes in Hoffman Estates. If you're thinking about how Bell Works fits into your own plans to sell or stay, schedule a consultation and he'll walk through what's confirmed and what's still pending.
