With over 5.25 million overall boardings in 2014, it is the busiest station on the Red Line north of the Loop.

It is also the closest 'L' station to the John Hancock Center, Holy Name Cathedral, the Rush Street entertainment district, and the downtown campus of Loyola University Chicago.

From 1999 until 2001, Chicago underwent renovation and refurbishment, in line with other stations of the State Street subway.

Work included making the station accessible to people with disabilities, with new elevators, redone flooring, retiling, and increased mezzanine space.

[6][7] Unlike most State Street Subway stations, Chicago uses a side platform configuration with two tracks, also used at Grand/State and North/Clybourn.