Hilary Wirtz Puts Wilmette House On Market For $1.2 Million

WILMETTE, IL — Hillary Wirtz, a key figure in the Wirtz family and a longtime presence on the North Shore, this week listed for sale the house she and her wife purchased less than five years ago.

Wirtz, a longtime first grade teacher at North Shore Country Day School, became a board member at Breakthru Beverage following the death of her father, Rocky, the third-generation owner of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Wirtz's Wilmette house was built in 1898 and sits on a quarter-acre lot on Lake Avenue in the east Wilmette neighborhood known as CAGE — an acronym for the streets to its north.

Located a few blocks from the train station and less than a mile from Lake Michigan, it the five-bedroom, 3,600-square-foot home has five bedrooms and an detached garage with room for two cars.

The three-story "light bright home" features original leaded glass windows, beamed ceilings and "gorgeous moldings along with many recent improvement," according to its listing.

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"The home has been lovingly updated and refreshed by the current owner while maintaining the architectural and period details that make the home so spectacular," listing agent Julie Miller told Patch.

Significant updates during Wirtz's ownership include a "stunning" remodel of the primary bathroom, enhancements to the mudroom and breakfast room, as well as a new patio and front fence, Miller said.

"This is a special home in a fabulous location," she said.

Its third floor includes a family room and office, while the finished lower level includes a rec room and more.

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Property records show the 126-year-old Wilmette home was purchased in November 2019 for $942,500 by Wirtz and her wife, Winnetka School District 36 teacher Erin-Aileen Quaglia.

Wirtz is now the senior director of culture and inclusion at Breakthru Beverage Group, formerly known as the Wirtz Beverage Group, where she is a fourth-generation owner. She joined the company board at the same time her brother Danny, the chair of the Chicago Blackhawks and Wirtz Corporation, became co-chairman of the liquor distribution company.

"We are committed to being an industry leader in creating a culture where every individual is valued, respected and can fully contribute their best selves," Wirtz said last week in a statement announcing the company's corporate social responsibility report.

Wirtz has a long record of supporting local philanthropic efforts and for the company and for North Shore Country Day, the alma mater she shares with her father.

She has been involved in many charitable events including No Kid Hungry, Equality IL for LGBTQ Rights and Meals on Wheels, and was last month honored with a leadership award from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States at their annual conference.

The Wirtz family had a net worth of $4.4 billion as of 2015, according to Forbes, which ranked it as the 67th richest in the country that year.

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• Address: 932 Lake Ave., Wilmette
• Built: 1898
• Lot Size: 0.224 acres
• Square feet: 3,563 square feet
• Bedrooms: 5
• Bathrooms: 3 full, 1 half
• Last Sold: $942,500 million in November 2019
• First Listed: $1.2 million in April 2024