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Bakeries
Posted by:
querencia
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Date: September 29, 2009 12:01AM
I remember that in the 1950's EVERY neighborhood had bakeries. In Hyde Park we had Askow's Bakeries with all kinds of coffee cakes, apple slices, and I think kolachkys were a nickel or a dime. Now? Today? I live downtown and can tell you there is not a single real bakery between Roosevelt and North Avenue. I'm not counting little luncheonettes that will sell you a cupcake for six dollars. The only old-time bakeries on the North Side that I can think of are Dinkel's on Lincoln, Swedish Bakery on N Clark, and the Tel-Aviv and Levinson's on Devon. House of Fine Chocolates on Broadway has a few pastries amongst the Fine Chocolates. That's pitiful.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
shoreline
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: September 29, 2009 11:31AM
Davidson's had bakeries that were near the L on both Howard and Morse Ave. On Devon, in addition to the 2 you mentioned was Leonard's,a bakery still in operation in Northbrook.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
Way Back
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Date: October 03, 2009 01:16AM
There was, maybe still is, a bakery on Montrose just East of Horner Park that My parents used to go to. I think it wa named Lutz.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
fleurblue
(---.proxy.aol.com)
Date: October 03, 2009 05:45PM
Lutz is still there last I checked. The bakery is scaled down from the old days. New owners. I think they still have homemade chocolates. But this establishment is a far cry from the lovely European-style cafe and bakery of years back. The present cafe is more of a glorified Starbucks.
Formerly, the tables were adorned with fresh linens and flowers and silver appointments. The coffee was served on a tray with a dish of whipped cream. In those days Lutz served a full menu of hot and cold dishes; from a sandwich to a hot meal, all delicious. There was also a large liquor and imported beer menu. Also ice cream specialties including one sundae called "Gentleman's Pleasure" made with scoops of homemade ice cream topped with sour cherries and brandy.
The outdoor cafe with umbrella tables and pond was a fun destination in summer. Flowers everywhere and ivy covered walls on 3 sides. Great for people-watching. Always crowded, as was the cafe on weekends.
Waitresses were dressed in black uniforms with white aprons and had foreign accents. They settled your bill from an oblong black leather purse worn at their waists.
If we didn't have dessert we stopped on the way out to shop for strudel, cheesecake, cookies, individual whipped cream pastries (especially marzipan) bienstich, or baumkuchen ("tree cake"), a finely marbled poundcake formed like the trunk of a tree on a spit and baked while turned (I think). Sold in very thin slices.
Lutz provided very high quality food and ambience for pretty modest prices. I went there for years with friends and family and miss what it once was.
Formerly, the tables were adorned with fresh linens and flowers and silver appointments. The coffee was served on a tray with a dish of whipped cream. In those days Lutz served a full menu of hot and cold dishes; from a sandwich to a hot meal, all delicious. There was also a large liquor and imported beer menu. Also ice cream specialties including one sundae called "Gentleman's Pleasure" made with scoops of homemade ice cream topped with sour cherries and brandy.
The outdoor cafe with umbrella tables and pond was a fun destination in summer. Flowers everywhere and ivy covered walls on 3 sides. Great for people-watching. Always crowded, as was the cafe on weekends.
Waitresses were dressed in black uniforms with white aprons and had foreign accents. They settled your bill from an oblong black leather purse worn at their waists.
If we didn't have dessert we stopped on the way out to shop for strudel, cheesecake, cookies, individual whipped cream pastries (especially marzipan) bienstich, or baumkuchen ("tree cake"), a finely marbled poundcake formed like the trunk of a tree on a spit and baked while turned (I think). Sold in very thin slices.
Lutz provided very high quality food and ambience for pretty modest prices. I went there for years with friends and family and miss what it once was.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
jjcairo
(---.proxy.aol.com)
Date: October 13, 2009 09:44PM
what was the name of the bakeries one on corner of chicago ave and campbell and the other on hubbard st possibly near damen? i used to stop and get sweet rolls and a bottle of milk at the one on campbell on the way to chopin school. the other on hubbard st sold really good pies my dad used to stop and pick several up on holidays.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
jjcairo
(---.proxy.aol.com)
Date: October 13, 2009 11:53PM
i know just what your saying and agree! most were run by mostly eithnic famlies in local neghborhoods. it was a case of when the elder members passed away the kids sold off to big chains (like gonella did) or closed the stores all together. i was raised in hyde park also, on 55th and lake park right on the corner. that was when there was a corner there and not a huge apartment building in the middle of the street that you drive around. lived in a three flat on blackstone also. attened william ray's? public school, my mom used to shop at the co-op, my dad worked at the first national bank of hyde park, now the university bank. a few years later we moved to the west side and settled in oak park. it's a shame! i loved it there.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
Elaine W
(192.175.17.---)
Date: October 14, 2009 10:38PM
jjcairo--this is slightly off-topic but the Hyde Park building you refer to has commonly been known as "Monoxide Island" ever since it was built in the early 1960's. It's always very funny to talk to newcomers to Hyde Park who say something about "that building in the middle of the street" and I say, "You mean, Monoxide Island?" and the other person's eyes light up in recognition, even though they've never heard that phrase before.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
liz
(---.dsl.okcyok.swbell.net)
Date: January 25, 2010 05:17PM
We went to wagners bakery that was on western near wilson it was always crowded. kids were there in the morning and after school.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
captain54
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: January 25, 2010 06:23PM
shoreline Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Davidson's had bakeries that were near the L on
> both Howard and Morse Ave. On Devon, in addition
> to the 2 you mentioned was Leonard's,a bakery
> still in operation in Northbrook.
Davidson's also had a bakery in the Loop on Madison, west of LaSalle, across from the old LaSalle hotel. It was on the ground level of the building at the SW corner of LaSalle and Madison.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Davidson's had bakeries that were near the L on
> both Howard and Morse Ave. On Devon, in addition
> to the 2 you mentioned was Leonard's,a bakery
> still in operation in Northbrook.
Davidson's also had a bakery in the Loop on Madison, west of LaSalle, across from the old LaSalle hotel. It was on the ground level of the building at the SW corner of LaSalle and Madison.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
222psm
(---.br.br.cox.net)
Date: January 25, 2010 11:02PM
I remember the cheesecake at lutz. It was great, we used to get our birthday cakes from there.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2010 12:44PM by 222psm.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2010 12:44PM by 222psm.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: January 26, 2010 01:04AM
There is a Wagner's Bakery on Archer just east of Harlem. Just like the old time fresh made stuff.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
Llepke
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: January 26, 2010 02:26PM
I used to go to Lutz quite often back in the day, then life happened and I didnt even have time to breathe let alone go out to lunch, man I miss Lutz cafe, are there any places like that left anywhere now?
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
fleurblue
(---.proxy.aol.com)
Date: January 27, 2010 03:15AM
If you miss Lutz there is a place on Milwaukee Ave. in Glenview called Jolanes which may fill the void. It is an Austrian cafe which features elegant pastries and a variety of hot and cold entrees: sandwiches, quiches, salads, etc. Wide selection of wines, beers and imported sodas.
High ceilings and dark wood paneling and furniture. Also (like Lutz) a lovely outdoor dining patio in the summer.
The restaurant is owned by the Abt family (and is just down the parking lot from their large appliance store.) A nice weekend getaway.
High ceilings and dark wood paneling and furniture. Also (like Lutz) a lovely outdoor dining patio in the summer.
The restaurant is owned by the Abt family (and is just down the parking lot from their large appliance store.) A nice weekend getaway.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: January 27, 2010 09:55PM
Richard Stachowski Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There is a Wagner's Bakery on Archer just east of
> Harlem. Just like the old time fresh made stuff.
[b]I'm sorry for the missinformation I gave. I was thinking of Weber's Backery on Archer east of Harlem Ave.[/b]
-------------------------------------------------------
> There is a Wagner's Bakery on Archer just east of
> Harlem. Just like the old time fresh made stuff.
[b]I'm sorry for the missinformation I gave. I was thinking of Weber's Backery on Archer east of Harlem Ave.[/b]
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
Kchi
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: December 03, 2010 07:21PM
In the 60s and earlier,Polonia Bakery in the 1900 block of Armitage. Flos's bakery on North Damen. Krusinski's at Armitage and Leavitt.
Also I remember that many of the Sausage Shops on the NW side would get their rye bread from Imperial or Augusta bakeries. Imperial was at 1011 Damen and Augusta was on 901 N. Ashland.
Does anybody know the history of Imperial and Augusta and when they may have closed?
I found a article that Imperial merged with Rosen's in 1976. Augusta was open as late as 1986 because there was a article about a immigration raid.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2010 08:31PM by Kchi.
Also I remember that many of the Sausage Shops on the NW side would get their rye bread from Imperial or Augusta bakeries. Imperial was at 1011 Damen and Augusta was on 901 N. Ashland.
Does anybody know the history of Imperial and Augusta and when they may have closed?
I found a article that Imperial merged with Rosen's in 1976. Augusta was open as late as 1986 because there was a article about a immigration raid.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2010 08:31PM by Kchi.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
Chipast
(---.dsl.chcgil.ameritech.net)
Date: December 04, 2010 02:35PM
Augusta closed sometime in the late 1980's on N.Ashland, And is now a more bland & less worthy enterprise in it's place. Yet, Augusta moved to around 1100 N.Milwaukee in the late 1980's-early 1990's, Changed names & closed a few years later.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
Steve B.
(---.performancemetal.com)
Date: December 06, 2010 09:55AM
In the core of the Back of the Yards neighborhood, there was Pav's (Polish) Bakery on west 47th Street just west of Wood Street.
Rytina's (Lithuanian) Bakery on 46th and Hermitage Street served both walk-ins and also distributed to restaurants and grocery stores. My uncle worked there in 1939. They changed their name to Baltic Bakery before the health department closed them down for unsanitary conditions just a few years ago. They never reopened.
Rytina's (Lithuanian) Bakery on 46th and Hermitage Street served both walk-ins and also distributed to restaurants and grocery stores. My uncle worked there in 1939. They changed their name to Baltic Bakery before the health department closed them down for unsanitary conditions just a few years ago. They never reopened.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: December 09, 2010 01:55AM
On Montrose and Tripp, there used to be a place called Biel's Bakery. It was small but still had the cakes in the display cases, etc. We lived on Keeler, so it was just a short walk up the alley to get bread or a coffee cake.
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
captain54
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: December 09, 2010 06:40PM
there are a number of former bakery buildings that are now used for other purposes...the storefront layout of a bakery and a jewelry store always seemed very similiar to me
here's one @ 4533 N Kedzie. Now a jewelry store and boutique. this may or may not been a former bakery, but the window and display layout/configuration is classic Chicago bakery
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20205384@N03/5246985329/" title="4533 N Kedzie - jewelry shop and boutique by captain54_01, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5246985329_3ca3aa1ed4.jpg" width="472" height="439" alt="4533 N Kedzie - jewelry shop and boutique" /></a>
here's one @ 4533 N Kedzie. Now a jewelry store and boutique. this may or may not been a former bakery, but the window and display layout/configuration is classic Chicago bakery
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20205384@N03/5246985329/" title="4533 N Kedzie - jewelry shop and boutique by captain54_01, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5246985329_3ca3aa1ed4.jpg" width="472" height="439" alt="4533 N Kedzie - jewelry shop and boutique" /></a>
Re: Bakeries
Posted by:
Kchi
(---.dsl.chcgil.ameritech.net)
Date: December 10, 2010 11:05AM
Don't know what the full history of 4533 N Kedzie is, but in 1928 the building was used by a optician and a music teacher who I assume lived on the second floor.
