General Discussion Forgotten Chicago Forum
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Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
captain54
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: October 12, 2010 04:20AM
212 W Madison would be between Wells and Franklin, on the north side of the street...There's nothing on that block now even remotely close to what existed there in 1960...My father owned a business with an office @ 169 W Madison in the 1970's, and most of the buildings west of where he was were old 3 and 4 story office/warehouse type buildings.
Back in the day, the area roughly from Adams to Lake Street, and from Wells to Canal had quite a few garment and fabric related warehouse type spaces, and may have been the precursor to the Merchandise Mart prior to 1930 (when the Mart was opened)...it could also have been an area where Maxwell Street vendors came for their seconds and rejects...
so its possible a warehouse/surplus type facility like Starks could very well have existed up until the 60's on W Madison between Wells and Franklin
Back in the day, the area roughly from Adams to Lake Street, and from Wells to Canal had quite a few garment and fabric related warehouse type spaces, and may have been the precursor to the Merchandise Mart prior to 1930 (when the Mart was opened)...it could also have been an area where Maxwell Street vendors came for their seconds and rejects...
so its possible a warehouse/surplus type facility like Starks could very well have existed up until the 60's on W Madison between Wells and Franklin
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
daveg
(130.36.62.---)
Date: October 12, 2010 10:50AM
Thanks for the updates bwalsh and captain54. I should have checked the address location rather than rely on 45 year old memories.
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
tseals
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 12, 2010 01:27PM
I've asked this before, Does anyone remember a cafateria downtown called the 'Forum'. I remember as a kid, it was huge (maybe not) I was a kid and my dad would treat us there on Sunday's. All kinds of people were there. I was told it burnt down and a fireman was killed. I thought it was on madison or wabash. Anyone know for sure. It must have been the early 60's.
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
Rustymuscle
(---.lightspeed.elgnil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 12, 2010 01:28PM
I used to work around the corner from 212 W. Madison and can't believe I do not recall that Stark's store! The building (s) came down in the early 1980s I believe, and replaced by the present day office building. This address is between Franklin and Wells.
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
captain54
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: October 12, 2010 03:03PM
Mail Order Ad from Popular Mechanics - 1954
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20205384@N03/5075251109/" title="Stark's Popular Mechanics Ad - 1954 by captain54_01, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/5075251109_f01da55f8a.jpg" width="360" height="279" alt="Stark's Popular Mechanics Ad - 1954" /></a>
Another gem from the Cushman Collection..menu from the Madison Cafeteria, 212 W Madison...judging from the prices, more than likely turn of the century..
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20205384@N03/5075243393/" title="CHICAGO - RESTAURANT - MADISON CAFETERIA - 212 WEST MADISON - PRICES READABLE - EARLY by captain54_01, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5075243393_0737c9bf57_z.jpg" width="334" height="542" alt="CHICAGO - RESTAURANT - MADISON CAFETERIA - 212 WEST MADISON - PRICES READABLE - EARLY" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20205384@N03/5075251109/" title="Stark's Popular Mechanics Ad - 1954 by captain54_01, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/5075251109_f01da55f8a.jpg" width="360" height="279" alt="Stark's Popular Mechanics Ad - 1954" /></a>
Another gem from the Cushman Collection..menu from the Madison Cafeteria, 212 W Madison...judging from the prices, more than likely turn of the century..
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20205384@N03/5075243393/" title="CHICAGO - RESTAURANT - MADISON CAFETERIA - 212 WEST MADISON - PRICES READABLE - EARLY by captain54_01, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5075243393_0737c9bf57_z.jpg" width="334" height="542" alt="CHICAGO - RESTAURANT - MADISON CAFETERIA - 212 WEST MADISON - PRICES READABLE - EARLY" /></a>
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
Chipast
(---.dsl.chcgil.ameritech.net)
Date: October 12, 2010 03:45PM
tseals Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've asked this before, Does anyone remember a
> cafateria downtown called the 'Forum'. I remember
> as a kid, it was huge (maybe not) I was a kid and
> my dad would treat us there on Sunday's. All kinds
> of people were there. I was told it burnt down and
> a fireman was killed. I thought it was on madison
> or wabash. Anyone know for sure. It must have been
> the early 60's.
The restaurant was on W.Madison nr Clark, Maybe 1 door east from the corner. The restaurant had a fire in Jan.1973 which killed a fireman.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've asked this before, Does anyone remember a
> cafateria downtown called the 'Forum'. I remember
> as a kid, it was huge (maybe not) I was a kid and
> my dad would treat us there on Sunday's. All kinds
> of people were there. I was told it burnt down and
> a fireman was killed. I thought it was on madison
> or wabash. Anyone know for sure. It must have been
> the early 60's.
The restaurant was on W.Madison nr Clark, Maybe 1 door east from the corner. The restaurant had a fire in Jan.1973 which killed a fireman.
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
daveg
(---.lightspeed.joltil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 12, 2010 04:55PM
Thanks for posting the Stark's ad and the "everything home made by women cooks and bakers" menu captain54.
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
captain54
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: October 12, 2010 05:18PM
daveg Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for posting the Stark's ad and the
> "everything home made by women cooks and bakers"
> menu captain54.
also "our prices are not only pre-War, but .......... the restaurant industry"
pre WW I? Civil War?
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for posting the Stark's ad and the
> "everything home made by women cooks and bakers"
> menu captain54.
also "our prices are not only pre-War, but .......... the restaurant industry"
pre WW I? Civil War?
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
tseals
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 13, 2010 06:30PM
Thanks Chipast
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
Bruce
(---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 21, 2010 02:40PM
The 1955 Photo on Ebay posted above does look like the 59th and Harlem store to me. The high ceiling is certainly a clue, and the shelves look familiar. That building had real high ceilings. I miss it. I used to get my Army shirts there and camping stuff.
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
Bruce
(---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 21, 2010 02:50PM
The Starks at 59th was bright yellow. It looked like a barn. I saw an image of it recently but can't remember where. When I get into work tonight I search the old papers for a photo.
Bruce
Bruce
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
Rustymuscle
(---.lightspeed.elgnil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: March 13, 2012 04:10PM
A couple years ago we had a discussion about Stark's Warehouse and their various locations. One location in question was at 212 W. Madison, which seemed an unlikely place for a surplus store. I finally found a photo of the store. This 1965 shot is looking west down Madison from the Wells street L, you can see a store front sign, "surplus" which is probably the Starks location.
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/52922702@N03/6833664354/]
[/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/52922702@N03/6833664354/]1965 photo of people walking down Madison Avenue in Chicago during a spring rain shower2[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/52922702@N03/]Rustymuscle[/url], on Flickr
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/52922702@N03/6833664354/]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/52922702@N03/6833664354/]1965 photo of people walking down Madison Avenue in Chicago during a spring rain shower2[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/52922702@N03/]Rustymuscle[/url], on Flickr
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
jak378
(---.dhcp.embarqhsd.net)
Date: March 13, 2012 06:30PM
I have a vague recolection of Starks on Madison from my office boy/messenger job during college, bu my recollection is that it was there, but that it was not on the first floor.
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
chihx
(---.ph.ph.cox.net)
Date: June 03, 2012 04:28AM
I used to go to Starks on 59th and Harlem all the time. I should have kept the army helmet! I remember a bin of DDT bombs that we would turn on and then run out of the store. After Starks was torn down, a high rise was erected...but just the frame. It stood on the site for years with no further development.
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
ElwoodShops
(---.austin.res.rr.com)
Date: May 12, 2013 05:44PM
Greetings, Stark's fans. I found this forum while searching for information about an ad in a 1948 issue of Popular Mechanics:
I guess Stark's either had more than one location or moved around a bit over the years.
I guess Stark's either had more than one location or moved around a bit over the years.
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
Rustymuscle
(---.lightspeed.elgnil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 14, 2013 10:57PM
Stark's had a few locations....and probably moved, too!
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
JimB
(75.104.192.---)
Date: August 14, 2013 01:18PM
Starks, hum, 59th and harlem. Loved the place. Yes looking thru the periscope or bomb site was a must. We affectionately called it starks s__thouse. In the old days there was a lot of army surplus, bought a canteen. I used to work at the southtown economist, its (was)just across the tracks from starks
Re: Starks Warehouse Store
Posted by:
Jeff_Weiner
(---.sub-75-205-84.myvzw.com)
Date: October 19, 2013 01:40AM
markjosol Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Either the building was torn down and rebuilt or
> they did a major remodel. Whatever it was, it is
> curious.
I decided to take a "sentilmental journey" down Harlem via Google Maps, and from what I remember of Starks, relative to the railroad tracks. I suspect everything was torn down. I think the Public Storage is where the store, and that unfinished multistory building, were located. I remember that building being north of the Stark's store back in 1978 when I visited there.
Closest thing to Stark's now is American Science and Surplus.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Either the building was torn down and rebuilt or
> they did a major remodel. Whatever it was, it is
> curious.
I decided to take a "sentilmental journey" down Harlem via Google Maps, and from what I remember of Starks, relative to the railroad tracks. I suspect everything was torn down. I think the Public Storage is where the store, and that unfinished multistory building, were located. I remember that building being north of the Stark's store back in 1978 when I visited there.
Closest thing to Stark's now is American Science and Surplus.
