I was driving someone to Midway Airport going south on Cicero and noticed a empty complex of buildings at Cicero a block from Lake. Does anybody know who occupied the property and when it was shuttered?

I assume you're referring to the old Brach's complex:

<a href="http://wikimapia.org/4081885/Brach-039-s-Candy-Factory-Abandoned">http://wikimapia.org/4081885/Brach-039-s-Candy-Factory-Abandoned</a>

<a href="http://americanurbex.com/wordpress/?p=779">http://americanurbex.com/wordpress/?p=779</a>

Plenty more info via The Google...