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Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
Kchi
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: June 20, 2011 12:38PM
At one time Chicago had many neighborhood shopping districts. In a age where many people did not own cars and relied on either a bus or foot power these districts were busy with customers. With the flight to suburbia, the downfall of the anchor stores like Goldblatts,Weiboldts,Woolworths these districts slowly died and took many independent stores with them.
Over the years, the city has made many attempts to try to resurrect some of these districts but the reality of this day and age is that the city's parking meter extortion and people becoming too busy, too lazy and spoiled and expect to be able to park in a parking lot close to the store and out of the weather, that these districts are lost to history.
The districts that I was most familiar with were on the Northwest side but I know the south side also had some huge shopping districts.
On the NW side I remember
Six Corners - Irving/Cicero/Milwaukee
Belmont/Lincoln/Ashland
Milwaukee/Ashland/Damen
Logan Square
Chicago/Ashland
Belmont/Central
I don't know whether any of these areas had chambers of commerce that had any archives or I suppose if someone had old phone books they would be able to identify some of the stores that were there.
I welcome people to identify stores that they remember that are long gone, or better yet, maybe identify stores that have hung in and still exist.
At Milwaukee/Damen/Ashland in addition to the Weilboldts, I remember RB clothes,Woolworths,and Advance Catalog,Gore & Kaye.
In Logan Square the Goldblatts,Jupiter,Woolwoths,Kaufmanns
Ashland and Belmont the Goldblatts,ad Robert Hall,,
Six corners, Kees Department store and Woolworths
Even on State Street we used to have Sears,Goldblatts,Woolworths,Carson Pirie Scott,Montgomery Ward,Hillmans
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/20/2011 12:48PM by Kchi.
Over the years, the city has made many attempts to try to resurrect some of these districts but the reality of this day and age is that the city's parking meter extortion and people becoming too busy, too lazy and spoiled and expect to be able to park in a parking lot close to the store and out of the weather, that these districts are lost to history.
The districts that I was most familiar with were on the Northwest side but I know the south side also had some huge shopping districts.
On the NW side I remember
Six Corners - Irving/Cicero/Milwaukee
Belmont/Lincoln/Ashland
Milwaukee/Ashland/Damen
Logan Square
Chicago/Ashland
Belmont/Central
I don't know whether any of these areas had chambers of commerce that had any archives or I suppose if someone had old phone books they would be able to identify some of the stores that were there.
I welcome people to identify stores that they remember that are long gone, or better yet, maybe identify stores that have hung in and still exist.
At Milwaukee/Damen/Ashland in addition to the Weilboldts, I remember RB clothes,Woolworths,and Advance Catalog,Gore & Kaye.
In Logan Square the Goldblatts,Jupiter,Woolwoths,Kaufmanns
Ashland and Belmont the Goldblatts,ad Robert Hall,,
Six corners, Kees Department store and Woolworths
Even on State Street we used to have Sears,Goldblatts,Woolworths,Carson Pirie Scott,Montgomery Ward,Hillmans
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/20/2011 12:48PM by Kchi.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
StrayKitten
(66.28.242.---)
Date: June 20, 2011 01:21PM
At Six Corners, in the late '70s I remember a women's clothing store called Hellers and one called Rubens. Also, there was a Pollyanna women's clothing store and a Goodman's yarn store and a Reiters home furnishing (curtins, drapes, shower curtains, etc.) store and Deluxe Records. The Alpine Meat Market was on Milwaukee. I remember there was also a deli on Irving Park just west of Cicero, but I don't know the name. There was also a office supply/card store on Irving Park at Lamon. There was a Fayva shoe store and a Margie's Bridal. My sister remembers a dress store called "The Tic Toc Shop" during the 1960s.
There was a big shopping district on the south side when I was very little. It was in South Chicago around 89th & Commercial. There was a Goldblatts, Kresge, Jupiter, Three Sisters (remember Three Sisters???) clothing store. There was a Robert Hall down the street. I know there were a lot of other stores, but I was less than 10 at the time, and can't remember any others.
There was a big shopping district on the south side when I was very little. It was in South Chicago around 89th & Commercial. There was a Goldblatts, Kresge, Jupiter, Three Sisters (remember Three Sisters???) clothing store. There was a Robert Hall down the street. I know there were a lot of other stores, but I was less than 10 at the time, and can't remember any others.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
jak378
(184.4.166.---)
Date: June 20, 2011 01:40PM
As a southsider, I remember well the chief shopping district as being 63rd and Halsted. It contained such stores as Wieboldts, 3 Sisters, O'Connor and Goldberg, Ace Department Store, L.Fish Furniture, Stratford, Englewood, Empress and Southtown theatres, The Music Center (where I took accordian lessons, to little success). Just off the top of my head, no others come to mind, but they will, and I am sure others will have suggestions.
Another center was 47th and Ashland, with Goldblatts as the anchor store. That was still there a few years ago. The Peoples Theatre was also located there.
Looking bace, it is interesting to note tha while every major street, both nort-south and east-west contained commercial elements, it seems that every 4 blocks, 1/2 mile or every 8 blocks, 1 mile on each one there was at least a minor shopping area: e.g. 47 and Ashland, 51 and Ashland, 59 and Ashland 63 and Ashland, 51 and Halsted, 55 and Halsted, 59 and Halsted, 63 and Halsted, etc.. One can only assume that this was a direct result of the scarcity of cars back in the day. Obviously the same is true of the theatres scattered all over the city.
Another center was 47th and Ashland, with Goldblatts as the anchor store. That was still there a few years ago. The Peoples Theatre was also located there.
Looking bace, it is interesting to note tha while every major street, both nort-south and east-west contained commercial elements, it seems that every 4 blocks, 1/2 mile or every 8 blocks, 1 mile on each one there was at least a minor shopping area: e.g. 47 and Ashland, 51 and Ashland, 59 and Ashland 63 and Ashland, 51 and Halsted, 55 and Halsted, 59 and Halsted, 63 and Halsted, etc.. One can only assume that this was a direct result of the scarcity of cars back in the day. Obviously the same is true of the theatres scattered all over the city.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
Steve B.
(74.7.39.---)
Date: June 20, 2011 02:00PM
In the Back of the Yards neighborhood, the “Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council” supported all the businesses in the 47th and Ashland business district, and still does. The BYNC is supposed to be the oldest neighborhood organization in existence today. In the late 50s and early 60s, we had Walgreen's (still there, moved 1/2 block away), Goldblatt's and Meyer Brothers department stores, Tasemkin's Furniture, Cupid Candies, Local Loan, Neisner's, Kreskge's and Woolworth's dime stores, Father & Son, Bostonian, Floorsheim and Hardy Shoes (“$7.77 every pair in the store”), Drover’s Bank, Vitak-Elsnic Music Store, Western Auto and Blue Star Auto Parts, Clark and Standard Oil gas stations, and certainly I’m forgetting many more that others will hopefully provide. Though not technically open to the shopping public, the largest “business” in the whole area was the Union Stock Yards, specifically the individual meat processors/packers, such as Armour and Swift.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
MIKETOUHY
(---.try.wideopenwest.com)
Date: June 20, 2011 07:51PM
Kchi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> At one time Chicago had many neighborhood shopping
> districts. In a age where many people did not own
> cars and relied on either a bus or foot power
> these districts were busy with customers. With
> the flight to suburbia, the downfall of the anchor
> stores like Goldblatts,Weiboldts,Woolworths these
> districts slowly died and took many independent
> stores with them.
>
> Over the years, the city has made many attempts to
> try to resurrect some of these districts but the
> reality of this day and age is that the city's
> parking meter extortion and people becoming too
> busy, too lazy and spoiled and expect to be able
> to park in a parking lot close to the store and
> out of the weather, that these districts are lost
> to history.
>
> The districts that I was most familiar with were
> on the Northwest side but I know the south side
> also had some huge shopping districts.
>
> On the NW side I remember
>
> Six Corners - Irving/Cicero/Milwaukee
> Belmont/Lincoln/Ashland
> Milwaukee/Ashland/Damen
> Logan Square
> Chicago/Ashland
> Belmont/Central
>
> I don't know whether any of these areas had
> chambers of commerce that had any archives or I
> suppose if someone had old phone books they would
> be able to identify some of the stores that were
> there.
>
> I welcome people to identify stores that they
> remember that are long gone, or better yet, maybe
> identify stores that have hung in and still
> exist.
>
> At Milwaukee/Damen/Ashland in addition to the
> Weilboldts, I remember RB clothes,Woolworths,and
> Advance Catalog,Gore & Kaye.
>
> In Logan Square the
> Goldblatts,Jupiter,Woolwoths,Kaufmanns
>
> Ashland and Belmont the Goldblatts,ad Robert
> Hall,,
>
> Six corners, Kees Department store and Woolworths
>
> Even on State Street we used to have
> Sears,Goldblatts,Woolworths,Carson Pirie
> Scott,Montgomery Ward,Hillmans
May I ask what you mean by being lost?
I can understand if there's hardly any business there and if there's too many vacantcies but if there's still a lot of traffic and the stores are doing well than they're not particularly lost.
Some of the stores you mention are gone because the the whole chain went out of business. BTW Sears returned to State Street I think in the late 90's.
If there's any lost districts, it's probably more on the south and west sides of the city.
-------------------------------------------------------
> At one time Chicago had many neighborhood shopping
> districts. In a age where many people did not own
> cars and relied on either a bus or foot power
> these districts were busy with customers. With
> the flight to suburbia, the downfall of the anchor
> stores like Goldblatts,Weiboldts,Woolworths these
> districts slowly died and took many independent
> stores with them.
>
> Over the years, the city has made many attempts to
> try to resurrect some of these districts but the
> reality of this day and age is that the city's
> parking meter extortion and people becoming too
> busy, too lazy and spoiled and expect to be able
> to park in a parking lot close to the store and
> out of the weather, that these districts are lost
> to history.
>
> The districts that I was most familiar with were
> on the Northwest side but I know the south side
> also had some huge shopping districts.
>
> On the NW side I remember
>
> Six Corners - Irving/Cicero/Milwaukee
> Belmont/Lincoln/Ashland
> Milwaukee/Ashland/Damen
> Logan Square
> Chicago/Ashland
> Belmont/Central
>
> I don't know whether any of these areas had
> chambers of commerce that had any archives or I
> suppose if someone had old phone books they would
> be able to identify some of the stores that were
> there.
>
> I welcome people to identify stores that they
> remember that are long gone, or better yet, maybe
> identify stores that have hung in and still
> exist.
>
> At Milwaukee/Damen/Ashland in addition to the
> Weilboldts, I remember RB clothes,Woolworths,and
> Advance Catalog,Gore & Kaye.
>
> In Logan Square the
> Goldblatts,Jupiter,Woolwoths,Kaufmanns
>
> Ashland and Belmont the Goldblatts,ad Robert
> Hall,,
>
> Six corners, Kees Department store and Woolworths
>
> Even on State Street we used to have
> Sears,Goldblatts,Woolworths,Carson Pirie
> Scott,Montgomery Ward,Hillmans
May I ask what you mean by being lost?
I can understand if there's hardly any business there and if there's too many vacantcies but if there's still a lot of traffic and the stores are doing well than they're not particularly lost.
Some of the stores you mention are gone because the the whole chain went out of business. BTW Sears returned to State Street I think in the late 90's.
If there's any lost districts, it's probably more on the south and west sides of the city.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
222psm
(---.br.br.cox.net)
Date: June 21, 2011 10:32AM
I remember my parents taking us to Lawrence between Kedzie and Kimball, lots of shoe, clothing, and general stores in that area back in the 70's.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
tim62b
(---.dsl.emhril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: June 23, 2011 07:58PM
Madison & Crawford on the west side:
Madigan's, L. Fish, Three sisters, O'Connor-Goldberg, Neisner's, Golblatt's, and the Marbro theater.
Also Oak Park:
Marshall Field's, Wieboldt's, Montgomery Ward, Bond, Hillman's, Richman's, Woolworth's, Gilmore's.
Madigan's, L. Fish, Three sisters, O'Connor-Goldberg, Neisner's, Golblatt's, and the Marbro theater.
Also Oak Park:
Marshall Field's, Wieboldt's, Montgomery Ward, Bond, Hillman's, Richman's, Woolworth's, Gilmore's.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: June 24, 2011 09:56PM
Steve B. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In the Back of the Yards neighborhood, the “Back
> of the Yards Neighborhood Council” supported all
> the businesses in the 47th and Ashland business
> district, and still does. The BYNC is supposed to
> be the oldest neighborhood organization in
> existence today. In the late 50s and early 60s,
> we had Walgreen's (still there, moved 1/2 block
> away), Goldblatt's and Meyer Brothers department
> stores, Tasemkin's Furniture, Cupid Candies, Local
> Loan, Neisner's, Kreskge's and Woolworth's dime
> stores, Father & Son, Bostonian, Floorsheim and
> Hardy Shoes (“$7.77 every pair in the store”),
> Drover’s Bank, Vitak-Elsnic Music Store, Western
> Auto and Blue Star Auto Parts, Clark and Standard
> Oil gas stations, and certainly I’m forgetting
> many more that others will hopefully provide.
> Though not technically open to the shopping
> public, the largest “business” in the whole
> area was the Union Stock Yards, specifically the
> individual meat processors/packers, such as Armour
> and Swift.
Steve B. I am also from the back of the yards Cornell Park. Where are you from?
-------------------------------------------------------
> In the Back of the Yards neighborhood, the “Back
> of the Yards Neighborhood Council” supported all
> the businesses in the 47th and Ashland business
> district, and still does. The BYNC is supposed to
> be the oldest neighborhood organization in
> existence today. In the late 50s and early 60s,
> we had Walgreen's (still there, moved 1/2 block
> away), Goldblatt's and Meyer Brothers department
> stores, Tasemkin's Furniture, Cupid Candies, Local
> Loan, Neisner's, Kreskge's and Woolworth's dime
> stores, Father & Son, Bostonian, Floorsheim and
> Hardy Shoes (“$7.77 every pair in the store”),
> Drover’s Bank, Vitak-Elsnic Music Store, Western
> Auto and Blue Star Auto Parts, Clark and Standard
> Oil gas stations, and certainly I’m forgetting
> many more that others will hopefully provide.
> Though not technically open to the shopping
> public, the largest “business” in the whole
> area was the Union Stock Yards, specifically the
> individual meat processors/packers, such as Armour
> and Swift.
Steve B. I am also from the back of the yards Cornell Park. Where are you from?
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
crowamonghens
(---.dsl.mindspring.com)
Date: June 24, 2011 10:59PM
there was a small, triangle-shaped business district around 62nd and cicero. two streets ran about a block east of cicero at a 45 degree angle to form the triangle. there was a jewelry/watch shop with a green neon sign, a small greasy spoon cafe, a junk shop, a newsagents and a couple other things.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
zorchvalve
(---.hsd1.wa.comcast.net)
Date: November 02, 2011 09:32PM
The only store that wasn't mentioned at ashland and belmont that I remember was mages.It was a sporting goods store.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
Jeff_Weiner
(---.sub-70-194-69.myvzw.com)
Date: January 15, 2016 04:50AM
Regarding parking, the Belmont-Central Chamber of Commerce owns and maintains a small parking garage, just south of Belmont on the west side of Central, that provides free parking. That area is still thriving.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
Dunning1
(---.dhs.gov)
Date: January 15, 2016 12:39PM
Even though we lived out near Addison & Harlem, my parents did a lot of shopping in my father's old neighborhood, specifically around North and Crawford. Our doctor was located over the Tiffin Theater, and shopping would usually be incidental to doctor's office visits. I still remember all of the pinkish neon signs, with the flashing lights, on a brown background that used to be all over the streets there. Every now and then I go down North Avenue and it seems that the last of the old stores has finally closed up.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
SWEDE
(---.lightspeed.iplsin.sbcglobal.net)
Date: January 15, 2016 11:23PM
Steve B. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In the Back of the Yards neighborhood, the “Back
> of the Yards Neighborhood Council” supported all
> the businesses in the 47th and Ashland business
> district, and still does. The BYNC is supposed to
> be the oldest neighborhood organization in
> existence today. In the late 50s and early 60s,
> we had Walgreen's (still there, moved 1/2 block
> away), Goldblatt's and Meyer Brothers department
> stores, Tasemkin's Furniture, Cupid Candies, Local
> Loan, Neisner's, Kreskge's and Woolworth's dime
> stores, Father & Son, Bostonian, Floorsheim and
> Hardy Shoes (“$7.77 every pair in the store”),
> Drover’s Bank, Vitak-Elsnic Music Store, Western
> Auto and Blue Star Auto Parts, Clark and Standard
> Oil gas stations, and certainly I’m forgetting
> many more that others will hopefully provide.
> Though not technically open to the shopping
> public, the largest “business” in the whole
> area was the Union Stock Yards, specifically the
> individual meat processors/packers, such as Armour
> and Swift.
Steve B. I am also from the back of the yards Cornell Park. Where are you from?
Steve B I am also from the back of the yards Oakley Playground and St Michaels
I remember all these stores and then some. Chuds House of Fashion, Margies Bridal, Fukas Mens Store, Flag Brothers Shoes. Thanks for the memmories....
-------------------------------------------------------
> In the Back of the Yards neighborhood, the “Back
> of the Yards Neighborhood Council” supported all
> the businesses in the 47th and Ashland business
> district, and still does. The BYNC is supposed to
> be the oldest neighborhood organization in
> existence today. In the late 50s and early 60s,
> we had Walgreen's (still there, moved 1/2 block
> away), Goldblatt's and Meyer Brothers department
> stores, Tasemkin's Furniture, Cupid Candies, Local
> Loan, Neisner's, Kreskge's and Woolworth's dime
> stores, Father & Son, Bostonian, Floorsheim and
> Hardy Shoes (“$7.77 every pair in the store”),
> Drover’s Bank, Vitak-Elsnic Music Store, Western
> Auto and Blue Star Auto Parts, Clark and Standard
> Oil gas stations, and certainly I’m forgetting
> many more that others will hopefully provide.
> Though not technically open to the shopping
> public, the largest “business” in the whole
> area was the Union Stock Yards, specifically the
> individual meat processors/packers, such as Armour
> and Swift.
Steve B. I am also from the back of the yards Cornell Park. Where are you from?
Steve B I am also from the back of the yards Oakley Playground and St Michaels
I remember all these stores and then some. Chuds House of Fashion, Margies Bridal, Fukas Mens Store, Flag Brothers Shoes. Thanks for the memmories....
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
SWEDE
(---.lightspeed.iplsin.sbcglobal.net)
Date: January 16, 2016 09:55PM
How about Caroll's Men Ware 63rd & Pulaski
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: January 17, 2016 02:16AM
back to top
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
SWEDE
(---.lightspeed.iplsin.sbcglobal.net)
Date: January 17, 2016 11:26PM
On 51st & Damen there was a womans dress shop called Bransoms.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
mikbasile
(---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: January 17, 2016 11:39PM
You guys remember 63rd, and Damen, Animal Wonderland. Looked like an old corner gas station, but it was full of stuffed animals. We never went in there , i think they may have sold fireworks in the summer, before the forth. Just the legal city stuff, snakes and sparklers.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
Jeff_Weiner
(---.sub-70-194-73.myvzw.com)
Date: January 18, 2016 02:36AM
I remember it, but never went in, either.
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
mikbasile
(---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: January 19, 2016 01:42AM
but ,,, did you like fireworks? what was it ... for a chicago kid and fireworks .
Re: Lost Shopping Districts
Posted by:
Jeff_Weiner
(---.sub-70-194-101.myvzw.com)
Date: January 19, 2016 02:40AM
Me and fireworks? I was born on July 4th, and have had my fill of them in my 60 years. Except maybe professional displays,
