Kedzie & Cermak - Little Village
Re: Kedzie & Cermak - Little Village
Posted by: RegularGuy55 (---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: April 27, 2012 10:45PM

I didn't know that about that location! If I recall, it was a bowling alley when I lived in the area. The opposite corner across Kedzie was a hot dog stand, and across 25th (on the east side of Kedzie) was Krametbauer Shoes. They had an Adrian foot X-ray machine and a foot doctor (known as a chiropodist back then) had his office inside the store.

I recall Western Avenue having a lot of car dealers, including People's Pontiac where my Dad bought the family car.

Re: Kedzie & Cermak - Little Village
Posted by: WayOutWardell (---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: April 27, 2012 11:28PM

Frank,
Any idea if 2501 Kedzie was some sort of entertainment venue after its use as a dealership?
Before it was painted over by Volkan Nightclub about ten years ago, I remember the sign above the door on the corner saying 'Air Conditioned' with some figures above it - people, or maybe bowling pins?

Re: Kedzie & Cermak - Little Village
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: April 28, 2012 01:13AM

WayOutWardell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Frank,
> Any idea if 2501 Kedzie was some sort of
> entertainment venue after its use as a
> dealership?
> Before it was painted over by Volkan Nightclub
> about ten years ago, I remember the sign above the
> door on the corner saying 'Air Conditioned' with
> some figures above it - people, or maybe bowling
> pins?

I don't know what was there in later years. If I find out I will let you know.

Re: Kedzie & Cermak - Little Village
Posted by: WayOutWardell (---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: April 28, 2012 07:03PM

Berwyn Frank Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> I don't know what was there in later years. If I
> find out I will let you know.


Found it, Frank! It was a bowling alley.
From the bowling history blog site:
[url=http://bowlinghistory.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/prima-lanes.jpg]Prima Bowling & Lounge[/url]

Re: Kedzie & Cermak - Little Village
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: April 28, 2012 08:00PM

Awesome, great find! Man, the area looks so "gritty" in the photo.

By the way, there's your "air conditioned" sign!

Re: Kedzie & Cermak - Little Village
Posted by: RegularGuy55 (---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: April 28, 2012 09:23PM

And the hamburger stand "John & Sons" is also barely visible on the SW corner.

Re: Kedzie & Cermak - Little Village
Posted by: Jayg (---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: June 25, 2012 01:30AM

I grew up around that area 21st and Albany,22nd and Troy and 22nd and Whipple.
Here are my recollections from the 50s and 60s.
I had a paper route as a kid and delivered to some of those businesses.
As a teenager in the mid to late 60's I worked at a small picture frame factory on Sawyer at the alley just south of Cermak

Note these are only recollections, meaning these businesses were only what I remember and not that they were situated next to each other or existed at the same point in time.

The Cigar store was on the southwest corner of Kedzie/Cermak. Bought all my comic books there.
West of the cigar store was a Palestinian owned grocery.

I don't remember what was on the northwest corner but I recall the penny weight scale and the peanut machine at the Kedzie trolley bus stop.
West on Cermak North was a greasy spoon,then I think a bank. When it was demolished my boss's wife salvaged all the broken up marble
from the facade with the intent of using it for a patio.
Further west was the old Douglas theater . It was never opened when I was a kid,but the signage remained for a long time. I think
the building is still there but unrecognizable as a theater.

On the NE corner Kedzie/Cermak was a tavern.
East on Cermak North;
A Dressels branch (great ice cream cakes).
A Fountain type restaurant. I forgot the name.
A small National Tea grocery store.
A five and ten Neisner;s at the corner of Troy ,later to become a Community discount store.

On the NE Troy corner was the first R&S (Rosen & Shane) liquor store. (I remember when it opened).
A junk store ,owned by the mother of one of my sisters classmates.
A lamp store that was run by a very distinguished looking elderly lady (think Barbara Bush),curiously she never sold any lamps.
I found out much later she was a bookie.
An ice cream parlor that later became a dry cleaner was on the northwest corner of Albany.

On the SE Kedzie/Cermak corner
I don't recall the corner business
further east on Cermak south was a stationary/office supply store.
There was a bakery named Kostka, at one time Dohelsky, I hope someone else remembers this bakery ,they had a great Mocha cake
I think there was a hardware store or an industrial supplier at the southwest corner of Troy

On the Cermak/Troy southeast corner was Cooper hardware or plumbing supply that became the GREAT Del Campo pizzeria and restaurant.
Going east;
Piccardi's men's wear and tuxedo rental
A small music store. My sister took piano lessons there.
The Marshall Square Ballroom building. they had a tavern on the first floor and the ballroom was upstairs.
The Hart laundramat (I remember when it opened).
Another greasy spoons called Chucks ,it had replaced a Dollar store.
And a bar was on the Albany corner. The bar owner was rumored to be in the mob and was whacked.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/2012 02:03AM by Jayg.

Re: Kedzie & Cermak - Little Village
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: June 25, 2012 02:35PM

GREAT info jayg!

I should have posted this link earlier, but check out this persons images on flickr or the Kedzie/Cermak area in 1990 and 1954. Click on the Lawndale file with the 80 pictures. The ones concentrating on the house are at 2113 S. Fairfield and the surrounding block and area. The family lived there for a really long time. I looked it up and they ended up selling the building in 1997, WAY after the neighborhoods transition.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jarchie/collections/72157622710871481/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/25/2012 02:37PM by Berwyn Frank.

Re: Kedzie & Cermak - Little Village
Posted by: gguzman (---.gcfd.org)
Date: August 27, 2012 12:55PM

I grew up on Cermak and Whipple. I was born in '72, but I remember many of these businesses. I will try to find old pics to upload here. I recall a hat/clothing store on the north side of Cermak Rd. between Albany and Whipple owned by Smuda. I also remember a diner and music store next to Hart's Laundramat. On the SW corner of Cermak and Sacramento was Paprocki pharmacy. A few buildings west from there was Chester's Hardware store. Many of these proprietors also lived on the same block. I am so happy to have found this forum.

B-Frank, I'm definitely going to be buying your book!

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