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mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
Deejo
()
Date: April 16, 2012 01:36AM
The "Old Rare Chicago Restaurants" thread calls to mind a phenomenon that I've always found intriguing: middle-of-block businesses on side streets. There are not too many of these, at least anymore. Perhaps there were once more. Off the top of my head, I can think of the following: there is an Irish bar in Canaryville, there is a store on Erie a couple of blocks west of Ashland, and there is a store in Hyde Park a couple blocks east of Cottage Grove and south of 55th, I think. There used to be a bar, Kelly's on the Green, on Greenview south of Diversey, I think, but it closed in the late '90's or early '00's. There used to be a store, Pete's - discussed on this forum - on Armitage a couple blocks west of Oak Park Avenue, and there was a bar a couple blocks west of Pete's on Armitage. Both closed in the '70's or '80's.
Does anyone else know of other mid-block, side-street businesses that are still in operation?
Does anyone else know of other mid-block, side-street businesses that are still in operation?
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
rjmachon
()
Date: April 16, 2012 02:52AM
Just north of Devon on Newark (in the middle of the block) is a bar called Newark Nook. It was called McNally's when I lived there a while ago. Not far from here is another bar in the middle of the block is called Yacko's In Niles on 6636 W Albion Ave. That was called Babe's. Both of these bars been around for a very long time.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
()
Date: April 16, 2012 11:44AM
There's Danny's, the tavern on Dickens, that's mid-block.
A couple of the more odd ones I can think of, both in Woodlawn but no longer operating - the Woodlawn Theater on Kimbark north of 63rd, and the Wanzer Dairy, also on Kimbark, south of 63rd.
A couple of the more odd ones I can think of, both in Woodlawn but no longer operating - the Woodlawn Theater on Kimbark north of 63rd, and the Wanzer Dairy, also on Kimbark, south of 63rd.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
()
Date: April 16, 2012 12:10PM
[b]Most sidestreet houses that come up to the sidewalk were once buisnesses. Look the up on polk's 1929 directory.[/b]
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
MelvinaMarauder
()
Date: April 16, 2012 01:46PM
Yep, I was going to mention Newark Nook too. A guy I know lives just a couple homes away. For a little side street pub, that place is rockin!
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
Chipast
()
Date: April 16, 2012 05:38PM
Yes, There are & were a number of unusual places tucked away on side streets.
Club Lucky on Wabansia nr Honore (NE corner, Though)
Fireside Restaurant 5700 block of N.Ravenswood
Mexican restaurant 3000 block of W.25th (on the NE and/or SE corner)
A Polish Deli at 5300 W Roscoe
Travel Agency/Tax Service 2801 S St.Louis
Just to name a few. More to add soon......
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2012 08:11PM by Chipast.
Club Lucky on Wabansia nr Honore (NE corner, Though)
Fireside Restaurant 5700 block of N.Ravenswood
Mexican restaurant 3000 block of W.25th (on the NE and/or SE corner)
A Polish Deli at 5300 W Roscoe
Travel Agency/Tax Service 2801 S St.Louis
Just to name a few. More to add soon......
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2012 08:11PM by Chipast.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
Chipast
()
Date: April 16, 2012 09:20PM
It's listed as Kelly's Tavern at 4403 S.Wallace, The Irish bar in Canaryville on a side street.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
Deejo
()
Date: April 18, 2012 04:35AM
Lots of great posts. Yes, Kelly's Tavern is the Canaryville bar.
I'll try to track down the precise addresses of the businesses I mentioned in my original post, other than Kelly's.
I'll try to track down the precise addresses of the businesses I mentioned in my original post, other than Kelly's.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
rjmachon
()
Date: April 19, 2012 07:02PM
Ravenswood Pub
5455 North Ravenwood
is another neighbor bar. I remember this place in the 70's when I lived here but under another name which I can't remember.
5455 North Ravenwood
is another neighbor bar. I remember this place in the 70's when I lived here but under another name which I can't remember.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
mkonko13
()
Date: May 23, 2012 04:29AM
There is a food store on the corner of 61st and Kildare in the West Lawn neighborhood...it has been around for at least 20 years...
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
Chipast
()
Date: May 25, 2012 06:38PM
Probably longer than that.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
Deejo
()
Date: May 26, 2012 04:09AM
Thanks for all the posts. Just a note that this post was intended to focus on businesses (stores, bars, offices, etc.) in the MIDDLE of a side-street block.
Businesses on the corner of two side streets are also really cool, and are definitely a dying breed, but there are probably many more of those in the city than there are mid-block, side street businesses.
I still need to track down the names of the Hyde Park store and the Erie Street store that I mentioned in the original post. Once I do, I will post them, if nobody finds them first.
Businesses on the corner of two side streets are also really cool, and are definitely a dying breed, but there are probably many more of those in the city than there are mid-block, side street businesses.
I still need to track down the names of the Hyde Park store and the Erie Street store that I mentioned in the original post. Once I do, I will post them, if nobody finds them first.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
Karen
()
Date: June 17, 2012 03:51AM
The first & last time I was in that shop, the shelves were empty. I wasn't too impressed with it....it deff didn't serve any purpose.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
jak378
()
Date: July 23, 2012 11:13AM
There is a storefront at about 4605 S. Whipple. I lived next door to it in 1967 to 1971. During that time the old Polish couple that owned it went out of business, but continued living there.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
()
Date: August 07, 2012 09:00PM
I came across one at 5117 S. Ingleside. It's still being used as a store (it was an A&P according to the 1928 Polk's Directory); it's a single-story building surrounded by two-flats.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2012 09:21PM by WayOutWardell.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2012 09:21PM by WayOutWardell.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
Mornac
()
Date: August 07, 2012 11:43PM
I remember a sort of "sweet shop" in the middle of the 6000 block of Glenwood directly across the street from Senn High School (the main source of its clientele). It was the only commercial storefront on Glenwood between Ridge Ave. and Devon. It closed around 1970 and the plate glass window was sided over making (presumeably) a residence. About ten years ago, someone acquired the property, did a little renovation and turned it into a Bed and Breakfast so it's apparently still zoned for commerce.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
ChiTownJim
()
Date: August 13, 2012 09:49PM
I remember there used to be a small store in the middle of the 2100 block of Keeler, across the street from Nixon school, where I used to go. I think it closed around 1979 or 1980.
P.S. Several teachers I had there told our class that Walt Disney attended that school.
P.S. Several teachers I had there told our class that Walt Disney attended that school.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
Deejo
()
Date: August 17, 2012 02:52AM
Wardell - that Ingleside store was the one I was thinking about in my original post, but I mistakenly had remembered it being further south. Thanks for the correction.
ChiTown and Mornac - A lot of these businesses were candy stores etc. across from schools. Most of those are gone now. I looked on Streetview and I think I identified the building where that Keeler store was. If you look carefully across from a lot of schools you'll find similar buildings with "commercial"-looking facades, amid a block of otherwise "residential" buildings.
ChiTown and Mornac - A lot of these businesses were candy stores etc. across from schools. Most of those are gone now. I looked on Streetview and I think I identified the building where that Keeler store was. If you look carefully across from a lot of schools you'll find similar buildings with "commercial"-looking facades, amid a block of otherwise "residential" buildings.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
Lance Grey
()
Date: August 17, 2012 06:14PM
Lived on Wrightwood near Kelly's on the Green, on Greenview...
It's precursor, a smallish tavern, served the many local factories, shops & warehouses that sprung up in the area during and after WWII to whet their whistles at lunch & after closing time.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2012 06:16PM by Lance Grey.
It's precursor, a smallish tavern, served the many local factories, shops & warehouses that sprung up in the area during and after WWII to whet their whistles at lunch & after closing time.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2012 06:16PM by Lance Grey.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
ChiTownJim
()
Date: August 18, 2012 11:37AM
Deejo, I was looking on Bing maps and I think I pinpointed it too. Thank God for Bing maps and Google street view.:)
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
()
Date: August 28, 2012 03:00PM
There's a barber shop on Grace, just east of Bell, on the south side of the street off the alley - looks like it might have been a garage at one point, but the shop looks like it's been there for a long time.
Re: mid-block, side-street businesses
Posted by:
Mornac
()
Date: September 02, 2012 01:03AM
Just found this on Flickr:
Elsie's Beauty Salon
Part of an 1891 apartment building at 2144 W. Montrose Ave.
Elsie's Beauty Salon
Part of an 1891 apartment building at 2144 W. Montrose Ave.
