There are a couple of guys that want to turn the old Hub Theatre into a brewery. They are dealing with the city to make this happen and they have tons of red tape to work through. Have not heard what kind of progress they've made in their endeavor. I am a member of every block.com so this sight usually keeps a person updated on all kinds of baby steps that are in motion.
Forum: General Discussion

I lived right behind Talcott School on Erie Street in the late 50's .... I remember a lady that looked like Olive Oyl that walked the neighborhood looking for empty bottles with two shopping bags in each hand. Always her bags were full. We called her Grandma Bottles. When we called her Grandma Bottles she would set the bags down on the ground and pick up her dress and moon us .... she didn't we
Forum: General Discussion

My dad was born 1915 living in West Town. He said if you wanted your electricity turned on there was an electric coin box installed on the wall you had to deposit money to turn it on. Anyone else hear of this?
Forum: General Discussion

Early 1970's .... Jerry's Corned Beef right around the corner from the John Hancock building. A tiny standup restaurant run by him and his brother. Thick hot corned beef on rye with swiss cheese a pickle and a bottle of beer ... yum ! At noon the line of people at the door extended a ways down the street to get in. I was warned by friends before I got in the door I better know exactly what I wan
Forum: General Discussion

After several hours at Riverview Park our whole family .... aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. went to Siebens for a late afternoon treat. Us kids got big mugs of root beer and our parents got the beer. I can taste their mustard and pretzles just thinking about it. The more steins of beer the bar maids could carry in each fist the louder the patrons cheered. They also had beer drinking races. One m
Forum: General Discussion

In the 50's and 60's my family always went to the El Bakery right under the el tracks on the 1700 block of Chicago Ave. My father was born in 1915 and raised on the 1800 block of Erie St. and after him and my mom married in 1938 and had us kids he followed his tradition to go to the El Bakery for our old country rye bread. I asked my mom once why we didn't go to the Hub Bakery and she said the E
Forum: General Discussion

My mother lived at 1800 block of Erie from 1938 thru 1970. She told me even though Robey was changed to Damen the older people still called it Robey for many years after .... probably until all the old timers died off did this continue. I wonder why in the first place did they have to make street numbers and name changes in the first place. Does anyone know ????
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

I am 63 yrs old and remember this incident clearly. My father was a Chicago fireman at the time so my family had inside info. The children were instructed by the nuns to stay where they were and sit at their desk and pray and they would be rescued shortly. All the children and nuns that died suffered from smoke inhalation first, passed out and burned to death. My father told me if this happene
Forum: General Discussion

Do you remember the horse drawn wagons selling vegetables? Big horses and big wagons. Then at some time maybe in the early 60's they were banned off of the streets and could only vend in the alleys. Not long after this restriction they completely disappeared. There was a Waffle Man cart that made waffles out in the street right in his cart. Also an Italian cart we called the "Lupini Man&
Forum: General Discussion

Pat and Flo's Grocery on the corner of Erie and Wolcott (this area now called West Town) in the 50's and 60's. Homemade Italian sausage and balls of cheese wrapped in twine hanging from racks. Damen and Erie .... Gonella Bakery. My dad went there every Sunday morning to buy the bread and buns just out of the oven. This was our breakfast treat every Sunday, slap tons of butter on warm sliced br
Forum: General Discussion