Cool stuff that's gone (Plus: Cecil's column!)

[Stan Shmenge]

Svobada's Nickelodeon Tavern- Bar and grill with antique amusment collection.

Riverview- Amusement park.

Kiddieland- Another amusement park near Stony and 95th.

The Pickle Barrel- Restaurant with peanut shells on the floor, sandwiches and burgers and the balloon twisting guy.

Tai Sam Yon- For years the top rated restaurant in Chicago.

Skeet Shooting on the Lakefront. Never did it, but it was fun to watch.



So, how about it? Who has fond memories of things no longer around Chicago?

[Mr Downtown]

Lots of such reminiscence at the Forgotten Chicago forum. (http://forgottenchicago.com/forum/list.php?1)

[Tim R. Mortiss]

Skate on State

The Berghoff (mostly gone)

Old Comisky

The Kiddieland on North Avenue in Melrose Park

[C K Dexter Haven]

The Clark Theatre - showed double features of old movies, changing the bill every day. Sigh.

[Stan Shmenge]

The Clark Theatre - showed double features of old movies, changing the bill every day. Sigh.I remember that. It was cheap, too.

[Tim R. Mortiss]

There used to be lots of repertory movie theaters on the north side. But the advent of the VCR and the ubiquity of the video rental store (both gone now as well, ironically!) killed off nearly all of them. The Music Box is the only one remaining that I know of.

[Wheelz]

Adventureland in Addison.
My favorite memory there is riding the fire truck. The seats faced out one side, and each seat had its own little hose nozzle. As you rode past an old shack it would burst into flames, and you'd aim your hose to help put out the fire.

Cheesy, but it was great fun as a kid.

[raindog]

Maxwell Street on Sunday mornings!

[No Me Ayudes Compadre]

Kiddieland!

Old Chicago in Bolingbrook.

The original, cheap Pasteur on Sheridan before it burned down without anyone, particularly Tuan, having anything to do with it.

Spaetzels and magic at Schulien's.

[MikeG]

Maxwell Street on Sunday mornings!

I was at Maxwell St. two days ago. I had a wonderful handmade quesadilla and picked up a telescope for ten bucks.

It's on Des Plaines now starting at Roosevelt and going north a few blocks.

[jhugart]

Does anyone recall the Cafe 1999 bookstore up by Loyola University in Roger's Park? I want to say it was on the 6500 block next to the L stop. I remember it when I lived in the area in the late 1980s.

What was noteworthy about the bookstore portion (which was on the second floor of the stores there) was that the bookcases were not in rigid rows, but in a free-form set of curves and angles. I was trying to describe this to a friend who is a librarian, then tried to find pictures online, to no avail. Does anyone know of anything like that?

[eleanorigby]

Where did the statue honoring Jack Brickhouse go? I used to pass it every week as I walk down Michigan Ave and now it's gone. The chrome moose is still there, as is the statue of American Gothic (with suitcases). What did they do with my childhood sports announcer (who was MUCH better than Harry Caray ever was, but that's another thread).


Any ideas?

[Tim R. Mortiss]

Where did the statue honoring Jack Brickhouse go? I used to pass it every week as I walk down Michigan Ave and now it's gone. The chrome moose is still there, as is the statue of American Gothic (with suitcases). What did they do with my childhood sports announcer (who was MUCH better than Harry Caray ever was, but that's another thread).


Any ideas?

Removed for repairs. Have no fear: Jack will be Back.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-talk-jack-brickhouse-statuenov06,0,7783147.column

[ScatteredFrog]

Marshall Field & Company

Minnie's (yeah, that's new, but still, that was a great restaurant my wife and I frequented a LOT. Always crowded, even during the worst of the poor economy.)

Chicago Stadium

Top Enchilada (a great Mexican restaurant I went to years ago in the Irving Park neighborhood)

Virgin Megastore (I know, not a Chicago oldie, but I had some good times there)

The Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company at State and Madison

Demon Dogs (never had a chance to go there before they closed)

The City of Chicago store by the Water Tower

Flat Sammie's in the same building (I went to that building many a time, as both a tourist and a Chicago resident, and the day I finally decided to eat there, it was gone!)

St. Michael's Church in Bucktown (where my mother went as a kid)

[Man With a Cat]

Old Chicago in Bolingbrook.


I spent a couple years working there while I was in high school. What a great place for a teenager to work, really - anyone that did has some incredible memories.

[daveg]

Chicago Amphitheater (sp?). Bulls started there in the mid 60s. Chicago Auto Show, Outdoor Show and others before McCormick Place came to be. I graduated from high school there - De La Salle.

And while we're on south Halsted, the Stock Yard Inn.

[Tim R. Mortiss]

How about those giant MAGIKIST signs? I was a kid in the back seat of my parents car when I saw them, so I don't even remember exactly where they were.......TRM

[ScatteredFrog]

Man, Tim....that Magikist post made me think of the Entenman's factory along I-294. Still there, but...why do they no longer have the little animation on the message board?? I always loved that. Now the message board is just blank.

[Cheryl44]

In Oak Lawn--at 95th and Cicero. It was built in the 50s during the giant fad for all things Hawaiian. As I child I thought it perfectly normal to walk from the parking lot through a Japanese style rock garden and into the Swiss chalet lobby. The area around the concession stand was Tudor half timber, but the theater itself was decorated with giant Tiki masks and a series of murals depicting the discover and settlement of Hawaii by the Polynesians.

Now I realize the place was just nuts.

[eleanorigby]

Rose Records on Wabash (?), Field's (of course) and the smell from that candy/chocolate factory on one of the bridges (can't think which) which someone reported as pollution to the EPA and made them close down or change how they vented stuff. :(

[C K Dexter Haven]

Cecil chimes in: http://chicago.straightdope.com/sdc20091217.php ... Congrats, Stan!

[LurkMeister]

Rose Records on Wabash (?), Field's (of course) and the smell from that candy/chocolate factory on one of the bridges (can't think which) which someone reported as pollution to the EPA and made them close down or change how they vented stuff. :(

Blommer Chocolate (http://www.blommer.com/default.htm), at 600 W Kinzie - I used to work near there, and for years I wondered why I often smelled chocolate while walking to and from the train station. When I finally found out, I went there and found that they had an outlet store. :D

[Humble Servant]

Ceil said, about improving his financial wherewithal for a model train set-up:Ultimately it did, but by then my attention had drifted.My brother-in-law tells a similar story. Saved all of his lawnmowing and paper route money, begged train parts, track, etc. exclusively as birthday and Christmas gifts, cleared the space in the basement, was finally ready to set it all up, and...

He discovered girls.

The stuff is still in his parents' basement and he likes knowing it's there.

[rowrrbazzle]

One simple thing I miss hasn't been gone that long: the drive around the Planetarium. Occasionally after sunset I'd just drive there down LSD (or the Kennedy, depending on where I was living at the time), sit in my car for a while, then drive home. From the easternmost point, if you looked straight east over the lake, you could forget the city was behind you.

[mamalizzo]

Does anybody remember a combination hobby shop/pet store/toy store in the Loop off State called (if memory serves) "Vaughn's"? As I recall, pets were on the first floor, and toys were on the 3rd floor. Excellent selection of imported metal soldiers and china dogs and horses. My brother and I spent lots of our allowance there.

I also recall the huge floor of toys at the old Marshall Fields which was always a successful bribe - we could go look around there after what seemed like hours spent on the floor of fabrics/sewing notions.

[Man With a Cat]

Chicago Amphitheater (sp?). Bulls started there in the mid 60s. Chicago Auto Show, Outdoor Show and others before McCormick Place came to be. I graduated from high school there - De La Salle.

And while we're on south Halsted, the Stock Yard Inn.

Back in '79, right after the tragedy in Cincinnati, the Who was scheduled to play at the Amphitheater. Lots of noise was made about canceling the show but it went on. Which rocked for me, I had second row center tickets. I couldn't hear for three days after, but it all seemed worth it at the time.

[eleanorigby]

I went to my one and only Star Trek convention at the Chicago Amphitheater. On Halsted, right? I was 13 (1975).

[eleanorigby]

Removed for repairs. Have no fear: Jack will be Back.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-talk-jack-brickhouse-statuenov06,0,7783147.column

Jack IS back and looks.... exactly the same as before they "repaired" him.

[daveg]

I went to my one and only Star Trek convention at the Chicago Amphitheater. On Halsted, right? I was 13 (1975).

Yep it was on Halsted.

[menoumena]

The catacombs at the Ivanhoe Theater and Restaurant on N. Clark

Augustana Hospital @ Dickens and Lincoln (where i was born)

Henrotin Hospital @ Clark and Oak

Roma's @ Sheffield & Webster

Lincoln & Belmont when it was a center for shopping

Sieben's brewery on N. Larrabee -- still remember the great root beer served with pretzels and mustard and sitting out in the beer garden with family.

Riverview rollerskating rink on W. Belmont

Rowland Home for Funerals @ W. Buena & N. Sheridan across from St. Mary of the Lake Parish

Great homes of old Chicago wealthy on the north side of W. Melrose east of Broadway. Can vividly recall playing in one of the homes before it was demolished in the 60's.

All of the Louis Sullivan designed buildings that were demolished over the years.

[Tim R. Mortiss]

Math Igler's German restaurant, on Melrose off Lincoln Avenue. Home of the singing waiters!

[Wheelz]

Augustana Hospital @ Dickens and Lincoln (where i was born)

Henrotin Hospital @ Clark and Oak

Rowland Home for Funerals @ W. Buena & N. Sheridan across from St. Mary of the Lake Parish

I have to like somebody who lists hospitals and funeral homes among "Cool Stuff"!

[menoumena]

A few more:

Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in on Wells in Old Town
The funeral home on W. Belmont that was replaced by Ann Sather's restaurant (it is haunted)
Red Lion Pub on N. Lincoln
Great Expectations Bookstore on Foster Street in Evanston

[Tim R. Mortiss]

A few more:

Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in on Wells in Old Town
The funeral home on W. Belmont that was replaced by Ann Sather's restaurant (it is haunted)
Red Lion Pub on N. Lincoln
Great Expectations Bookstore on Foster Street in Evanston

Is Red Lion definitely gone? I know they've been "closed for remodeling" a lot longer than anticipated, but I'm still holding out hope.

Another favorite that's been gone awhile: Zum Deutschen Eck on Southport........TRM

[wierdaaron]

The first time I visited Chicago with my parents, we stayed at the mag-mile Marriott which was right across from Disney Quest, a really nice video game arcade/experience much better than the likes of GameWorks or Dave & Busters. The next time I was in town, it was gone. I was sad.

[daveg]

The first time I visited Chicago with my parents, we stayed at the mag-mile Marriott which was right across from Disney Quest, a really nice video game arcade/experience much better than the likes of GameWorks or Dave & Busters. The next time I was in town, it was gone. I was sad.

I think Nike now occupies what used to be the Disney Quest space.

[Tim R. Mortiss]

Alas, the list of cool stuff that's gone continues to grow. Now it looks like The Pump Room as we know it is being morphed out of existence:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/hoekstra/2010/01/pump_room_swan_song.html

[eleanorigby]

I also remember visiting the Rand & McNally store on Michigan Ave for a map of Paris and of London before my first trip over there. I like maps. That store is long gone, too.
:(

And Kroch's & Bretano's was a great book store--quirkier than Borders or B&N by a long shot. <sigh>

We always looked for the Magikist sign so that we would know the exit for I-57* was coming up soon and we had to get over to the right or end up in Indiana (a fate worse than death!). It made a great landmark. :)





*I'm a southern suburb girl.

[C K Dexter Haven]

My wife and I both worked in Kroch's & Brentano's in Old Orchard in the early 70s. Sigh.

And I ditto the Magikist sign northbound with the Coca-Cola sign: it didn't mark an exit, but it was like a homing indicator.

[eleanorigby]

Anybody remember Lytton's, a clothing store that featured "classic" clothing (like Talbot's used to or Brook's Bros does). I loved Lytton's....

[SanDiegoTim]

The catacombs at the Ivanhoe Theater and Restaurant on N. Clark

Augustana Hospital @ Dickens and Lincoln (where i was born)

Henrotin Hospital @ Clark and Oak

Roma's @ Sheffield & Webster

Lincoln & Belmont when it was a center for shopping

Sieben's brewery on N. Larrabee -- still remember the great root beer served with pretzels and mustard and sitting out in the beer garden with family.

Riverview rollerskating rink on W. Belmont

Rowland Home for Funerals @ W. Buena & N. Sheridan across from St. Mary of the Lake Parish

Great homes of old Chicago wealthy on the north side of W. Melrose east of Broadway. Can vividly recall playing in one of the homes before it was demolished in the 60's.

All of the Louis Sullivan designed buildings that were demolished over the years.

Roma's was classic Chicago. Having attended high school at Depaul Academy, I was a regular customer. Great spot for burgers and/or ice cream. Just around the corner from Roma's (south on Sheffield) was an Italian bakery. Memory serves, it outlasted Roma's. Anyone recall the name?

[menoumena]

It was called Toscana's Bakery. Mara Toscana, the daughter of the owners, was in my graduate English classes at DePaul. They closed when she married and went on to other endeavors.

[menoumena]

oops sorry....her maiden name was Mara Tognieri!

[ScatteredFrog]

And how could I forget...."Z" Frank! At least the sign is still there...

[thatdudeguydude]

Zephyrs - some of my earliest childhood memories were going there with my big bro and pops and after eating a burger and a shake and/or sundae, having swordfights with the little tiny plastic swords they'd give you.

Main baseball diamond at River Park - Growing up, just as my dad did in the 50s, I played little league ball at River Park. From the age of 3 (t-ball!) till 14, every year, it was religion. I ended up playing varsity at Von after that. But it's a shame that the main diamond, is no longer there. The proper diamond, with the wooden backstop, facing NE, is no more. So much for my kids playing at that same diamond. :(

Demon Dogs - I saw this mentioned and just have to second that. When I was a teenager, I had major surgery and had an extended stay at Children's Memorial, and my friends and family bringing me those delicious dogs kept me sane and positive.

Sally's Stage! - I don't even know where to begin with the amount of fun times as kids we had there. Some of the most memorable birthday parties were there. If anybody doesn't remember, it was a grand old place where the waitresses were on rollerskates, there was a stage, and a pipe organ player, and pinball and video games, pizza, and even a mechanical bull!

Hobby Shop - Devon & Western - Much as Cecil described, it's a shame that these no longer exist. That particular one was where we'd go. So many models of cars, and trains, and baseball card packs were purchased there.

The old TB hospitals behind Peterson Park - Now you may be saying "well it's good they are gone! They were abandoned and boarded up!" I'm not totally disagreeing. They are now condos btw. But the thing is, is that as kids, they were cool. Sure it was dangerous (my friend once stepped on a rusty nail and had to get a tetnus shot) and unsafe. But as kids, nothing gave us such a rush as to sneak in behind loose boards and roam around inside. It was a sight, it was as if they left over night. Old equipment laid around next to stacks and stacks of files and chest x-rays (there were so many of those chest x-ray cards scattered everywhere, I still remember holding them in my hand.) Roaming those dark, dingy, haunted halls, was probably the closest thing I'll ever experience to being in a real life horror movie.

The Baskin Robins on Peterson & Bernard - This closed in the early 90s sometime, but if anybody remembers, it was run by a cute old French couple, and they had the whole place decked out in a Paris motif, right down to Perrier bottles with a flower in it on every table!

The Lincoln Village Theater - Which is on the site of the current Borders I believe, in later years was known as the "7-8-9." But to me, this was my childhood theater. The middle theater, the big one, held 900 patrons! It was huge. I still remember seeing movies such as Star Wars and E.T. there with my family when I was a kid.

Plaza Theater - Sure it was a dump, but we'd sneak into so many movies there as rowdy punk kids, it was so easy!


Irving's - On Kimball & Lincoln - still to this day, I will insist that they had the best cheddar burger I've ever tasted. No place can even closely compare to the cheddar burgers they served up.

Tastee Freeze - Foster & Kimball - The owner at it's end was cousins with Howie Mandell, and also had a record store next store (Rockin Reds), well once I actually had the pleasure of meeting Howie there when he stopped in.

Diversions - Ahhhh Diversions, the arcade of my childhood (Bunny Hutch couldn't even compare)

bub city - this place was great. it was a lettuce entertain crabshack by north and kingsbury, and we'd go and order crab there and smash them to bits with our wooden mallets.

Sorry for the long winded reply! There's tons more I'm sure we all can think of too!

[ScatteredFrog]

Rigby and lurk -- you mentioned that chocolate aroma...

Well...in addition to my full-time job, I have a part-time job (with the same company) in which I occasionally do some teaching, and I'm often placed at UIC. It's literally right down the street from where my day job is (a mile down the street, but still, down the street nonetheless), and I often walk to UIC afterwards. And darned if almost every time I go there I smell a chocolate aroma as I cross the bridge and approach UIC. It's especially strong at around 9:30, 10:00 at night when I head to the Blue Line...always makes me want to stop and get a damn sundae...thank God I don't know where to get one in that area. :)

[LurkMeister]

I went to my one and only Star Trek convention at the Chicago Amphitheater. On Halsted, right? I was 13 (1975).

I missed this when it was posted (I was in Chicago for Christmas) but I was at a Star Trek Convention in Chicago late August 1975, but it was at the Hilton on south Michigan.

[Eyecee]

Chances R - Peanuts on the floor. "Hyde Park"
5th Army Hqtrs. - Now Twin Towers (where Hydy Park Blvd becomes 51st.
Lettuce Entertain You & the rest of the chain. Like "R J Grunts" gone - I think.

Riverview- Amusement park.

Kiddieland- Another amusement park near Stony and 95th.

The Pickle Barrel- Restaurant with peanut shells on the floor, sandwiches and burgers and the balloon twisting guy.

Tai Sam Yon- For years the top rated restaurant in Chicago.

Skeet Shooting on the Lakefront. Never did it, but it was fun to watch.



So, how about it? Who has fond memories of things no longer around Chicago?[/QUOTE]

[Ed Zotti]

Lettuce Entertain You & the rest of the chain. Like "R J Grunts" gone - I think. That'll be a surprise to the many people who patronize LEYE establishments, including:

http://www.rjgruntschicago.com/

Warning - frigging thing has sound.

[Tim R. Mortiss]

Yes, RJ Grunts is still there, but many fine Lettuce establishments are gone. Off the top of my head, there's Lawrence of Oregano, Tucci Benucch, Jonathan Livingston Seafood, and Great Gritsby's.

[ScatteredFrog]

All I care is that Big Bowl is still around.

[shoreline]

Svobada's Nickelodeon Tavern- Bar and grill with antique amusment collection.

Riverview- Amusement park.

Kiddieland- Another amusement park near Stony and 95th.

The Pickle Barrel- Restaurant with peanut shells on the floor, sandwiches and burgers and the balloon twisting guy.

Tai Sam Yon- For years the top rated restaurant in Chicago.

Skeet Shooting on the Lakefront. Never did it, but it was fun to watch.



So, how about it? Who has fond memories of things no longer around Chicago?

Riverview was of course the ultimate teen destination in the 60s. It had the Bobs, the Parachutes, what more can I say. Two Ton Baker said it all in the ads.

I remember the kiddieland on Stony from a few visits out south, but in my neighborhood the place to be at night was Hollywood Kiddieland at Lincoln and Mc Cormick/ Kimball. It had batting cages and trampolines as well.

I loved both Pickle Barrel locations. I just saw a photo on fb of the Old town location's interior. In fact, Old Town of the 60s was a unique place. It was the Greenwich Village /Haight Asbury of the Midwest. Wells Street was from Goethe St to Lincoln Ave was the show of shows on the weekends.

I could go on forever.

[shoreline]

Zephyrs - some of my earliest childhood memories were going there with my big bro and pops and after eating a burger and a shake and/or sundae, having swordfights with the little tiny plastic swords they'd give you.

Main baseball diamond at River Park - Growing up, just as my dad did in the 50s, I played little league ball at River Park. From the age of 3 (t-ball!) till 14, every year, it was religion. I ended up playing varsity at Von after that. But it's a shame that the main diamond, is no longer there. The proper diamond, with the wooden backstop, facing NE, is no more. So much for my kids playing at that same diamond. :(

Demon Dogs - I saw this mentioned and just have to second that. When I was a teenager, I had major surgery and had an extended stay at Children's Memorial, and my friends and family bringing me those delicious dogs kept me sane and positive.

Sally's Stage! - I don't even know where to begin with the amount of fun times as kids we had there. Some of the most memorable birthday parties were there. If anybody doesn't remember, it was a grand old place where the waitresses were on rollerskates, there was a stage, and a pipe organ player, and pinball and video games, pizza, and even a mechanical bull!

Hobby Shop - Devon & Western - Much as Cecil described, it's a shame that these no longer exist. That particular one was where we'd go. So many models of cars, and trains, and baseball card packs were purchased there.

The old TB hospitals behind Peterson Park - Now you may be saying "well it's good they are gone! They were abandoned and boarded up!" I'm not totally disagreeing. They are now condos btw. But the thing is, is that as kids, they were cool. Sure it was dangerous (my friend once stepped on a rusty nail and had to get a tetnus shot) and unsafe. But as kids, nothing gave us such a rush as to sneak in behind loose boards and roam around inside. It was a sight, it was as if they left over night. Old equipment laid around next to stacks and stacks of files and chest x-rays (there were so many of those chest x-ray cards scattered everywhere, I still remember holding them in my hand.) Roaming those dark, dingy, haunted halls, was probably the closest thing I'll ever experience to being in a real life horror movie.

The Baskin Robins on Peterson & Bernard - This closed in the early 90s sometime, but if anybody remembers, it was run by a cute old French couple, and they had the whole place decked out in a Paris motif, right down to Perrier bottles with a flower in it on every table!

The Lincoln Village Theater - Which is on the site of the current Borders I believe, in later years was known as the "7-8-9." But to me, this was my childhood theater. The middle theater, the big one, held 900 patrons! It was huge. I still remember seeing movies such as Star Wars and E.T. there with my family when I was a kid.

Plaza Theater - Sure it was a dump, but we'd sneak into so many movies there as rowdy punk kids, it was so easy!


Irving's - On Kimball & Lincoln - still to this day, I will insist that they had the best cheddar burger I've ever tasted. No place can even closely compare to the cheddar burgers they served up.

Tastee Freeze - Foster & Kimball - The owner at it's end was cousins with Howie Mandell, and also had a record store next store (Rockin Reds), well once I actually had the pleasure of meeting Howie there when he stopped in.

Diversions - Ahhhh Diversions, the arcade of my childhood (Bunny Hutch couldn't even compare)

bub city - this place was great. it was a lettuce entertain crabshack by north and kingsbury, and we'd go and order crab there and smash them to bits with our wooden mallets.

Sorry for the long winded reply! There's tons more I'm sure we all can think of too!

Thanks for remembering baseball at the main diamond at River Pk. I played there in your Dad's era. It was the largest park up north.

Every male in the neighborhood went to Hobbymodels at Devon and Western for their amazing selection. Nobody had cooler slot cars in stock.

I'd like to mention the grand movie houses we had the opportunity to visit -- the Nortown and the Granada. As kids we waited in line for an hour to catch the double feature Westerns and toss popcorn boxes at the screen . We won't see those palaces again.

[shoreline]

Jack IS back and looks.... exactly the same as before they "repaired" him.

I'm waiting for a Bob Elson statue to be erected at 35 th and Shields.

[twiecek]

Loved Lytton's as well. Buffalo ice cream parlor on Irving & Pulaski.

[Jim2929]

Back to 1938-39. South of Humbolt park, I think between Division and Chiago ave'.
There was a great wooden ovel for bicycle race's. In the 1920's and early 30"s they had
SIX day bike rides there. SIX day's, never saw one, but remember my Dad talking about them.
I kmow I'm too old. Sorry.

[Chelveston]

Zephyrs - some of my earliest childhood memories were going there with my big bro and pops and after eating a burger and a shake and/or sundae, having swordfights with the little tiny plastic swords they'd give you.

Main baseball diamond at River Park - Growing up, just as my dad did in the 50s, I played little league ball at River Park. From the age of 3 (t-ball!) till 14, every year, it was religion. I ended up playing varsity at Von after that. But it's a shame that the main diamond, is no longer there. The proper diamond, with the wooden backstop, facing NE, is no more. So much for my kids playing at that same diamond. :(

Demon Dogs - I saw this mentioned and just have to second that. When I was a teenager, I had major surgery and had an extended stay at Children's Memorial, and my friends and family bringing me those delicious dogs kept me sane and positive.

Sally's Stage! - I don't even know where to begin with the amount of fun times as kids we had there. Some of the most memorable birthday parties were there. If anybody doesn't remember, it was a grand old place where the waitresses were on rollerskates, there was a stage, and a pipe organ player, and pinball and video games, pizza, and even a mechanical bull!

Hobby Shop - Devon & Western - Much as Cecil described, it's a shame that these no longer exist. That particular one was where we'd go. So many models of cars, and trains, and baseball card packs were purchased there.

The old TB hospitals behind Peterson Park - Now you may be saying "well it's good they are gone! They were abandoned and boarded up!" I'm not totally disagreeing. They are now condos btw. But the thing is, is that as kids, they were cool. Sure it was dangerous (my friend once stepped on a rusty nail and had to get a tetnus shot) and unsafe. But as kids, nothing gave us such a rush as to sneak in behind loose boards and roam around inside. It was a sight, it was as if they left over night. Old equipment laid around next to stacks and stacks of files and chest x-rays (there were so many of those chest x-ray cards scattered everywhere, I still remember holding them in my hand.) Roaming those dark, dingy, haunted halls, was probably the closest thing I'll ever experience to being in a real life horror movie.

The Baskin Robins on Peterson & Bernard - This closed in the early 90s sometime, but if anybody remembers, it was run by a cute old French couple, and they had the whole place decked out in a Paris motif, right down to Perrier bottles with a flower in it on every table!

The Lincoln Village Theater - Which is on the site of the current Borders I believe, in later years was known as the "7-8-9." But to me, this was my childhood theater. The middle theater, the big one, held 900 patrons! It was huge. I still remember seeing movies such as Star Wars and E.T. there with my family when I was a kid.

Plaza Theater - Sure it was a dump, but we'd sneak into so many movies there as rowdy punk kids, it was so easy!


Irving's - On Kimball & Lincoln - still to this day, I will insist that they had the best cheddar burger I've ever tasted. No place can even closely compare to the cheddar burgers they served up.

Tastee Freeze - Foster & Kimball - The owner at it's end was cousins with Howie Mandell, and also had a record store next store (Rockin Reds), well once I actually had the pleasure of meeting Howie there when he stopped in.

Diversions - Ahhhh Diversions, the arcade of my childhood (Bunny Hutch couldn't even compare)

bub city - this place was great. it was a lettuce entertain crabshack by north and kingsbury, and we'd go and order crab there and smash them to bits with our wooden mallets.

Sorry for the long winded reply! There's tons more I'm sure we all can think of too!

Not to be overly picky, (but that's Cecil's M.O., isn't it?)the hobby store at the corner of Devon and Western, was called Hobby Models. This was in the days when you could actually buy airplane glue for purposes other than "huffing."

Anybody remember The Nortown Theatre? Or Friedman's Deli right next door?
Is the Pekin House still there? Best Egg Rolls outside of China Town
Swiss Pastries, a little further north on Western?
Puff Fluff Donuts-Western and Pratt
Miller's Steak House-Great Ribs.
Sunset Bowl-More North on Western
The Welcome Inn-Super thin crust pie
All great joints-long gone I'm afraid.

[shoreline]

Not to be overly picky, (but that's Cecil's M.O., isn't it?)the hobby store at the corner of Devon and Western, was called Hobby Models. This was in the days when you could actually buy airplane glue for purposes other than "huffing."

Anybody remember The Nortown Theatre? Or Friedman's Deli right next door?
Is the Pekin House still there? Best Egg Rolls outside of China Town
Swiss Pastries, a little further north on Western?
Puff Fluff Donuts-Western and Pratt
Miller's Steak House-Great Ribs.
Sunset Bowl-More North on Western
The Welcome Inn-Super thin crust pie
All great joints-long gone I'm afraid.

The Nortown had the amazing atmospheric ceiling.
Freidman's - fabulous corned beef sandwhiches at any hour
Sunset -Largest bowling alley in the neighborhood. Located at Touhy - Western. A few others were Theater Bowl at Pratt - Western and Bud Shabley's above Crawford's on Devon.
For pizza it was Il Forno or Oddo's
Kow Kow on Devon- Rockwell had incredible egg rolls. Now located in Lincolnwood.
For steaks it was the Black Angus at Touhy - Western.
Hot dogs - Fluky's had the original Chicago style dog at Pratt - Western.
Great places of the past.

[ScatteredFrog]

Sadly, I have to revive this thread to mention one more cool thing that's gone:

Hoagie Hut at the intersection of Sheffield, Lincoln and Wrightwood. :( I used to work near there and loved enjoying the 2-dog special while listening to the eclectic music playing over the PA. In particular, I remember hearing Tom Waits and Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd...

Went past it on the Brown Line a few days ago and noticed that the windows all had white paper, and a Google search revealed that they closed on September 30. :(

[Tim R. Mortiss]

Sadly, I have to revive this thread to mention one more cool thing that's gone:

Hoagie Hut at the intersection of Sheffield, Lincoln and Wrightwood. :( I used to work near there and loved enjoying the 2-dog special while listening to the eclectic music playing over the PA. In particular, I remember hearing Tom Waits and Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd...

Went past it on the Brown Line a few days ago and noticed that the windows all had white paper, and a Google search revealed that they closed on September 30. :(

Holy Crap! That's two blocks from my house! How could I not have noticed? Must have been eating too healthy these days......TRM (who still mourns for Demon Dogs)

[SanDiegoTim]

How about Roma's (corner of Webster & Sheffield)? Counter and booths. Great burgers and fountain. Don't know when it closed, but in the 1960's it was a real favorite in the neighborhood, especially with the DePaul Academy students.

And just south of Romas on the west side if Sheffield was an Italian bakery, name escapes me. Oh, the warm bread! Anyone recall its name? I think it was open into the late 1970's.

[carlb]

Is Red Lion definitely gone? I know they've been "closed for remodeling" a lot longer than anticipated, but I'm still holding out hope.

I think we all have to accept reality and begin the grieving process; I'd bet a lot of money that The Red Lion is gone for good.

The plan was to demolish the building for condos, with a "new" Red Lion at street level in the building. The closing coincided neatly with the crash in housing prices, and since they haven't even begun demolition on the existing structure, my guess is that the project fell through.

Personally, I'd love it if somebody with more money than sense would buy the place, do whatever was necessary to make the building usable, and re-open it with Colin behind the bar again, but I just don't see this happening. Sometime soon they'll create a TIF district to get rid of the "blight" that is the Red Lion and a developer will get a nice sweet deal from the city to put up some generic condos with an Applebee's at street level.