Everything in this post is from Chicago. There are a few Weber Grill restaurants in Illinois and Indiana including this one right downtown:

The very famous pair of lions in front of the Art Institute:

One of a few former Studebaker dealerships in town:

This programmatic facade with a Rolls-Royce grill & statue on top, headlights, bumper, and tires was built as a garage in 1986:

A former Woolworth department store:

A detail from the Veseman Building:

The corner clock at the former C.D. Peacock jewelry store:

The Father Time clock with opal glass “TIME” letters:

This building with the terra cotta eagles was demolished. However, the 2nd story facade with the eagles was carefully removed and reinstalled on this building constructed at the same site:

The St. Joseph the Betrothed Ukrainian Catholic Church built from 1975-1977:

The Essex Inn was built in 1961. This is either the original scaffold sign or a replica of it:

This Golden Nugget Restaurant sign was adapted by tacking the small “APPLE” panel over the “NUGGET” text and adding a little neon:

I’ve tried my best to get the history of this one to no avail. I suspect it was a repurposed sign since Podlasie didn’t open until 1986:

The Erie Cafe opened in 1994 and this sign was built then:

The Stop & Drink vintage sign was fortunately kept with the Clark Street Ale House took over the space:

I believe these signs were installed in 1946. The bakery closed in 2022 but the signs remain (and the space is still vacant):

I believe this Pequod’s Pizza location opened in 1992. The chain’s mascot is a sperm whale with a pair of women’s underwear on its head:

This business was stablished in 1910 and is still operating. The sign appears to be from the 1950s:

Let’s close with what’s always been one of my Chicago favorites. The sign is about 40 feet tall and the business is long gone:

There will be even more Chicago area in the next post. And then we move on (finally) to Indiana after that.

Happy Trails,
dj & the dogs

website | blog | Flickr | Instagram