Highland Park Borders Closing -- big sale

All the books at the Highland Park Borders are 30-40% off, and that includes paperbacks and books already on sale. Of interest here, of course, is that all the food books -- cookbooks and food lit -- are included in that "all." It took a lot of self-control, but I came away with a mere 7 food books, but saving 30% made it feel like a triumphant foray. As of 9pm this evening, tons of real gems were left, from classics to current titles. Of course, all the other subject areas are discounted, but I figured the food books would top at least a few lists here. So if you're in or near HP in the next day or two, you might want to drop in to see if there's anything you can't live without.

Hi,

Borders sits on hallowed grounds: either the Walgreens or Woolworths used to reside there with its arch competitor (Walgreens or Woolworths) across the street. That's Highland Park circa 1970, when I moved there.

Border's is located on Central Avenue, west of the railroad tracks between First and Second streets in downtown Highland Park. Old timers will recall this location was also Fell's.

Regards,

Speaking of hallowed ground, the Borders on Lake Cook Road at Waukegan replaced Phil Johnson's, a restaurant that had been there for many decades, and which I always liked for the special little brick oven building with a big picture window, where one could see all the chickens rotating on spits.

Woolworths was on the south side of the street. Walgreens was on the north side, where Borders is now. Gsell's and Garnett's (!) are the names I couldn't remember at lunch the other day.

Cynthia wrote:Speaking of hallowed ground, the Borders on Lake Cook Road at Waukegan replaced Phil Johnson's, a restaurant that had been there for many decades, and which I always liked for the special little brick oven building with a big picture window, where one could see all the chickens rotating on spits.

HI,

I liked Phil Johnson's ice white cabbage salad. I was there for more meetings in private rooms than their dining room. I have no recollection of the rotating chickens, though I love that stuff.

Regards,

Phil Johnson's was only the second place I'd seen one of those huge rotisserie features. I'd grown up admiring the chickens rotating in the picture window at Mary's Cupboard when I was very young (in the Winnetka building that, many iterations later, houses Restaurant Michael, though the window that looked into the one-time giant rotisserie has long since been bricked over). Phil Johnson's was kind of a "day in the country" stop for us back then (along with the more recently defunct Carrot Top), and I was delighted to find a second place that had the rotisserie -- and a window for viewing it. The world was a wonderful place indeed.

I've always loved seeing the process, from Bob Chinn inviting my brother and me into the kitchen at House of Chan in Wilmette, back when that was the only place he owned, to dad taking us on a tour of the United Airlines flight kitchens at UAL HQ. When I worked for Kraft Foods and had to visit all the plants across the country, I never had to fake enthusiasm when I was asked, "Would you like to tour the plant?" But for me, seeing food made in large quantities started with those rotisserie chickens.

The mention of Phil Johnson's brings back memories of nice special-occasion family visits. My mom really liked it. Am I right in remembering that it was Phil Johnson's that had the live peacocks in a screened coop outside, or was that somewhere else? It was a big treat for us as kids to get out of the car and go look at the peacocks before going inside to eat.