what I can't remember is what was on that corner before Pier 1. Memory, first thing to go...
but I do remember the Fotomat booth that was next to the Arby's!

Hi,

I drove past 41 North tonight. All that exists is the marquee, which will probably get finished off sometime next week.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

I drove past 41 North tonight. All that exists is the marquee...

... which is still advertising banquets!

George wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

I drove past 41 North tonight. All that exists is the marquee...

... which is still advertising banquets!

Maybe they should change banquets to picnics, since there is no longer any building.

I enjoyed the stroll down memory lane, from Dundee Rd. to Lake Cook on Skokie Blvd. Virtually every establishment within recent memory was mentioned. However, I would like to add one more --Uncle Tanoos (sp?). This was an interesting middle eastern eatery (Lebonese or Syrian) named after a character on the Danny Thomas show. It was located in one of the split areas, previously described, next to Eduardo's.

howlop wrote:However, I would like to add one more --Uncle Tanoos (sp?). This was an interesting middle eastern eatery (Lebonese or Syrian) named after a character on the Danny Thomas show.

Was that related to the Uncle Tannous that used to be on Halsted Street a couple of blocks north of Fullerton?

nr706 wrote:Was that related to the Uncle Tannous that used to be on Halsted Street a couple of blocks north of Fullerton?

It was owned and/or managed by the same guy as the northside Uncle Tannous....He went by the name Joseph. Uncle T in LP was a big hit with all the northshore kids because he had no problem openly serving lots of booze to the underaged. When he opened in Northbrook he learned quickly that the local PD wasnt going to be tolerant of that practice and the place didnt last very long.

I remember most of these places from growing up in HP. My parents took me to Victoria Station for a steak dinner after my high school graduation. Phil Johnson's was a Sunday dinner treat, as in Mother's Day, and I too remember that chicken (thought it was roasted, though) was the draw ... didn't they keep live peacocks in a coop out on the corner of the property?

I think you are right, Cathy2, that Anton's Fruit Market was originally up on Green Bay near the hospital and the high school. We used to stop by there for apples and cider on runs down to Wolters Field for track workouts.

I'd forgotten about the Pickle Barrel. Free pickles by the bucket on the table! What luxury!

The last thing I saw at the Edens Theater was a James Bond film. I went with my sister and my dad, who hadn't been to a movie theater in a while. He gave the teller a $20 for the three of us and was dumbfounded to discover that not only wasn't she planning on giving him any change back, she was actually waiting for him to give her more money!

I'd also forgotten where the Strike and Spare was, but I do remember my mom arranged a bowling party there for some friends and me for my sixteenth birthday. Alas, a tornado threatened and we had to abandon the game early.

I'd also forgotten about that Arby's, which my oldest brother loved.

The big draw for me and my brothers and sisters, though, was the Burger King, which I believe is still there. In our family, you got to pick what would be for dinner once a year, on your birthday. (Nowadays ... kids ... don't get me started.) Sometimes someone opted for pizza or a homemade dish such as spaghetti or meatloaf, but most of the time the birthday boy or girl's choice was Burger King whoppers. There being nine in our family, that meant calling in an order ahead, and a select subcommittee of us (only so much room in the car) having the thrill of going to pick up all those bags of whoppers and bring them home.

Katie wrote:I think you are right, Cathy2, that Anton's Fruit Market was originally up on Green Bay near the hospital and the high school. We used to stop by there for apples and cider on runs down to Wolters Field for track workouts.

Their current location is definitely not their first on Skokie Boulevard, as it used to be right around the spur viaduct but I didn't realize that it had an even earlier home, closer to downtown Highland Park.

=R=

Speaking of Phil Johnson's, from what I've heard the reason he closed had nothing to do with a lack of business...he was the victim of an old building and an inspection. Basically they told him he was required by law to undertake massive upgrades in the kitchen to get up to code (I heard it would have cost him somewhere between 200k & 300k), and the numbers were so daunting he decided it was more sensible to close rather than make the upgrades and have revenues sliced so heavily. If I'm not mistaken, to this day he still owns the land on that SE corner and collects monster checks from Border's and the computer store. Somebody may be able to confirm/debunk some of this, but I'm fairly certain the general gist is accurate.

I moved to Highland Park from Skokie in 1979, and have lived in HP for most of my life since then, and this thread is bringing it all back for me as well.

I remember Victoria Station with their train cars (big deal to a kid then), Peacock Palace was heaven for me, Strike and Spare was another favorite hangout, and of course Edens I and II. I remember going to see Raiders of The Lost Ark in 1981-82 there, arriving in the middle of the movie, watching it to the end, then watching it in it's entirety at the next showing. We had seen it before, and would see it many more times in the theater. Movies were a big deal then!

I miss that old Arby's. In the space behind it where CompUSA is was a Silo, and I think a Highland Appliances before that. Don't forget Herman's Sporting Goods.

Timber's, in case you didn't know, also closed recently.

Another cursed location is where Prairie Grass Cafe is now (and doing well) - next to Fast Signs. Previously it was a Stefani's, Stonefish Grill (I think), among others.

There's a Morton's Steak House next to Ron of Japan now and they are finally building a lot more stuff on the west side of the street between Dundee and the Tollway Spur.

Forty One North could have been so much better if they actually cared. The motherlode burger and cottage fries did harken back to the Claim Company, but they had little things that got worse. One thing I noticed everytime was dirty sliverware and glasses, ketchup being refilled with god knows what kind of ketchup in a Heinz bottle (now a pet peeve of mine - I try to ask for a brand new, unopened bottle wherever I go out IF I suspect the restaurant of not only reusing an old bottle, but filling it with something other than Heinz). I hate restaurant owners who pull this crap. Don't they eat there too? When I worked in restaurants I either cooked or served ever single thing as if it was for me!

Now don't get all excited about this, but my mom said she heard the Claim Company is coming back. She usually hears it from other friends of hers that almost always can never be depended on for anything. Take it as a wild rumor please!

As soon as I saw the name, "Goodman's", I remembered the treasure chest as well!

And I can't believe I'm the first to mention Cafe Bernard, which preceeded Bacinos/Eduardos.

My mother used to be the book keeper there.

Ram4 wrote:Now don't get all excited about this, but my mom said she heard the Claim Company is coming back. She usually hears it from other friends of hers that almost always can never be depended on for anything. Take it as a wild rumor please!

I have heard this a few times over the years and i dont think it is true. It is my understanding that the family that owned Timbers also own the Claim Company and that they suffered some family tragedy that has caused them to retire. I dont know for sure if this is true and i dont know the details but that is what I have heard.

I love this thread, especially the pix of the old Edens 1 theatre. I too remember seeing Star wars in 1977 on the big curved screen in the Edens 2 for the first time. OMG when they made that jumnp to light speed for the first time it totally blew my mind!

But yes, I think Henrici's was right where 41 North was (it is called Henrici ave or something).. I think I went to a prom dinner there...

and A Myron and Phils outpost too.

and it was nice to remember the pickle barrel as well

the old Chicago Claim Company in NB Court brings back memories of dating my hubby of now 25 years...

Thanks for the walk down memory lane

iblock9 wrote:I have heard this a few times over the years and i dont think it is true. It is my understanding that the family that owned Timbers also own the Claim Company and that they suffered some family tragedy that has caused them to retire. I dont know for sure if this is true and i dont know the details but that is what I have heard.

Jim Errant's wife died tragically at age 55 of brain cancer. That was about 3 or 4 years ago? He sold the Claim Co.s and Zarrosta Grill to a company called Weatherly long before that.

irisarbor wrote:But yes, I think Henrici's was right where 41 North was (it is called Henrici ave or something)..

There is also a sign for Henrici Drive all the way south at the corner of Dundee and Skokie Hwy next to the gas station (just east of 41) I know a Henrici Dr. sign also marks the exit of 41 North's parking lot and a lot of people have cited that as the reason why they believe Henrici's stood where 41 North was formerly located (it was definitely a Bennigans before 41 N) I, however, remember Henricis in the Garcias/Olive Garden/RIC space closer to Dundee but this was a long time ago so who knows. I wish I could find something on the internet about this or knew someone with a picture[/i]

HI,

Does anyone recall the Pat Patterson Steak House that was in the vicinity where Northbrook Court is located?

Regards,

iblock9 wrote:

irisarbor wrote:But yes, I think Henrici's was right where 41 North was (it is called Henrici ave or something)..

There is also a sign for Henrici Drive all the way south at the corner of Dundee and Skokie Hwy next to the gas station (just east of 41) I know a Henrici Dr. sign also marks the exit of 41 North's parking lot and a lot of people have cited that as the reason why they believe Henrici's stood where 41 North was formerly located (it was definitely a Bennigans before 41 N) I, however, remember Henricis in the Garcias/Olive Garden/RIC space closer to Dundee but this was a long time ago so who knows. I wish I could find something on the internet about this or knew someone with a picture[/i]

This link shows where Henrici's was, the building that's not-quite north-south aligned in the upper left. I remember, I took a date there back around 1978 or 9(sadly, it was closed when we and the other couple got there, we spent too much time driving around after leaving the dance).

The Olive Garden - now a medical center or something I think, was built for that purpose just north of Dundee (scroll the map down, it's the second to last building north of Dundee).

Cathy2 wrote:Does anyone recall the Pat Patterson Steak House that was in the vicinity where Northbrook Court is located?

Doesn't ring a bell with me. Northbrook Court opened in 1976, so if you mean it was on that site, it would have closed by that year (which is about when I first started spending any time at all north of Walker Brothers in Wilmette).

There's a timeline for Northbrook on the website of the Northbrook Historical Society.

BR wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:My best friend Cathy was taken to James Tavern for one of her graduation dinners. I recall she was not very happy about it.
Regards,

I recall James Tavern -- didn't like it. I think they specialized in "Colonial-like" food if I recall correctly . . . I know they offered a peanut soup.

I believe that there was also a short-lived, horrendously kitschy Italian place (Villa Misterioso?) in that location at some point. I recall going in, noting that it was straight from the Buca di Beppo school of decor and branding (paintings with moving eyes), and walking out.

Speaking of Highland Park, does anyone else remember Chhi Lin Court? That was our FAVORITE Chinese restaurant for many years, in the eighties through the mid nineties. It was located across Central St from the HP Theater (it moved a few blocks west for a couple of years before it finally closed around 1996 or thereabouts). It was wonderful! Our favorite dishes were the Hong Kong Chicken, and the Ginger Shrimp, and the Orange Scallops. Oh, I wish I could still have those dishes!

nsxtasy wrote:Speaking of Highland Park, does anyone else remember Chhi Lin Court? That was our FAVORITE Chinese restaurant for many years, in the eighties through the mid nineties. It was located across Central St from the HP Theater (it moved a few blocks west for a couple of years before it finally closed around 1996 or thereabouts). It was wonderful! Our favorite dishes were the Hong Kong Chicken, and the Ginger Shrimp, and the Orange Scallops. Oh, I wish I could still have those dishes!

I remember them though not as vivdly. They moved to St, Johns just south of Gsell's Pharmacy (RIP), then eventually closed.

Truthfully I wasn't around much when they were around. Plus my family tended to eat Chinese in Chinatown only. I recall going there only a few times.

Regards,

My family loved Chhi LIn- and had several parties there- we have family pix taken there, etc.
They were in the the Las Palmas space with the curved doorways, etc.
I remember the food as being very good.

irisarbor wrote:My family loved Chhi LIn- and had several parties there- we have family pix taken there, etc.
They were in the the Las Palmas space with the curved doorways, etc.
I remember the food as being very good.

Our family used to go there as well. It was a good place to take the parents without them getting scared by the exotica of Chinese food too much. As I recall, the food was pretty decently prepared, with cashew chicken the dish that was their claim to fame. When they closed, we started going to Little Scechwan next to the railroad tracks for family Chinese food outings.

Too funny SteveZ, Little Schezwan is where my folks like to go now...
I wonder if our folks know each other....

Re: Pat Patterson steak house -- have me stumped. As I recall, the land where Northbrook Court was built was a farm in its prior life, when Lake-Cook Road was just a little two-lane nothing.

Re: JoelF/Olive Garden -- it wasn't purpose-built for that, as there were several other restaurants in that space first (Country Kitchen, Garcia's, etc.)

Re: Chii-Lin Court -- what was the best Chinese in Highland Park, at its original location at least. Everybody loved going there. The mu shu was excellent and was prepared table-side.

I have no idea to this day what possessed them to move to the smaller spot where Yummy Bowl is now -- but it killed the restaurant, that's for sure. And there's no good Chinese up here today. Little Szechwan is OK, Jade Cafe is OK, and...well, there's not much to say about the rest.

debsdiningdigs wrote:Re: Chii-Lin Court -- what was the best Chinese in Highland Park,

We loved Yu Lin (im pretty sure that was the name) and to a lesser degree, Windows, where Bluegrass is currently located.

iblock9 wrote:We loved Yu Lin (im pretty sure that was the name)

Yes, Yu Lin's Dumpling House.

Where have all the Chinese places in HP gone? My ex in high school loved Chhi Lin and we used to go all the time. Little Szechwan was my favorite and I'm glad it's still there. The rest of my family liked Panda Panda, which was on Second St. behind where the Gap used to be.

Was Yu Lin the one behind the police station? I remember eating there as a 4 year old and insisting on eating with chop sticks. I don't remember getting very much into my mouth that night.

Hi,

Panda Panda was on second street where Cosia is now. You are fortunate, the Panda Panda owners have a Chinese take-out by the post office:

Yu's Szechuan
822 Central Ave,
Highland Park, IL
(847) 432-8888

I was there once when a customer came off the street. Recognized the owner. Proceeded to have a hissy fit wondering why they didn't alert the world of their lineage to Panda Panda. The founder is Peter Lo, who is in poor health, his daughter Rose has been running it. From an early interaction on Chowhound I know their prior restaurant locations:

Chowhound wrote:This is an old posting, but there is a reason for my getting involved: after over 30 years, I've lost Peter Lo. Here's the info for the past 33 years:
The first restaurant I knew of was on Paulina north of Howard (called the Jungle).
He moved to Lincoln near McCormack across from the shopping center.
He then sold the restaurant and his name, and, I guess, had a no compete provision, so he disappeared for quite a while.
He reopened in Highland Park under the name Panda, Panda (great as always).
My problem is that he's now closed and I don't know what happened. He's up in years and his health has been marginal for years.
If anyone knows what happened, please let me know.

I keep wondering if I am dreaming, but there was once a Chinese restaurant on St. John's just south of Gsell's. I thought it was Chii Lin's until someone said it was once where Yummy Bowl (yucky bowl) is located.

Yummy Bowl spent a lot of money putting in hardwood floors, tropical plants, painfully orange walls and a player grand piano. They were the first Chinese restaurant I encountered who served their food in plastic boats. I wish they skipped the decorating and concentrated on improving the food. Lettuce wraps served with yellow iceberg lettuce is not worth my time.

Yu Lin's Dumpling House was across from the Police station.

Regards,