My good friend Dave used to own the Cock robin on Lake in Melrose Park till its demise. Apparently there was a lot of fiscal trouble with the Franchiser/ owner of the Cock Robin brand which made things difficult to operate. It is sad though that the name and establishment is dead, but I'll never forget the good times and food had there.

Hi,

While googling around, I learned Naperville Local Access television presented a documentary on Cock Robin. I bought a copy for $20, though I have yet to see it. My parents watched it the minute it arrived totally capitivated by the story and reliving their memories of their visits. They claim I was there, too, but I have no recollection.

As I stated in my earlier thread yesterday, now on the prior page, Cock Robin in Brookfield is open. Earlier this year it was for sale, maybe a new owner?

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:It is my short term goal to have ice cream scooped by a rectangular scoop.

Don't stop there. Make sure you get a conical scoop as well, if they still have them.

Buoyed by thoughts of my beloved double cheeseburgers I made a beeline to Brookfield today.



It appears that the water was shutoff on the 10th and peering into the windows there was quite a bit of leaf debris on the floor blown in from under the door.

I do not think it was open recently.

Panther, that would be double steakburgers to you!

Man o'man, another great memory down da tubes. Cock Robin was a ritual stop of ours after Little League games in Skokie, on Skokie Blvd. just north of Oakton. Mid 1960's.

I suppose at this point, a re-opening would be a 'One-In-A-Million' shot!

Hi,

I drove down to Cock Robin with Josephine in tow. I was really disappointed to find it was closed.

We met a lady from Georgia who was contemplating taking over the space. She didn't know of the Cock Robin story and its loyal legions. I told her what little I knew, then suggested she revive Cock Robin if she got direction on replicating the menu. I am not completely comfortable she will do more than kick tires. When I inquired about her restaurant experience, I got a fuzzy answer. I recommended she spend $20 getting the Cock Robin documentary from the Naperville Local Access television. I suggested if she did things right, play it up with PR, then she might make it a go.

Everything is there equipment-wise and signage to make it work. Just need someone to pull it off.

Oh well, enjoyed my trip on Ogden Avenue as a consolation.

Regards,

We used to go to the one in River Forest on Harlem in the spot of where McDonalds is and the one in Oak Park on North Ave around Oak Park Avenue (ish). Then when that closed, it was off to Melrose Park.

I miss Cock Robin and Prince Castle too.

The Food Diva wrote:We used to go to the one in River Forest on Harlem in the spot of where McDonalds is and the one in Oak Park on North Ave around Oak Park Avenue (ish). Then when that closed, it was off to Melrose Park.

I miss Cock Robin and Prince Castle too.

I didn't think anyone else remembered the North Ave location.

I was a few blocks from where I used to live. Went there all the time.

Don't forget the River Rd and Grand location.

When I was in my 20's, and had a summer foot messenger job downtown, I would visit the State St Prince Castle. I seem to remember it was steam grilled too.

How about a breaded and deep fried Slyder.

Panther in the Den wrote:

The Food Diva wrote:We used to go to the one in River Forest on Harlem in the spot of where McDonalds is and the one in Oak Park on North Ave around Oak Park Avenue (ish). Then when that closed, it was off to Melrose Park.

I miss Cock Robin and Prince Castle too.

I didn't think anyone else remembered the North Ave location.

I was a few blocks from where I used to live. Went there all the time.

Don't forget the River Rd and Grand location.

When I was in my 20's, and had a summer foot messenger job downtown, I would visit the State St Prince Castle. I seem to remember it was steam grilled too.

We never really went to the one in River Grove (River Rd and Grand) because they didn't have an inside seating area. But I can say that I have used their tables to eat my Gene's and Judes, we would just buy a One in a Million shake and eat our hot dogs.

Wow, I am really bummed. I live in San Diego now, but when we last went back to visit Riverside-Brookfield area, we had to go to Cock Robin to eat. Got there on the way to the airport. I bought two big bags of double cheeseburgers, then stopped at a food store and bought a few bags of frozen peas and carrots to wrap them up in to keep them cool so they would survive the flight.

I was in heaven for a week eating those, and was glad to finally share those burgers with my wife.

Cock Robin was high on my list of places to visit on our next vacation.

What a bummer. I wish I knew what made them taste so great. You just can't duplicate that taste.

We used to ride our bikes from Riverside to La Grange to go shopping or go to the Y. We ALWAYS stopped off for burgers and shakes on our way coming and going!

Ah the memories..We went there everytime my little league team won..

The Northwest Highway location..

Saw the Thread and had to write a bit. There was a location on Harlem Ave in River forest half way in between Lake st and Chicago ave. There is a Mcdonald's in the location now. I remember meeting my buddies there in the early morning on the way to high school we would then come back for lunch and in the nice weather eat outside at the old picnic benches. It seemed there were always bees buzzing around outside trying to land on my ice cream or fries. We went so often the little old lady that worked there had nick names for us. At one point my sister worked there and on a good night would get to bring home the unsold burgers those were good nights . I traded off ordering the Big one burger which was kinda a big mac or the double cheese burger ..its hard to find today but in some ways i liked how the burgers were waiting under the heating lamps in the slides.. it made everything on the double cheese burger gel together so good. they had a fruit ice cream float with pineapple in it cant remember name but was on my list of favorites. anyone know the name...anyway when ever I mention Cock Robin and the Big One burger to people from out of town it always gets a laugh.

cogitovici wrote:We used to ride our bikes from Riverside to La Grange to go shopping or go to the Y. We ALWAYS stopped off for burgers and shakes on our way coming and going!

I used to ride my bike there from Riverside as well. Except I would also stop at Swollen Head. Ohhhhh a chocolate one in a million. They really were one in a million.

Was taking a trip down memory lane with my sister we grew up with a cock robin in our neighborhood and were trying to recall the name of the fruit flavored slushy drink made with sherbet and pineapple topping.. im sure there were many variations anyone recall

Does anyone know what was in the Silver Star soda from Cock Robin. I would love my boys to have a chance to savor one of my fondest memories.

Jambajay wrote:Was taking a trip down memory lane with my sister we grew up with a cock robin in our neighborhood and were trying to recall the name of the fruit flavored slushy drink made with sherbet and pineapple topping.. I'm sure there were many variations anyone recall

I think this was a Blizzard. I used to get a grape Blizzard and try to use the straw until a pineapple chunk would get stuck in the end. I would give a gentle puff to dislodge and reposition the straw. Repeat.

fluekigerma wrote:Does anyone know what was in the Silver Star soda from Cock Robin. I would love my boys to have a chance to savor one of my fondest memories.

This was a standard ice cream soda, I think. I was always ordering Blizzards.

Put about 2-3 tablespoons chocolate syrup in the bottom of a tall glass. Add 1/4 cup milk. Fill with seltzer. Add favorite ice cream and top with whipped cream and a cherry. If you do not want chocolate soda you can substitute another flavor syrup (coffee, strawberry, etc.) The measurements are approximate. You need to taste and adjust.

The last Cock Robin (now closed) in Brookfield is still unchanged with all of the equipment still inside and the For Sale sign in the window.

I go past there every two weeks or so.

fluekigerma wrote:Does anyone know what was in the Silver Star soda from Cock Robin. I would love my boys to have a chance to savor one of my fondest memories.

Just found this!

Also found this at the same site



Notice the square (White Castle style) burger pictured. This matches my memory of a Prince Castle just south of the State Lake theater that I used to visit in the mid 70's.

Good article on the Brookfield location.

Hi,

For those who are really curious about the legend of Prince Castle/Cock Robin, then please consider coming to Walter "Ted" Fredenhagen Jr, son of the founder, answer your questions at Chicago Foodways Roundtable meeting on April 26th.

I have already alerted Ted there is interest in the recipe for the Silver Star Soda. He plans to bring their manual, which has all the recipes and methods. Ted is in his mid-80's and sounds spry on the phone. If you really want to know 'what really happened,' then please come.

Regards,

I just forwarded the info on the April 26 meeting. He used to work at Cock Robin as a teen. He told me why the burgers always tasted so good. They added sugar and Accent to the meat in the grinder! He remembers Ted. If he didn't have another commitment that day, he would have loved to have attended the presentation. He also told me why the scoops were square.....portion control. They were always the same weight and size.

Hi,

You are correct on the scoop.

You don't have complete information on the beef. I'm not saying they may or may not have added anything to the meat, because I simply don't know. It is not the most interesting element to this.

What time period did your friend work for Cock Robin?

Regards,

newbie here.

I remember the cock robin in villa park. Steakburgers and the silver star sodas - oh yeah. We usually went there. I remember my parents saying that cock robin's used to be "prince castle"?

Then later i married and we moved and we made it a point to go to the brookfield location with my husband.

Also, this is obscure, but my grandmother got a box of toffee every year from this woman who worked or knew someone that worked at cock robin. Turns out that they made this special toffee only once a year at holiday time and sold it through their restaurants.

It was really good toffee. Anyone remember the toffee they sold at holiday time?

Hi,

I got a box of that very same toffee just this last year. It was how I connected to Mr. Fredenhagen. There will be two boxes present at this meeting for people to sample.

The great-grandson is carrying on the tradition:

Z Best Enterprises
815/849-5296
zbestenterprises.com

Regards,

Cool, now I can get that toffee. And if I can score some "french cremes" from "La maison de bon bon" in Forest park, I can relive my childhood favorite candies!!

gardener34 wrote:Cool, now I can get that toffee. And if I can score some "french cremes" from "La maison de bon bon" in Forest park, I can relive my childhood favorite candies!!

You will have to wait until the fall for more toffee. The great grandson is in construction. Making and selling toffee is a winter occupation.

I cannot thank my friends Joyce and Bruce enough for that box of candy last Christmas.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:You don't have complete information on the beef. I'm not saying they may or may not have added anything to the meat, because I simply don't know. It is not the most interesting element to this.

What time period did your friend work for Cock Robin?

Regards,

I'm just passing on what he told me they did.

He worked there in the early 70's.

gardener34 wrote:And if I can score some "french cremes" from "La maison de bon bon" in Forest park, I can relive my childhood favorite candies!!

You can still buy them. The wife of the owner of Shanahan's opened a teeny tiny chocolate shop in the front corner of Shanahan's and you can buy the french cremes and other candy there.