JB's deli

I had a hankering for some bagels this morning and having just moved into the area, I went to JB's deli, recalling that their sign says NY bagels and bialies. I'm not from New York, but these bagels were very good, certainly better than the ones being hocked at the packed Einstein Bros. down the street. OK crust on the outside, but the interior was very dense with the level of chewiness I like. If you're in the area, it's a good option for a quick nosh.

What area are you talking about? Address would help...

My fault, it's in Andersonville at 5501 N. Clark and shares space with Gordano's pharmacy.

They've been mentioned here a couple of times; I agree, a great addition to that neighborhood. Although I'd give Manny's a second try, my memory of their pastrami is so very not fond; I'm much happier with JB's.

I thought about just adding this to The Ice Cream List, but I have a soft spot for JB's, and thought I should add to the JB's-specific thread, too. (Another JB's thread: here.) Anyway, the point is, JB's now carries Angelo's gelato. They seemed to have carved out more of the pharmacy to make room for ice cream coolers; I guess this is unsurprising with a Jewel/Osco across the street.

JB's Deli is also known as, or inside of, Gordono's Pharmacy(?), and also may be called, or rendered in English as, "Pudgie's"(??)-- the ice cream people were wearing "Pudgie's" T-shirts.** They also carry New York Bagel and Bialy bagels and bialys, Dr Brown's soda, and a decent selection of Jewish-deli sundries: latkes, whitefish salad, lox & herring, and all the expected sandwich meats.

Two years ago, I remember having a conversation with my girlfriend, who lived at the other end of Andersonville, about how the one essential thing the neighborhood lacked was an ice cream place. Now it's got Sweet Occasions, and this.

Now (let's see if this works) the only essential thing Andersonville lacks is a five-star Alinea-like spot, and some kind of government grant to eat there.


J.B.'s Deli/Gordono's Pharmacy/Pudgies
5501 N. Clark St.
773-728-0600
or possibly 773-561-3671


** Or maybe is somehow related to the now-maybe-defunct gelato-candy "Pudgie's" at Western and Lawrence? I give up.

daveco_hen wrote:Anyway, the point is, JB's now carries Angelo's gelato. They seemed to have carved out more of the pharmacy to make room for ice cream coolers; I guess this is unsurprising with a Jewel/Osco across the street.

Coincidentally, I stopped by Saturday night for some gelato -- they had five options that night, along with a few sorbets and ice creams. (I don't know if the ice cream is Philadelphia-style or custard-style.) The strawberry chip gelato was OK, a little icy, but I appreciated how the chocolate wasn't chips or flakes but just in bits -- it helped the flavors combine the way they would in a chocolate-covered strawberry. Much better dispersion than chips, flakes, or even swirls.

daveco_hen wrote:JB's Deli is also known as, or inside of, Gordono's Pharmacy(?), and also may be called, or rendered in English as, "Pudgie's"(??)-- the ice cream people were wearing "Pudgie's" T-shirts.** They also carry New York Bagel and Bialy bagels and bialys, Dr Brown's soda, and a decent selection of Jewish-deli sundries: latkes, whitefish salad, lox & herring, and all the expected sandwich meats.

It's a great place to hang out and people-watch. One time when I was sitting at the tall table right next to the door, someone stumbled in and asked if he could finish my sandwich. (He was gently dispatched, turning down the bagel he was offered as I recall.)

daveco_hen wrote:Two years ago, I remember having a conversation with my girlfriend, who lived at the other end of Andersonville, about how the one essential thing the neighborhood lacked was an ice cream place. Now it's got Sweet Occasions, and this.

Now (let's see if this works) the only essential thing Andersonville lacks is a five-star Alinea-like spot, and some kind of government grant to eat there.

I wonder how many other drugstores have actually added -- or managed to maintain -- a lunch counter and ice cream service. Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone know of any others here?

Bob S. wrote:I wonder how many other drugstores have actually added -- or managed to maintain -- a lunch counter and ice cream service. Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone know of any others here?

Doesn't seem like hijacking to me...

Does it have to be a drugstore? Does it have to be a counter? I finally went to La Unica on Saturday and was almost as fond of the store as the "cafeteria" (as they label it.) And I was thinking a little about the phenomenon. At first I thought that it had gone out of fashion, but really, when you think about it, it's going strong. The vibe is quite different, but they sell food and have tables to eat it at my neighborhood Dominick's (Howard), most Whole Foods I've been to, and even Target. The nearest Jewel to me (also Howard) doesn't seem to have table seating, even though they recently installed a full-on Chinese takeout counter. But cafe-style seating seems common at most of the grocery store rehabs these days.

Is it the soda fountain vibe that you're asking about more specifically? That definitely seems to have withered away -- not going to find it at CVS or Walgreen's, that's for sure. There was a Woolworth's in Evanston that still had a functioning lunch counter (never ate there) when I started college in 1989 but that's long gone.

There's G.P. Franklin's on Lincoln at Lawrence that seems like a barefaced nostalgia-grab in the general vein (never eaten there either, but it seemed so calculated that I never thought I'd want to...)

I've never actually gone in Gordono's but now I'm very intrigued. I really like the style of these "oh, and we prepare food too" places.

germuska wrote:There's G.P. Franklin's on Lincoln at Lawrence that seems like a barefaced nostalgia-grab in the general vein (never eaten there either, but it seemed so calculated that I never thought I'd want to...)

GP Franklin's is closed now. The food was pretty bland, but the old fashioned ice cream parlor/ penny candy store in the front looked tempting.

Three things:

1. JP Franklin's did have decent chocolates & fudge on sale, and pretty excellent ice cream... and they had a railroad-themed chocolate fountain that was... well, it was large, certainly. But the eatery in back was not even Fudruckers-good. It was weird; they clearly put a ton of money into creating an Applebee's-style ersatz-local interior,** and the result was something that would appeal only to the same ersatz-people who make special trips to the Rainforest Cafe. It was like an instantaneous chain, with only one location. It didn't belong in Lincoln Square. And it was open for like 4 months! Somebody botched something.

2. Pudgie's is a quasi-separate entity inside of Gordono's-- and it is indeed the same candy & gelato place that used to be on Western & Lawrence. They moved in a few weeks ago.

3. There is an ice cream shop inside the Edgewater Beach Apartment Building, which shares space with a florist, I think. The ice cream is not much, but the atmosphere is pretty pleasant. I think it's been mentioned here a few times.

Anna Held Flower Shop/Fountain Cafe
5557 N. Sheridan Rd.
773-561-1940


** If I remember correctly, the blown-up newspapers that covered the walls and tables were from Chicago, but it was executed so blandly it might as well have been the USA Genero-Nostalgia Times. Or then, maybe JP Franklin's was so postmodern it was just ahead of everyone?