COMMERCIAL AVENUE
I remember taking the bus
to South Chicago to shop at Hal and FriedaMillers, Gassmans, Goldblatts,
and eat at Walgreens or Woolworths. And who could forget Gayetys!! It is
in Lansing now in a strip mall on Torrence, right before the expressway.
We would walk home from Bowen then, up to Commercial and then down stopping
at Rene Mendozas to look at records, look at shoes in Parker's windows
and work our way down to the corner of 92nd where we would catch the 27
home. God, those were
great times!!!!!!!!!!
~~~Martha Ostoich
Teshich
Reading Martha's' message about Commercial Avenue reminded me of South
Chicago Savings Bank. That is where I had my first savings account.
Also, thoughts of Quickies Restaurant, they had the best hamburgers and
cheeseburgers. Are either of those businesses still there?
~~~ Karen Burnstein Harness
Commercial Ave. Our home, our church,
Cutlich Bakery where Steve Katich worked..on Sundays we would go and pick
up hot "pogaca", a Serbian round bread, fresh and hot out of the oven.
We'd walk back to church carrying the waxed paper bag of steaming hot bread,
pulling at its edges and sharing it with our friends on the church steps.
I recall walking up the steep flight of
stone stairs, made of that black and silver shiny material, similar
to mica, to go to our dentist, Art Flessor. He was from the Gayety's family
and it was not a fun day waiting in the waiting room where you could see
shadows in the wavy glass door that had his name stenciled on. All
you could hear was the screeching sound of the drill...that's when we broke
into a cold sweat. From the dental chair, we could look across to
92nd street and the bus stop where we took the bus to the Hill and the
Plaza.
Across the street, the Commercial Theatre
where I remember seeing Vincent Price movies and the ushers, in uniform
of course, waved their flashlights if they thought we were "necking". I
remember wearing 3-d glasses and going to the "Grand Opening" of the new
Carmel corn shop. Claire's Hats was there too.
Paulette Rotkvich,Debbie Jerich, Edie Norman
and I would walk from 98th and Commercial to "Uptown" on Saturday mornings
for a day of fun. Any of you remember doll cakes? They'd put a Barbie-like
doll in the middle and decorate the cake bottom like a hoop skirt.
Then they's add little silver candy balls for decoration. Can't remember
if it was Amber's or Greene's Bakery specialty. Life seemed so simple
then and though, these memories probably pale in comparison to some others,
they remain special.
~~~Leslie Ostoich Hayden
I remember the Commercial theater as well.
Twenty five cents got you in and another twenty five cents would get you
a box of popcorn and a soda. I would load up on the salt. Sure
did taste good. I grew up around the corner from the Ratkovich’s
and my sister Monica still hangs with Melanie. I worked at the Jewel
way up north on 79 th street just west of Exchange Ave. October of
1968 to September of 1970. I tried the Navy after high school, but
got the old heave ho because of a bad kidney. Bummer. Who could
ever forget Gayety’s Ice Cream in the little pint boxes with the hot fudge
that used to settle at the bottom. It was heaven. And getting
your much needed art and drafting supplies from Gitter’s across the street
from Gayety’s. Dr. Abedeen was out family doctor as well as Dr. Rand.
And Dr. Palotto was our family dentist. Ouch! Down the street
from Gayety’s on the south end was a White Castle till it moved to 79 th
and Stoney. What a drag. Anyone remember the little carnival’s
at the old St. Pat’s on 95 th and Commercial Ave? And when the Skyway
Bridge over the Calumet when up? And the folks still live in the
old neighborhood.
~~~Arthur Urdiales
I remember shopping for sporting goods at Gitter’s,
getting Hoagies and pizza at Woolworth’s, Lesters, Twin’s
Grill on 88th and Commercial, Robert Hall, 3 Sisters Clothing, Little
Giant Records, Bargain Town, Kozy Corner Grocery and Restaurant at 93rd
and Crandon, and the great bakery at the intersection of 92nd and
Commercial that had one entrance on 92nd, and one on Commercial. There
was also a little diner type of restaurant across 92nd St from South
Chicago Bank, next to a big shoe store. Anyone remember the Cleaners on
92nd st on the Jewel parking lot area. How about my favorite hot dog
stand of all time, Carl’s, on 87th and South Chicago Ave. I used
to get all my favorite comic books from a little wooden green newsstand
at the corner of 92nd and Exchange.
Used to live 2 doors down from Lee Fleesor, of Gayety’s IceCream.
I would cut his grass once a week and took payment in ice cream sundaes
from the store. Lived on 91st and Oglesby until 1971. Some notables
that lived on the same block included Al Lewis, owner of Lewis Meats on
95th st. west of Stoney Island. Al Tenny, Tenny Plumbing, Steve Ziak,
Ziak and Sons Kraml Milk, Al Jacobson, Jacobson Furniture on 104th and
Ewing, Chuck Koney, scout for the Boston Red Sox, and Henry
Soltyzynski, football coach at CVS. Best Hamburgers were at
Henry’s, on 95th and Jeffrey, at 15c each. Best Shrimp was at
Kingfish, at the bridge at 93rd and the Cal River. Best Dinner was at
Roma’s on Commercial. Best Mexican Restaurant was Mexican Inn on
95th at the Calumet Park entrance. Miss the good olde
days
~~~Mike Kemock
I remember taking the 27 Torrence Bus
from South Deering to 92nd & Commercial to take in a double feature
at the Commercial Theater. Ben Saragossa a neighbor of ours in
South Deering was the head usher there and generally stood outside the
theater in a tuxedo greeting the patrons. After the show, we'd go
to Gayety's Candies for a taffy apple and eat it on the bus while on
our way back to South Deering. My family later moved to the South
Chicago area 95th & Manistee when I entered high school. At
that time, my mother took a job at Gayety's working upstairs selling
candy and preparing the various ice cream delights. On my
frequent visits there, she would escort me down to the basement where
the "ladies" who were dipping the chocolates worked. Without
fail, they all offered me freshly hand dipped chocolates. I'd
always leave weighing a bit more with a sudden loss of appetite.
Her boss was Lee Flessor and his uncle, the original Mr. Pappageorge
could be found working the business day and night. If you recall,
Mr. Pappageorge was always dressing a suit, smoking a cigar who manned
the cash register near the door. He rarely cracked a smile.
My fondest memories of Gayety Candies was when everyone would gather
for ice cream at the shop following a football victory, especially
after defeating South Shore. I loved that time.
~~~Joe Jancaric Class of 66
Introduction
/ Bowen Memories / Extracurricular/
Site
Index / Streets & Neighborhoods /
Home / Message
Board/
add
your memories to this page