Examiner: Replacing Chicago business not an easy task

Here's some news on the site of the former Chatham Pancake House it was demolished within the past month and as you see above it is now a vacant lot! Now the plans for this lot by the developer of the nearby Chatham Village Square:

“If I could purchase the land behind the car wash occupied by a tennis field no one uses, I could combine that space with the pancake house and that would allow me to offer potential developers enough space to build,” [Musa Tadros] said. “But until then I needed to demolish the building to keep it from being taxed as an operating business. And besides, it was starting to deteriorate so there was also a liability issue.”

One business Chatham residents can rest assures will not be built on the site is another liquor store.

“I hate that there is a liquor store across the street now so I know I would not accept any proposals for a liquor store. There will be no pawnshop there either,” he explained. “And whatever goes up there the community will have a say.”

The Chatham Business Association already has a few ideas for the location.

“There are numerous fits in the community. I would love to see a WiFi coffee, breakfast type establishment to replace the pancake house,” said Melinda Kelly, executive director of the Chatham Business Association, a non-profit Chicago organization.. And Alderman Roderick Sawyer, whose sixth ward includes the pancake house site, said he supports redevelopment of the land and is excited about the possibilities for it.

“I am pleased there is a plan to redevelop the old Chatham Pancake location, while I regret the loss of that business I look forward to a new vibrant business on 87th Street,” Sawyer said. Local, black business owners are pushing for another Black business to move into the space.

“I hope that whatever is put there it is a black-owned business,” said Milton Moses, president and chief executive officer of Community Insurance Center, a 50 year-old, black-owned agency at 526 E. 87th St. “That’s what wrong with black neighborhoods now. As soon as a black business goes under or relocates a non-black business moves in.”

Tadros added he would not discriminate and is open to all proposals regardless of race.

Tadros had purchased the lot of the former pancake house pledged to only find a development that would make "good business sense". Also noted that the limited space on that lot could cause any attempt at development to take much longer. The article noted it could take as much as two years to develop the pancake house lot.

Also I'm sure taking away the tennis courts of Brown Park will raise some eyebrows even if they are rarely used!

Chatham Pancake House returning...?

EveryBlock provided a link to a story by Neighborhood Scribe

Here's the story

Chatham Pancake House re-opening?



photo by YoChicago



CAPCC's President Keith Tate says former owner in discussions to reopen restaurant

by La Risa Lynch

The Chatham Pancake House or any other Chatham location will not be home to a proposed pawnshop.

Members attending the general meeting of the Chatham Avalon Park Community Council voted unanimously to reject EZCORP’s request to open a pawnshop in the shuttered restaurant, located at 700 E. 87th St. Instead the pancake house’s former owner Noel Leslie wants to re-launch his restaurant, according to CAPCC’s President Keith Tate.

Tate told the NeighborhoodScribe.com that Leslie is in discussions with the building’s owner to reopen the restaurant. Leslie worked there for years before becoming the restaurant’s owner.

Tate noted he hasn’t heard from EZCORP officials since they attended a Sept. 28 meeting to discuss their proposal. EZCORP is the parent company of EZPAWN.

Tate said officials from the publicly traded company were invited to CAPCC’s general meeting held Oct. 10th at Chatham Avalon Church of Christ. No EZCORP officials attended that meeting.

Tate noted that the “no” vote at the general meeting pertains to any location within the organization’s boundaries.

Read the entire article, which also talks about the Milburn Alternative School at St. Clotilde.


Speaking of the Chatham Pancake House...has anyone heard from Nate Edmonds, who owned "Yonni's" , whcih followed Chatham Pancake House? They had good food and great service. But when i invited a friend over for breakfast last year (in May) we discovered it had closed (which I found out later was due to not paying taxes and other state fees).

Quite a few people I know mentioned knowing Nate Edmonds, who had "Networking King" on his business card...so why did we let his business fail? Or am I missing something?

YoChicago: All about Chicago's Chatham neighborhood cont'd

[VIDEO: PART 5, PART 6, PART 7] These are the final three videos of Worlee's drive with Joe Zekas of YoChicago.com.  The videos are posted below the text and here are the first four videos.

Part 5 shows Worlee driving along 83rd onto Cottage Grove then onto 83rd then back onto King Drive. Seen here is Chatham Village Square shopping center where Joe Zekas said he was kicked out while filming close to four years ago. We see an update on the former Chatham Pancake House and also Seaway Bank is shown.

Part 6 we see the last cab stand in Chicago. Also the history of the property near 80th & King Drive. Had little idea it used to be an ice cream stand for Baldwin Ice Cream back in the day. And then a drive along 79th Street from King Drive where it was noted by Zekas that this strip needs some help. In addition we see the LEED certified Chatham Executive Building near the end of this video

Part 7 we see more of 79th Street with Rep. Bobby Rush's Congressional Office and I believe they make special note of the "Chatham Center" near 79th & Cottage Grove. In addition we take a look at a branch of Urban Partnership Bank. This branch was formerly of ShoreBank and was the main bank for the former Black-owned Independence Bank.

Back to 79th Street we see some of the buildings on the north side of the street from the "Chatham Center". One of those storefronts back in 1995 was I believe a campaign office for Mayor Daley when he ran for re-election at the time. Was even close enough to shake hands with him back then.

Anyway the videos are embedded below. Did you enjoy all seven videos?

Chatham Business Association Awards dinner -- NOT in Chatham?!

Saw this sign for the Chatham Business Association's annual awards gala, to be held on September 17, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency downtown.

Why isn't it being held at some place such as Captain Hard Times Dining? It's a perfect place for an awards banquet (or a wedding reception, or other special events)

Seems kind of strange that an organization that is supposed to promote business in the neighborhood is taking it (necessarily?) out of the neighborhood, no?

Unless there isn't capacity in our neighborhood, why not have it here?

Now, if there are so many attendees that it might not be practical to have it at Captain's. But if the only issue might be parking, perhaps they could provide complimentary valet service (using places such as Ruggles School and local businesses).

Let's hope other community leaders continue to use the meeting rooms of businesses such as Army & Lou's and Chatham Pancake House.

Has the original Chatham Pancake House closed for good

Passed by the Original Chatham Pancake restaurant now known as Yonni;s Chicken & Waffles, earlier this week and saw the infamous green city sticker"License Revoked" on the window. Typically with restaurants they are significant sanitation issues that were uncovered and not corrected in a timely manner.

The current owners the Edmonds were not restaurant people so I'm wondering will they continue or just keep it closed.

Anyone with additional information?

Chatham Pancake House gets boost from from Country Club Hills

The following news story (click link) is about Leslie Noel, who worked his way up at Chatham Pancake House on 79th (next to Target), rising up to owner. He then started his own place in his current hometown of Country Club Hills. Unfortunately, he hasn't been as successful, but that city still believes in him...

Pancake house gets boost from city :: The SouthtownStar :: Phil Kadner

Does anyone know who owns the Chatham, Chicago location?

How is the food and service? Better, worse, or the same?

While the Country Club Hills location is suffering, is our Pancake House doing OK? We would love to post an entry on it. If you know the current owners, please have them e-mail us at thesixthward (at) 1chicago.net

Thanks

Perry Mansion: Cultural center grows from the ashes

Picture of Perry Mansion courtesy of cultural center's official website found at bottom of post

Tribune:

One by one, local artists stepped onto a small stage in a spacious Englewood living room and crooned about lovers, belted out ballads about their children and lamented about a family member in jail.

The audience, seated on folding chairs and surrounded by artwork, chimed in with accolades: "That's right!" and "You know that's true!"

That kind of support for artists is exactly what Sam Smith envisioned when he opened the nonprofit Perry Mansion Cultural Center last fall in a Queen Anne-style home in one of the city's most crime-ridden and impoverished neighborhoods.
...
The 39-year-old real estate developer bought the 19-room burned-out neighborhood drug house at 7042 S. Perry Ave. in 2005 and has been working on it since.

"It's about instilling pride in a neighborhood," Smith, the center's executive director, said as he brushed dirt from his hydrangeas as if to wake them from their winter slumber. "I know what I'm doing is important."

Smith said many people thought he was crazy. But now, more say the project is brilliant. Some neighbors have even spruced up their own homes.

"To see a cultural center in this neighborhood is an inspiration," said Marcus Sterling Alleyne, a 32-year-old poet and painter who grew up down the street. "This is a gift to the neighborhood."

Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th) said the Perry Mansion is a psychological boost for a neighborhood that residents have to leave just to shop or go to the library.

"He's an inspiration to people he doesn't know," said Lyle, who is working with Smith to acquire nearby land for parking and to bring new trash cans, possibly decorated by youths, to the area.

"We have to begin to plant seeds through the entire community, and this is like when you come out in your garden and there is one flower surrounded by dirt and you think, 'Something can grow here,' " she said.

Read the whole thing!

A story about this place was already posted here on this blog.

There's a website @ www.perrymansion.org

A blog reviewing pancake houses

Illinois Pancakes

Let them know about the pancake house on East 87th Street. They seem to go around the Chicago area time for them to come to the south side.

Related post

Chatham Pancake House in the news...

Chatham Pancake House in the news...

I meant to do a review of the restaurant after getting some information on it (some great history on the current owner, for example).

It was just on the news, as some major politicians, including Chicago's Mayor Daley and 6th Ward Alderman Lyle, wer ein attendance. You may have seen them & others at the Pancake House this afternoon or evening.

Feel free to visit it (at the area that is home to Target & the Nike Outlet Store) and write a review if i don't beat you to it.

Chatham Pancake House
700 E. 87th
Chicago, IL 60619
Open Daily, 7am-3pm

Here's the article from WBBM-AM, Newsradio 78 (780 AM)

Daley Voices Support For Obama, Urges Voters To Follow
Suit

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Mayor Daley is joining other local officials
campaigning for Barack Obama on this day before the crucial Super Tuesday
primaries.

WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore caught up with the Mayor at a South
Side pancake house.

After enjoying breakfast at Chatham Pancake House with Senate President
Emil Jones, several Aldermen and others, Daley worked the room. He urged voters
old and young to support Barack Obama and vote for delegates committed to
Obama. Illinois is not a winner take all state when it comes to democratic
delegates.

And, like the African-American officials by his side, the Mayor bristled at
any suggestion that Obama’s strength lies mostly in the African-American
community. He says there are strong Obama supporters throughout the state and
the nation.

Still, the Mayor sees Barack Obama as an underdog, much like the Giants in
Sunday’s Superbowl. He can beat the odds, suggests the Mayor.