First off, remember my tours! I am now giving the Pedway tour three times a week with a different part of the Pedway each day! Check out the “tours” tab up there and come see me! Cool.
Now, on a freezing cold day such as this one, it is a relief to get what I need from businesses that are within one or two blocks from where I live. I’m not one for making things hard on myself, so I like to visit these businesses, not only because they’re neat, but because I’m too freaking cold to go anywhere else. If you have a business by you, add it in the comments or on my facebook fan page.
My first business that I love is:
Byron’s Hot Dogs 1701 W. Lawrence
photo courtesy of greasefreak.com
When we first moved into our place in Ravenswood, we did the classic “get dinner from out and eat it in the middle of the floor because the furniture is turned upside down and loaded on top of each other” dinner. We wandered over to Byron’s and knew we were home! Byron’s is delicious. And, it’s fresh. They have all their toppings sitting right behind the glass and you can see how fresh the tomatoes and cucumbers are, all colorful and healthy looking back there. The people could not be nicer (and damn efficient) and the burgers…oh the burgers. They are so good and substantial too, not little gray meat on stale buns. No no. These are juicy burgers with fresh toppings and good bread. Byron’s is one of the best fast food joints out there and I highly recommend it. Oh, and…we get miles at Byron’s. If you’re part of American Airlines or the United Miles dining program, you get 3 miles for every dollar spent. Beat that McDonalds!
photo courtesy of dimbeautyofchicago.blogspot.com
Now granted, part of my purpose with TATPIMN posts is that we highlight privately owned businesses and help out the people we live near, HOWEVER, this particular Sears is so odd and strange and so beloved, it feels as if it’s a part of our neighborhood. This Sears opened in 1925 and was built in the common style for department stores. It’s two stories with lots of windows for light and ventilation – granted, most of these windows are covered over now, but you can imagine what it used to look like. The clock tower – which I read somewhere is going to be restored – was common to all Sears buildings at the time. The Sears feels like a neighborhood store when you walk in, there are all different colors and sizes of people and the employees who work there are so nice. There aren’t very many large stores in our neighborhood and sometimes, sometimes you just need some vacuum cleaner bags and you’re just so happy there’s a Sears there. And it’s not a big scary Sears, it’s a quiet, easy to navigate Sears.
What are some businesses in your neighborhood that you love? Hmmm?
O'Hare Arpt., IL