| Eateries |
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| ILLINOIS |
| Choo-Choo Grill Des Plaines, IL |
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| The charming Choo-Choo Grill delivers its meals to counter and some booth customers by model train. It opened in 1951 as the third location in a chain of restaurants. In 1956, the Choo-Choo moved to this spot in town. The novelty of the train and the homey atmosphere sustained the restaurant when the new McDonald's opened down the street. The neon sign was recently restored. In 2008, the restaurant seemed in jeopardy. The City wanted to expand the fire station next door. However, those plans have been set aside indefinitely. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. |
| Walker Bros. Original Pancake Restaurant Wilmette, IL |
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| The Walker Bros. Original Pancake Restaurant was founded in Portland, OR in 1953. They now have about 100 locations nationwide. This location was one of the company's early franchises and opened in 1960. This building, which looks to be 1930s/1940s, was originally Nott's (or Knott's) Ice Cream Parlor. They made and distributed ice cream and also had a dining area. The glass enclosed waiting area was added when Walker moved in. The old front doors are now the two inner doors. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. |
| Lou Mitchell's Chicago, IL |
Cock Robin [closed] Brookfield, IL |
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Lou Mitchell's opened in 1923 and is a Chicago breakfast institution. It relocated here in 1949. Fresh donut holes are offered for people waiting in line. At the table, there are slices of orange and prunes, and free boxes of Milk Duds for women. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
The Cock Robin chain was known for its rectangular servings of ice cream and steakburgers. There were 23 locations at one time. The one in Brookfield opened as a "Prince Castle" in 1932. The chain's name was changed to Cock Robin in the late 1950s. The Brookfield location was the last one left when it closed in 2007. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop Macomb, IL |
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| This Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop was originally part of the chain which was established in 1926 in Iowa. This location has been closed since around 2007. For more, see this website. |
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Elsewhere in this section:
former White Tower (Chicago) Franksville (Chicago) Margie's Candies (Chicago) McDonald's (Chicago) McDonald's (Des Plaines) Hamburger Heaven (Elmhurst) Burger King (Naperville) |
| IL Drive-ins | IL Ice Cream |
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