January/February 2002

Do you remember?

BY PAULA ARNETT

The Sheffield neighborhood has certainly changed over the years. According to an article written July 14, 1976, in the now-defunct Chicago Daily News, the headline states “Halsted is coming back.” At that time, the 2000 and 2100 blocks of Halsted had the greatest burst of activity where five antique shops, a boutique, an art gallery and a storefront theater opened the year prior, replacing blacked-out storefronts, drug trafficking and street-gang fights. The rents were rising but lower, about $400, than those charged in Old Town and New Town, about $1,000. Apartment rentals along the street climbed in the high $300’s. A single-family house on Dayton sold for $175,000.

Prior to Halsted’s resurgence, several boutiques and antique shops opened on our now-trendy Armitage Avenue. Low rent was the attraction then.

Other shops mentioned include Otto’s Beer House and Garden at 2024 N. Halsted, now Café Ba-Ba-Reeba!, a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, and a “live-work” building at 2128 N. Halsted (a former 19th Century police station) that is now The Gap.

Other shops no longer remaining include the Puppet Place, the Chicago Gallery, the Herbanite, Just Whistle boutique and five antiques shops: Quercus, Owl’s Nest, In the Manner Of, Antiquery Warehouse and Junk Man Antiques. The restaurant, Café Bernard at 2100 N. Halsted, remains today.