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| Looking Northwest from Devon and Milwaukee Avenues. The late 1970s. |
Nichols worked there seven days a week. He overcame competition from a nearby McDonald's, Burger King, and Superdawg across Milwaukee Avenue.
On the last day of business, before Nichols was forced to close Big-T Burger, he told his sons to be at their "very best." He adhered to the 'always do your best' philosophy and ingrained it in his employees.
Chuck Nichols of Park Ridge died on October 26, 2003, at 89 years old.
Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.
Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.
I remember the place - My husband graduated high school with the owners son
ReplyDeleteBy the time we moved into the area, this place was part of a parking lot for a small strip mall. Sad, I would have enjoyed going there, and meeting Nichols. The Burger King tht was a block or two south is also long gone.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good man! He gave the homeless food. I wish every restaurant or diner did this. Small acts of kindness make a difference in our world.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in the neighborhood just west of Big T Burger off of Devon Ave. We had two of the best fast food places on Chicago at Milwaukee and Devon (Big T Burger and Superdawg). When I was a teenager in the early and mid 60's we would sit on our cars and drink cokes and just hang around at the Big T. It was the cool thing to do! Sometimes we would go across the street and play miniature golf at DeMil miniature golf course.
ReplyDeleteBig-T was my first job ever starting at age 15.
ReplyDeleteCharlie was a great guy and it was like family working there because so many families had multiple kids work there through their high school years, mine was one of them - three boys.
We moved into the neighborhood in 1969. My parents used to take us kids there all the time. Then by the mid 70’s we were riding our bikes there. The neighborhood had so much more character than and more characters as well. Back then, behind Big T Burger was Lilac Farms Store, Walgreens and a laundromat. Behind that was the original Victorian farm house which became Butera’s and its parking lot. Kiddie corner from Big T was the forest preserves and Jensen’s toboggan slides with a warning building and concession stand. Back in the day when the Cook County Forest Preserves actually serve the public there year round! The owner of Big T had all kinds of business back then in all four seasons with summer being best. Whelan pool was just next to the Jensen Slides. Great memories of Milwaukee and Devon in the 1970’s.
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