Eli's The Place for Steak (1966-2005), and Eli's Famous Cheesecake Bakery, Chicagoland.

Eli Schulman was no ordinary man. A high school dropout, he gave lectures in finance at De Paul University and large amounts of money to such organizations as the Community Assistance for Secondary Education, which provides scholarships for Israeli students, and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. 

The man who proudly wore a watch given to him by Frank Sinatra and who could count such people as Jack Brickhouse, Irv Kupcinet, George Dunne, Ingrid Bergman, Joe DiMaggio and virtually every Chicago "big name" among his friends and admirers was born in Chicago in 1910.

His charitable ways began in earnest on Pearl Harbor Day when he put a pair of signs in his window: "25% discount for men in uniform" and "If you are hungry and don`t have any money, come in, and we`ll feed you free." 

Eli's Ogden Huddle, 3201 West Ogden, Chicago (1940-1966)

Eli's Stage Delicatessen, 3201 West Ogden, Chicago (1958-1984)

Eli Schulman was a successful businessman and restaurateur who had already founded two other successful restaurants (pictured above) before opening Eli's The Place for Steak.

Eli's The Place for Steak was located in a Chicago landmark building, the Galter Carriage House, which was built in 1926 as a five-story parking garage at 215 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.

In 1960, it was expanded to become a 27-story high-rise building that housed employees and patients of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The lower levels of the building were also used for retail and commercial purposes. 

Eli's The Place for Steak was located in the building from 1966 to 2005.

Eli Schulman

Eli's was known for its classic steakhouse fare, including aged filet mignon, ribeye, and porterhouse steaks, cut as thin or thick as you wished. The restaurant also had a wide selection of fresh seafood, pasta dishes, and chops. Eli's Chicago's Finest Cheesecake was a popular dessert that spawned its own company.

Over the years, Eli's became a popular destination for celebrity clientele. Some of the famous guests who dined at the restaurant included Frank Sinatra, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Bob Hope, Michael Jordan, and Oprah Winfrey.

During Bill Clinton's visit, Clinton helped to move some freshly baked cheesecakes from the oven to cooling trays. He also spoke with the bakery's employees and sampled some of the cheesecakes. Clinton was a big fan of Eli's cheesecake, and he had cheesecake delivered to the White House after he was elected president.

Bill Clinton and Marc Schulman.

Eli's Famous Cheesecake Bakery

Eli's Famous Cheesecake Bakery was founded in 1979 by Eli Schulman, the owner of the popular Chicago steakhouse Eli's the Place for Steak. Schulman developed the recipe for his signature cheesecake after years of experimentation, and it quickly became a hit with customers. The bakery was originally located in the basement of the restaurant.

The cheesecake became so popular that Schulman decided to open a separate bakery dedicated to cheesecake production and moved the bakery from the basement to a new location at 6701 West Forest Preserve Drive, Chicago, in 1984. 

Schulman's only son, Marc, took over the bakery in 1984. Marc continued to build on his father's legacy, and Eli's Famous Cheesecake Bakery became one of the most popular cheesecake brands in America. The bakery's cheesecakes are now sold in stores all over the United States, and they are also shipped worldwide.

Marc Schulman

Eli's Famous Cheesecake Bakery is known for its high-quality cheesecakes and its commitment to giving back to the community. 

Eli Schulman died of a heart attack on Saturday, May 7, 1988, at 78 years old. "To know this man is to love him," said Chicago Bears coach and restaurant owner Mike Ditka.

The bakery donates a portion of its profits to Eli's Cheesecake Cancer Center, which was founded in memory of Eli Schulman.

The bakery has been featured in several television shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show and Good Morning America.

The bakery is also a popular spot for fundraising events. In 2001, Eli's Famous Cheesecake Bakery helped to raise over $1 million for the victims of the World Trade Center attacks. The bakery has also raised money for other causes, such as the Chicago Food Bank and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Eli's Cheesecake has won numerous awards, including the James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker in 2004.

Eli's Cheesecake Cancer Center

The Eli's Cheesecake Cancer Center, 676 North St. Clair Street, Chicago, opened in 1990 to honor Eli Schulman, who died of cancer. His family established the center in his memory.

Eli's Cheesecake Cancer Center, 676 North St. Clair Street, Chicago

Eli's Cheesecake Cancer Center is a cancer research, treatment, prevention, and education center located at the Prentice Women's Hospital in Chicago, IL. The center was founded in 2006 by Eli's Cheesecake Company in partnership with Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The center is also home to the Eli's Cheesecake Foundation, which provides financial support to cancer patients and their families. The center has raised over $10 million for cancer research, helped to develop new treatments for cancer, including a new type of immunotherapy, treated over 10,000 cancer patients, and has provided education and support to over 100,000 cancer patients and their families.

On July 30, 2005, Eli's closed its doors due to the demolition of the building it was located in. The site of the restaurant is now occupied by a parking garage.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.