Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Chicago's West Ridge Community, List of Closed Restaurants.

Chicago's West Ridge Community is comprised of these five neighborhoods:
1) West Rogers Park, 2) West Ridge; 3) Nortown; 4) Peterson Park; 5) Rosehill
















9 Dragon Inn, 3146 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
Afghan Restaurant, 2818 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Al Habib Grill, 2435 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Al Karim Restaurant, 2116 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Al Madina, 2319 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Alibis, 6422 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Alpha Jones, 3106 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Ameer Tandoori Kebab, 2307 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Andhra Bhavan Restaurant, 2509 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Angry Chicken, 2447 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Angry Taco, 7210 North California Avenue, Chicago
Angus, The, 7555 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Ann Lowe's Lunch Room, 7123 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Apollo Pizza and Bakery, 2311 West Howard Street, Chicago
Arby's, 2938 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago
Asian Family Restaurant, 2501 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Aslam Sweets, 6339 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Babil Kabob House, 6404 North California Avenue, Chicago
Bagel and Tray, Lincoln Village Shopping Center, Chicago
Bakers Square, 7131 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Barnaby's Pizza, 2832 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
Beef 'N Stein Pub, 2741 West Howard Street, Chicago
Belden North Restaurant Delicatessen, 7574 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Bernie’s Diner, 2810 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
Biryani Bistro, 2437 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Bismillah Restaurant, 2510 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Black Angus, 7555 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Blue Diamond Restaurant, 2739 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Blue Peacock Restaurant, 2340 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Bon Ton On Devon, 2801 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Bow Wow Hot Dogs, 2954 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Bowl-O-India, 2739 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Buggy Whip, 6002 North California Avenue, Chicago
Burgers To Go!, 2739 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Café Bocacho, 3018 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Café California, 6226½ North California Avenue, Chicago
Café Dushong, 3106 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Café Laziza, 2739 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Café Montenegro, 6954 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Charlie Lui's, 2741 West Howard Street, Chicago
Chatkharay Karahi And Grill, 2319 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Charles Anderson Restaurant, 7543 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Charminar Grill, 6350 North Campbell Avenue, Chicago
Chicago Char Grill, 5731 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Chicken Koop, 3049 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago
Chicken Wing Co., 2739 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
China Dragon, 6214 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Chuck Wagon, 6402 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Chung Hing Restaurant, 2334 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Companion Chow Mein Restaurant, 6950 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Dan-Dee's Red Hots, 2240 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Dandana Café, 2407 West Lunt Avenue, Chicago 
Daata Darbar, 2241 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Dave's, 5731 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Deasy's Club, 5697 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Delhi Darbar, 6403 North California Avenue, Chicago
Dehli Muslim Kali Restaurant, 6523 North Kedzie Avenue, Chicago
Devon Grill, 6351 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Devon Pizza, 2902 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
DLD Café and Grill, 6934 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Eisenberg Beef Hot Dogs (Home Depot), 6211 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
El Garcia Restaurant, 7515 North Western Avenue, Chicago
El Picante Mexican Grill, 2349 West Howard Street, Chicago
El Sol De Mexico, 6418 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Everfresh, 2331 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Family Restaurant, 2113 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
Fin N Claw, 7225 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Fireplug Restaurant, The, 2200 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Fireside Chef, 2701 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
Fondue Stube, 2717 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago
Food Corner, 2326 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Four Corners Restaurant, (SE Corner) 2758 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Frank's Barbecue, 2916½  West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Friedman's Delicatessen, 6334 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Gandhi India, 2601 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Gee N' Gee Snack Shop, 5748 North California Avenue, Chicago
Gene Nufer Oyster Bar, 6666 North Ridge Avenue, Chicago
Ghareeb Nawaz Restaurant, 2032 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Ghaseeta Khan Restaurant, 6334 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Gigio's Pizza Restaurant, Devon Avenue, west of California Avenue, Chicago.
Gilly's Snack Shop, 6403 North California Avenue, Chicago
Gin and Irv's Bar-B-Q, 3149 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Glenway Inn, 1401 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Gold Coast Dogs, 2349 West Howard Street, Chicago
Gold Coin Restaurant, 2359 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Golden Bear Restaurant, McCormick Boulevard, South of Devon Avenue, Chicago
Golden Hamburger Drive-In, 5825 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Good Earth Chop Suey Restaurant, 2334 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Grassfield's Restaurant, 6666 North Ridge Avenue, Chicago
Greenbriar Hut, 2755 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Gullivers Pizza and Pub, 2727 West Howard Street, Chicago
Hae Woon Dae Korean BBQ Restaurant, 6240 North California Avenue, Chicago
Halal Fried Chicken, 2739 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Hashalom, 2905 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Happy Day Chop Suey Restaurant, 6351 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Hava Nagila Restaurant, 2748 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Hema’s Kitchen, 2439 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Herman's Charcoal Broiler, 2748 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Hero's, NE corner Touhy and California Avenues, Chicago
Hoanh Long, 6150 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Holloway House Cafeteria, 7572 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Hollywood Barbecue, 6007 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Homer's Hut, 6446 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Hot Rod Grill, 6237 North Western Avenue, Chicago
House of Chicken, 7438 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Hyderabad House Restaurant, 2226 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Imperial Grill, 2101 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
India Garden, 2548 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
India House Restaurant, 2546 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Indian Gourmet Restaurant, 2902 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Ing's Chop Suey, 5868 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Italian Express, 2307 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Jesse's Mexican Grill, 6950 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Jim Fong Chop Suey, 2931 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
JK Kabab House, 6412 North Rockwell Street, Chicago
Jodi's Drive-In, 3149 West Devon, Chicago
Joes Dawg Ranch, 6234 North California Avenue, Chicago
Jojo's, 3905 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Jumbo House Chinese Restaurant, 2927 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Kababish of London, 2437 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Kabob 2, 3104 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Kashtan Delicatessen, 2740 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Kay's Snack Bar, 2101 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
Kessler's Kitchen, 2755 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
KFC SE corner (on a triangle) of Peterson and Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Khan Bar-B-Q, 2401 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Kim Restaurant, 6034 North Washtenaw Avenue, Chicago
Kirshner's Kosher Cuisine, 2839 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
Kirshner's Kosher Cuisine, 6320 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Kofield's, 2758 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Kracker Box, 6364 North Rockwell Avenue, Chicago
Kumoon Cantonese Restaurant, 2927 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
La Cantina Italian Restaurant, 6975 North Western Avenue, Chicago
La Petite Restaurant, 2401 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
La Michoacana, 2349 West Howard Street, Chicago
La Rosa Restaurant, 2835 West Howard Avenue, Chicago
Land of Subs, NE corner Touhy and California Avenues, Chicago
Les Cel Bar-B-Q, 2823½ West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
Lincolnwood Coffee Grill and Fountain Shop, NW corner Devon and Kedzie, Chicago
Little John's Restaurant, 2732 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Little Louis Restaurant, 6339 North California Avenue, Chicago
Lincolnwood Coffee Grill and Fountain Shop, NW corner of Devon and Kedzie, Chicago
Lippy's Red Hots, 3118 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Long John Silvers, 6732 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Louie's Noshery, 7210 North California Avenue, Chicago
Lunt Café, 6952 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Ma's Chop Suey Take Out, 2816 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Main Pizza Chalav (Main Grill), 2831 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
Mark II Lounge, 7436 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Martin J. Flanagan Restaurant, 7557 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Masti Grill, 2948 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Maxwell Grill, 6339 North California Avenue, Chicago
McDonald's Townhouse, 2300 Block of Devon Avenue, Chicago
Mehrab Restaurant, 2437 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Mi Tsu Yun, 3010 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Mike's Ice Chicago, 5731 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Mike’s Place, 6977 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Miller's Steak House, 7011 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Mongolian House, 6345 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Moose Grill, The, 7210 N California Avenue , Chicago
Moscow at Night, 3058 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago
Mr. Beef, 2750 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Mr. Falafel, 6404 North California Avenue, Chicago
Mr. Submarine, Devon and Oakley Avenues, Chicago
Mysore Woodlands, 2548 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Nathan's Restaurant, 2401 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Nehari Palace, 2114 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
New China Buffet, 7566 North Western Avenue, Chicago
New Star Cantonese Foods, 2712 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
New Wok Restaurant, 2931 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
Ohel Avraham's Pizza (IDA Crown Jewish Academy), 2828 West Pratt Boulevard, Chicago
Old Country Buffet, 6125 North Lincoln Avenue, Lincoln Village Shopping Center, Chicago
P & S Restaurant, 7201 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Pakistan House Restaurant, 2306 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Pantheon Greek Restaurant, Devon Avenue, Chicago
Papa Milano Restaurant, 6415 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Patrician Restaurant, 3058 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago
Paul's Umbrella, NE corner Touhy and California Avenues, Chicago
Pekin House Restaurant, 2311 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Peking Food Shop, 6217 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Pepe's Taco's, 2350 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Peter Pan Snack Shops, Devon and Western Avenues, Chicago
Petite Pantry, 2307 West Howard Avenue, Chicago
Pike's Pine Knot Hamburger Stand, 6343 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Pike's Williamsburg Kitchen, 6415 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Pinewood Lounge, 2310 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
Pioneer Inn, Touhy Avenue, Chicago and California Avenue, Chicago
Poppin' Fresh Pies, 7131 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Puff-Fluff Donuts, NE corner Pratt Boulevard and Western Avenue, Chicago
Punjabi Dhabba Indian Restaurant, 2525 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Quiznos Classic Subs, 6067 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Raja Vegetarian Fast Foods, 2606 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Randl's Restaurant (aka "Devon-Randl's"), 2801 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Ravi Kabab House, 2447 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Relish Chicago - American Street Food, 7210 North California Avenue, Chicago
Restaurant el Sol de Mexico, 6418 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Rib-N-Wing Take Out, 2816 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Ridge Inn, 6648 North Ridge Avenue, Chicago
Ridge Steak House, 6666 North Ridge Avenue, Chicago
Robert's Restaurant and Delicatessen, Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Ruby's Snack Shop, 6410 North Rockwell Avenue, Chicago
Ruthie’s, 7131 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Sagar, 2520 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Sammy and Lisa's What's Cooking, 6181 N Lincoln, Lincoln Village Shopping Center, Chicago
Sangeet Palace Restaurant, 2136 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Scheffler's Restaurant, 7011 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Selma's Delicatessen, 2549 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Seven Hills Restaurant, 3001 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago Avenue, Chicago
Shalimar Kabab House, 2319 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Sheeba Mandi House of Devon, 2510 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Sheerman and Kabab House, 2104 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Shelly's Restaurant and Delicatessen, 2748 West Pratt Boulevard, Chicago
Sher-A-Punjab Indian Restaurant, 2510 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Shiraz Restaurant, 2624 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Showtime America, 6335 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Sizzle India, 2509 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Small Fry Restaurant, 1555 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Sonny-Boy Barbecue Hut, 7011 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Sub Cult, 2447 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Sukhadia's Fresh Kitchen and Bistro, 2559 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Sundance Café, 2407 West Lunt Avenue, Chicago 
Sunset Restaurant, 7304 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Taami, 2931 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
Taboun Inc., 6339 North California Avenue, Chicago
Tahoora, 2326 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Taj Restaurant and Catering, 6352 North Campbell Avenue, Chicago
Talbott's Restaurant, 7301 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Tapia's Pizza, 2049 West Howard Street, Chicago
Taqueria El Pueblo, 2212 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Terry's Drive-In, 2721 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
The Diamond Steer, 6345 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Theatre Bowl Snack Shop, 6800 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Three Legged Tacos, 7210 North California Avenue, Chicago
Three Sisters Delicatessen, 2854 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Tic-Toc Restaurant, 3058 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago
Tiffin The Indian Kitchen, 2536 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Town Pump Restaurant, 6345 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Tropical Smoothie Café, 3451 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Umar, 6958 North Western Avenue, Chicago
Urban India, 2601 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Uru Swati, 2629 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Usmania Chinese Restaurant, 2253 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Usmania Indian Restaurant, 2244 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Viceroy of India, 2520 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Village Cart, 6181 North Lincoln Avenue , Lincoln Village Shopping Center, Chicago
Village Grill, 6107 North Lincoln Avenue, Lincoln Village Shopping Center, Chicago
Village Inn, 6181 North Lincoln Avenue Lincoln Village Shopping Center, Chicago
Wah Lung Lo, Lunt and Western Avenues, Chicago 
Welcome Inn Pizzeria, 7517 North Western Avenue, Chicago
What The.. Wings, 2739 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
What's Cooking, 6181 North Lincoln Avenue, Lincoln Village Shopping Center, Chicago
Wingman, 2321 West Howard Street, Chicago
Wok N Chop, 2739 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Wrapmatic, 2739 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Yallafan, 2820 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago
Z Halal Chicago Wraps, 2739 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Zahid Nihari, 2307 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Zaitoon House, 2437 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Zam Zam Sweets and Grill, 2500 West Devon Avenue, Chicago
Zelda's, 6181 N Lincoln Avenue, Lincoln Village Shopping Center, Chicago
Zweig's Delicatessen, 2359 West Devon Avenue, Chicago



Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.
Copyright © 2023, Neil Gale, All rights Reserved.



Chicago's West Ridge Community List of Closed Restaurants, West Rogers Park Neighborhood Closed Restaurants, Nortown Neighborhood Closed Restaurants, Peterson Park Neighborhood Closed Restaurants, Rosehill Neighborhood Closed Restaurants, Defunct West Ridge Restaurants, Defunct West Rogers Park Restaurants, Defunct West Nortown Restaurants, Defunct Peterson Park Restaurants, Defunct Rosehill Restaurants:

9 Dragon Inn, Afghan Restaurant, Al Habib Grill, Al Karim Restaurant, Al Madina, Alibis, Alpha Jones, Ameer Tandoori Kebab, Andhra Bhavan Restaurant, Angry Chicken, Angry Taco, The Angus, Ann Lowe's Lunch Room, Apollo Pizza and Bakery, Arby's, Asian Family Restaurant, Aslam Sweets, Babil Kabob House, Bagel Restaurant, Bagel and Tray, Bakers Square, Barnaby's Pizza, Beef 'N Stein Pub, Belden North Restaurant Delicatessen, Bernie’s Diner, Biryani Bistro, Bismillah Restaurant, Black Angus, Blue Diamond Restaurant, Blue Peacock Restaurant, Bon Ton On Devon, Bow Wow Hot Dogs, Bowl-O-India, Brown's Chicken, Brown's Chicken and Pasta, The Buggy Whip, Burgers To Go!, Café Bocacho, Café California, Café Dushong, Café Laziza, Café Montenegro, Charlie Lui's, Chatkharay Karahi and Grill, Charles Anderson Restaurant, Charminar Grill, Chicago Char Grill, The Chicken Koop, The Chicken Wing Company, China Dragon, China Ling, Chuck Wagon, Chung Hing Restaurant, Companion Chow Mein Restaurant, Dan-Dee's, Dan-Dee's Red Hots, Dandana Café, Daata Darbar, Dave's, Deasy's Club, Delhi Darbar, Dehli Muslim Kali Restaurant, Devon Grill, Devon Pizza, DLD Café and Grill, Eddie Doucette's Pancake Plantation Restaurants, Eddie Doucette's Pancake Plantation Restaurants, Eisenberg Beef Hot Dogs, El Carrito, El Garcia Restaurant, El Picante Mexican Grill, El Sol De Mexico, Everfresh, Family Restaurant, Fin N Claw, The Fireplug Restaurant, Fireside Chef, Fluky's, Fluky's Hot Dogs, Food Corner, Four Corners Restaurant, Frank's Barbecue, Friedman's Delicatessen, Gandhi India, Gee N' Gee Snack Shop, Gene Nufer Oyster Bar, Ghareeb Nawaz Restaurant, Ghaseeta Khan Restaurant, Gigio's Pizza Restaurant, Gilly's Snack Shop, Gin and Irv's Bar-B-Q, Glenway Inn, Gold Coast Dogs, Gold Coin Restaurant, Golden Bear Restaurant, Golden Hamburger Drive-In, Good Earth Chop Suey Restaurant, Grassfield's, Greenbriar Hut, Gullivers Pizza and Pub, Hae Woon Dae Korean BBQ Restaurant, Halal Fried Chicken, Hashalom, Happy Day Chop Suey Restaurant, Hava Nagila Restaurant, Hema’s Kitchen, Herman's Charcoal Broiler, Hero's, Hoanh Long, Holloway House Cafeteria, Hollywood Barbecue, Homer's Hut, Hot Rod Grill, House of Chicken, Hyderabad House Restaurant, Il Forno Pizzeria and Restaurant, Imperial Grill, India Garden, India House Restaurant, Indian Gourmet Restaurant, Ing's Chop Suey, Italian Express, Jesse's Mexican Grill, Jim Fong Chop Suey, JK Kabab House, Jodi's Drive-In, Joes Dawg Ranch, Jojo's, Jumbo House Chinese Restaurant, Kababish of London, Kabob 2, Kabob Two, Kashtan Delicatessen, Kay's Snack Bar, Kessler's Kitchen, KFC, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Khan Bar-B-Q, Kim Restaurant, Kirshner's Kosher Cuisine, Kofield's, Kow Kow Chinese Restaurant, Kracker Box, Kumoon Cantonese Restaurant, La Cantina Italian Restaurant, La Petite Restaurant, La Michoacana, La Rosa Restaurant, Land of Subs, Les Cel Bar-B-Q, Lincolnwood Coffee Grill and Fountain Shop, Little John's Restaurant, Little Louis Restaurant, Lippy's Red Hots, Long John Silvers, Louie's Noshery, Lunt Café, Ma's Chop Suey Take Out, Main Pizza Chalav, Main Grill, Mark II Lounge, Martin J. Flanagan Restaurant, Masti Grill, Maxwell Grill, McDonald's Townhouse, Mehrab Restaurant, Mi Pueblo II Restaurant, Mi Tsu Yun, Mike's Ice Chicago, Mike’s Place, Miller's Steak House, Mongolian House, The Moose Grill, Moscow at Night, Mr. Beef, Mr. Falafel, Mr. Submarine, Mysore Woodlands, Nathan's Restaurant, Nehari Palace, New China Buffet, New Star Cantonese Foods, New Wok Restaurant, Ohel Avraham's Pizza, Old Country Buffet, P & S Restaurant, Pakistan House Restaurant, Pantheon Greek Restaurant, Papa Milano Restaurant, Patrician Restaurant, Paul's Umbrella, Pekin House Restaurant, Peking Food Shop, Pepe's Taco's, Peter Pan Snack Shops, Petite Pantry, Pickle Barrel, Pike's Pine Knot Hamburger Stand, Pike's Williamsburg Kitchen, Pinewood Lounge, Pioneer Inn, Poppin' Fresh Pies, Puff Fluff Donuts, Punjabi Dhabba Indian Restaurant, Quiznos Classic Subs, Raja Vegetarian Fast Foods, Randl's Restaurant, Devon-Randl's, Ravi Kabab House, Relish Chicago American Street Food, Red Hot Ranch, Restaurant el Sol de Mexico, Rib-N-Wing Take Out, Ridge Inn, Ridge Steak House, Robert's Restaurant and Delicatessen, Ruby's Snack Shop, Ruthie’s, Sagar, Sally's Original Bar-B-Q, Sally's Stage, Sammy and Lisa's What's Cooking, Sangeet Palace Restaurant, Scheffler's Restaurant, Selma's Delicatessen, Seven Hills Restaurant, Shalimar Kabab House, Sheeba Mandi House of Devon, Sheerman and Kabab House, Shelly's Restaurant and Delicatessen, Sher-A-Punjab Indian Restaurant, Shiraz Restaurant, Showtime America, Siam Pasta, Sizzle India, Slick Chick Drive-In, Small Fry Restaurant, Sonny-Boy Barbecue Hut, Sub Cult, Sukhadia's Fresh Kitchen and Bistro, Sundance Café, Sunset Restaurant, Taami, Taboun Inc, Tahoora, Taj Restaurant and Catering, Talbott's Restaurant, Tapia's Pizza, Taqueria El Pueblo, Terry's Drive-In, The Diamond Steer, Theatre Bowl Snack Shop, Three Legged Tacos, Three Sisters Delicatessen, Tic-Toc Restaurant, Tiffin The Indian Kitchen, Town Pump Restaurant, Tropical Smoothie Café, Umar, Urban India, Uru Swati, Usmania Chinese Restaurant, Usmania Indian Restaurant, Viceroy of India, Village Cart, Village Grill, Village Inn, Wah Lung Lo, Welcome Inn Pizzeria, What The Wings, What's Cooking, Wingman, Wok N Chop, Wrapmatic, Yallafan, Z Halal Chicago Wraps, Zahid Nihari, Zaitoon House, Zam Zam Sweets and Grill, Zelda's, Zweig's Delicatessen

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.

Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, I thought I'd share this interesting letter I saved as a text file years ago when I lived in West Rogers Park. I may have enough tidbits of Illinois history and stories to develop a Knowledgebase. 

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A Digital Hoarder, defined by researchers as a sub-type of hoarding disorder, is characterized by individuals collecting excessive digital files, material, and photos.

Kamran's family immigrated from Pakistan to Michigan when he was 3 years old in 1974, and he writes about his first visit to Chicago's "Little India Neighborhood," Devon Avenue.
Chicago's "Little India" in the far North Neighborhood of West Rogers Park.
My name is Kamran. I know it's probably normal for everyone who lives there (Chicago's Little India), but I almost cried just walking Devon Avenue (DEE Von) with my friend. It was also his first visit to Chicago. I was excited to see such a large community of Pakistanis.

I'm traveling for the first time in my life from Michigan, where the South Asian/Indian (Desi) population is super spread out. You only see big groups of people, like myself, at organized events or funerals. 

I grew up in Dearborn, so even though there's a decent size Muslim and Arab community here, there arn't many Desi in our community. Weddings and events are fun but not very traditional in several ways. There are many reasons why my family has never returned to visit Pakistan since we came to America. 

I have never been to such a big city like Chicago before. It was surreal.



For the first time in my life, I walked on a busy street, and I blended in! I realized that I had never felt so 'normal' before. I didn't receive a strange look or bad vibes.

The people I was walking past looked like my brother, mom, or dad, and where the food in the stores was what I was used to buying at home. We had trouble deciding which restaurant to eat lunch at.


It's kind of sad that I've never seen people like myself living an organic life. It felt strange to me.

I'm sure this was no big deal for many people, but for me, it meant EVERYTHING.

I have always struggled with my identity being an "in-betweener," never white or a Desi. The feeling of being 'insecure' just disappeared after a 10-minute stroll on Devon Avenue.                                                                     —  Kamran  

 THANK YOU, CHICAGO! I'll be back.