The Lincoln Restaurant, 4008 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. (1970-2013)

The Lincoln Restaurant, 4008 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.

John Athans started the place in the early 1970s, and his son Tony Athans helped, but John retired and closed the restaurant after 43 years. 

Athan's father, John, remembers the day he and his wife opened the restaurant when an ice cream soda cost 15¢ and an order of ham and eggs cost 35¢. John Athans immigrated to the U.S. from Greece in 1952.

He worked for a lunch counter at a local pharmacy for a few years until he saved up enough money to open his own restaurant on Lincoln Avenue. The inspiration for the name "Lincoln" came from its location. 

In 1970, he and his staff moved into the 250-seat restaurant they operated.

John Athans and his wife, Loula, tried to split the work equally. He managed the kitchen. She was responsible for the restaurant's front end and customer service. Their four sons would bus tables and serve customers.

Loula Athans was the life of the restaurant. Tony said she actively tried getting to know employees and customers, sometimes inviting people to her house for Christmas or Thanksgiving meals.

"It's a lot of hard work, and the rewards are not the same as in the old days." Tony Athans

Tony Athans graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1985 and, after working for a few other restaurants, decided to return home and help his parents run the Lincoln.

He revamped the menu using his newly acquired professional training. He made the Civil War theme more prominent, adding dishes like the Honest Abe burger and the Robert E. Lee omelet to the menu. More Lincoln memorabilia accumulated on the restaurant's walls.

Customers started joking about getting the John Wilkes Booth or asking to sit near the "Penny Wall," dotted with about 7,500 pennies, as another salute to Lincoln.

Although the Lincoln Restaurant has retained its charm over the years, customers' changing dining preferences and increasing competition from larger restaurant chains have made it harder for the small family-run business to operate, Tony Athans said. Fewer people come in on weekdays now, whereas before, the restaurant was busy throughout the week.

 The Robert E. Lee Omelet.

In recent years, the diner's challenges have included a foreclosure case regarding the building. Tony declined to comment about the litigation in detail but said the time was right to close the restaurant.

John Athans with customers.

Loula Athans died in July 2011 after battling pancreatic cancer, and things haven't been the same since. "There's a void. ... You're here at work; you put in the hours, but something is missing," Tony said.

He also wanted his 82-year-old father to enjoy his later years without worrying about the restaurant.

Since the Athans officially announced the closing of the Lincoln Restaurant, there has been an outpouring of support from the community. "When we first announced it, I thought people might stay away. It's been the exact opposite," Tony Athans said.

Sheila Sachs has eaten at the restaurant for about 30 years. Since 2001, Sachs and her friends have hosted an annual breakfast at the restaurant to commemorate President Lincoln's birthday. She's trying to get the group together to celebrate Lincoln's birthday several weeks early. It's their way of saying goodbye to the restaurant. "It's the Lincoln on Lincoln in the Land of Lincoln. You can't do it anywhere else," Sachs said.

"The Lincoln is like a second family," Tony said, looking around the restaurant. It's almost like a family member has passed. Now, you can no longer see the regular customers who come in simultaneously; many people eat the same thing. It's going to be tough."

The Lincoln Restaurant, 4008 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.

The Lincoln Restaurant closed on December 30, 2013, after a 43-year run.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

C.D. Peacock, Chicago. Fine Jewelry & Watches — 1837─Present

Elijah Peacock was an English immigrant who, along with his wife, Rebecca Haylock, moved to Chicago in February 1837. Shortly after arriving, he opened the "House of Peacock" at 155½ Lake Street, a fine jewelry and watch shop. It was the first registered business in Illinois and is recognized as the oldest existing retailer in Chicago.

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The Panic of 1837: The Panic sparked a nationwide depression in March 1837,  lasting into the mid-1840s, but it couldn’t stop the House of Peacock’s success or Chicago’s growth. This would be the first of many hardships that the House of Peacock and Chicago found themselves in and would overcome together. Families migrated west as the East Coast felt the depression especially hard. 

 

What a Brillant Marking Piece for Chicago & Illinois !!! 

The Town of Chicago (inc. August 12, 1833) was granted a charter, becoming the City of Chicago, on March 4, 1837. C.D. Peacock is older than Chicago and is the oldest continuously operating business in (2024) Chicago. It predates the city's official incorporation on March 4, 1837, and has witnessed Chicago's transformation from a frontier outpost to a bustling city.

Charles Daniel Peacock (C. D. Peacock)

C.D. Peacock lived at 1713 W. Indiana Avenue, which is now in the 38 hundred block of West Indiana Avenue.

By 1843, Chicago was rich in transportation and fertile ground. The city was a hub for business, and Elijah Peacock was one of six jewelers. As Chicago grew in size and numbers, so did Peacock's. 

In 1843, the House of Peacock moved around the corner to 195 Lake Street and Wells.

People were drawn to the city with each transportation upgrade, especially the addition of the Indiana and Michigan Canal and the thousands of miles of railways connecting Chicago to the rest of the country. 

In fact, legend has it that Elijah was an early investor in the canal, making the business boom possible. A few years after he opened shop, Elijah acquired prime land in that area from a gambler who "paid" his debts with a deed to the land, which was only thought to be worth very little at the time. Eventually, the value of land close to the canal skyrocketed, and Elijah sold it to fund the canal, paving the way for the store's and Chicago's growth.

Once again, the economic landscape shifted. In 1849, the House of Peacock moved to 199 Randolph Street. Then again in 1854, to 205 Randolph Street.

The House of Peacock specialized in selling and repairing watches and carried a small jewelry line. Elijah passed on his trade to his son, Charles, who eventually took over the business when his father retired after the Chicago Fire in 1871. 

After the fire, the House of Peacock quickly reopened for business. In 1873, Peacock moved to 98 State Street at the corner of Monroe Street. The next move was to 86 West Madison Street.

Under Charles' management, the firm changed its name to C.D. Peacock and expanded its offerings and locations, opening at 118-120 S. State Street at Adams Street.

While Elijah Peacock primarily focused on selling and repairing watches, evidence suggests he also introduced some jewelry items to his customers. Historical accounts mention that he brought "deluxe jeweled necklaces" for the elite women of Chicago and sold fine silver dining sets.

In 1889, Elijah's son, Charles Daniel (C.D.), took control of the business and changed The House of Peacock to the name and luxury brand we now know as C.D. Peacock. He had been very involved in the industry since he was a young boy, having grown up around the best jewelers and watchmakers.

However, it's unclear whether Elijah designed these items or simply curated them for his store. His son, Charles Daniel Peacock, expanded the jewelry selection significantly, and the company became known for its exquisite jewelry collections.

It's safe to say that Elijah Peacock played a crucial role in introducing fine jewelry and Swiss-made watches to the Chicago market, even if he wasn't necessarily the designer behind the pieces. He laid the foundation for C.D. Peacock's later success as a prominent jewelry retailer.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.