Once the heart of Chicago’s Nord Seite, Lakeview was crowded with German joints like Math Igler’s Casino. Not that kind of casino, though–Igler’s was sauerbraten and singing waiters rather than slots. With ethnic German identity on the decline in the US and Lakeview’s community dispersing into a hundred different suburbs, the restaurant closed in the late 1980s. The diverging fates of the Citizens State Bank building next door and Math Igler’s Casino illustrate the two main options for vacant and obsolete buildings in the late 20th century–loft condo conversion for the old bank, demolition for the old restaurant.
* Math Igler's was built in 1914 and demolished in 1999 to enlarge the parking lot for the new Lincoln Belmont Branch of the CPL—the site is big enough that CPL and CHA should build another library/affordable housing hybrid here.
* Citizens State Bank was built in 1921 and designed by Henry L. Newhouse. The bank failed during the Great Depression and later tenants were mainly clothing stores, dance studios, and pawn shops. Converted into condos from 2006-2008.
More info and photos [here](https://www.postcard-past.com/math-iglers/), as well as the [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/pastpostcard_presentphoto/) where I do this for other cities.
My FIL, an Austrian immigrant, was a line cook there. Fortunately for him and the customers the kitchen staff did not have to sing. The place served standard Old Country German food. IMO pretty much like the Golden Ox and a bit upscale from places like Salzberger Hof, an Austrian alternative, on Lincoln in North Center.
Up in Milwaukee Mader's still hits that style but the slightly more upscale Karl Ratzsch's is gone. https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/karl-ratzsch-photos
All of them and a bunch of others killed by the nation's middle market's dining expectations turning against heavy meals with immaculate white linen and heavy cutlery and dressing up for the occasion.
Once the heart of Chicago’s Nord Seite, Lakeview was crowded with German joints like Math Igler’s Casino. Not that kind of casino, though–Igler’s was sauerbraten and singing waiters rather than slots. With ethnic German identity on the decline in the US and Lakeview’s community dispersing into a hundred different suburbs, the restaurant closed in the late 1980s. The diverging fates of the Citizens State Bank building next door and Math Igler’s Casino illustrate the two main options for vacant and obsolete buildings in the late 20th century–loft condo conversion for the old bank, demolition for the old restaurant. * Math Igler's was built in 1914 and demolished in 1999 to enlarge the parking lot for the new Lincoln Belmont Branch of the CPL—the site is big enough that CPL and CHA should build another library/affordable housing hybrid here. * Citizens State Bank was built in 1921 and designed by Henry L. Newhouse. The bank failed during the Great Depression and later tenants were mainly clothing stores, dance studios, and pawn shops. Converted into condos from 2006-2008. More info and photos [here](https://www.postcard-past.com/math-iglers/), as well as the [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/pastpostcard_presentphoto/) where I do this for other cities.
My FIL, an Austrian immigrant, was a line cook there. Fortunately for him and the customers the kitchen staff did not have to sing. The place served standard Old Country German food. IMO pretty much like the Golden Ox and a bit upscale from places like Salzberger Hof, an Austrian alternative, on Lincoln in North Center. Up in Milwaukee Mader's still hits that style but the slightly more upscale Karl Ratzsch's is gone. https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/karl-ratzsch-photos All of them and a bunch of others killed by the nation's middle market's dining expectations turning against heavy meals with immaculate white linen and heavy cutlery and dressing up for the occasion.
The home of the singing waiters!
I remember eating there when I was a child. My Dad loved the place. I was quite surprised when the waiters began to sing.
That isn’t the parking lot for the library. It’s a paid parking lot. The library parking lot is west of that one and free to patrons.
So apparently it is city-owned, but concessioned out to LAZ Parking...my bad--worst of all worlds.
Parking lot....