January 2, 2017 Bill Swislow

The Western Avenue And Vicinity Gallery: Lincoln Avenue

Anchored by the fast-food spectacular at Shelly’s Freez, Chicago’s Lincoln Avenue from Irving Park Road north is a treasure trove of fine art and architecture.

Guest House Motel, Lincoln Avenue at Bryn Mawr. An idyllic amalgamation of signage and 20th Century commercial architecture

Guest House Motel, Lincoln Avenue at Bryn Mawr

Guest House Motel, Lincoln Avenue at Bryn Mawr

Guest House Motel, Lincoln Avenue at Bryn Mawr

Guest House Motel, Lincoln Avenue at Bryn Mawr

Apache Motel, Lincoln Avenue near Bryn Mawr

Pez sign: Apache Motel, Lincoln Avenue near Bryn Mawr

Lincoln Motel, Lincoln Avenue near Peterson. Razed as part of Mayor Daley's campaign against the former motel strip on this part of Lincoln Avenue

Lincoln Motel, Lincoln Avenue near Peterson. Gone

The Stars Motel, Lincoln Avenue at Jersey. Gone

Rio Motel, Lincoln Avenue at Jersey. Hanging on, unlike the Stars Motel up the street

Snappy Cleaners, formerly at Lincoln Avenue and Maplewood. That's Mr. Snappy to you

Snappy Cleaners, formerly at Lincoln Avenue and Maplewood

Snappy Cleaners, formerly at Lincoln Avenue and Maplewood

The Money Shot Restaurant & Lounge, Lincoln Avenue at Fairfield. Love the framentary skyline mural, and the typography

Lincoln Office Building, Lincoln Avenue at Sacramento. The lettering is lovely, as is the mid-century architecture

Wish I’d made it there before the building on the right went up. Ghost sign, Lincoln Avenue near Argyle. Per Wickipedia, Thomas Cusack was a politician and pioneer in outdoor signage, with his company leasing more than 100,000 advertising spaces

Ghost sign, Lincoln Avenue near Argyle

City Tire, Lincoln Avenue near Carmen. As if the painting and the colors weren't cool enough, they had to add the sculpture atop the building

City Tire, Lincoln Avenue at Carmen

City Tire, Lincoln Avenue near Carmen

Milo's Gyros & Chicken, Lincoln Avenue at Ardmore

Abstracted cone at Milo's Gyros & Chicken, Lincoln Avenue at Ardmore

Multi-part food stand extravaganza at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Multi-part food stand extravaganza at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Multi-part food stand extravaganza at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Abstract detail, Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Multi-part food stand extravaganza at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Multi-part food stand extravaganza at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

A signage extravaganza at Shelly's Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Multi-part food stand extravaganza at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Multi-part food stand extravaganza at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Multi-part food stand extravaganza at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Gyros forever at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Beautiful gyros at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Multi-part food stand extravaganza at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

The rare gyros salad at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Abstract detail, Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Multi-part food stand extravaganza at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Multi-part food stand extravaganza at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Multi-part food stand extravaganza at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Multi-part food stand extravaganza at Shelly's Tasty Freeze, Lincoln Avenue at Winona

Hub's, Lincoln Avenue near Bryn Mawr

Hub's, Lincoln Avenue near Bryn Mawr

Uncle Bobby's and Little Bobby's, Lincoln Avenue near Lawrence. Gone

Uncle Bobby's and Little Bobby's, Lincoln Avenue near Lawrence. Gone

Uncle Bobby's and Little Bobby's, Lincoln Avenue near Lawrence. Gone

Uncle Bobby's and Little Bobby's, Lincoln Avenue near Lawrence. Gone

Gas For Less, Lincoln Avenue

Gas For Less, Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.

Alps East, Irving Park Road at Lincoln Avenue. The sign is nothing, but the hardware is most impressive.

Lincoln Restaurant, Lincoln Avenue at Irving Park Road

Lincoln Restaurant, Lincoln Avenue at Irving Park Road

Orange Garden, Irving Park Road near Lincoln Avenue. The traditional chop suey joint is a vanishing breed.

Orange Garden, Irving Park Road near Lincoln Avenue

Orange Garden, Irving Park Road near Lincoln Avenue

'O' Baby 'O' Night Club, near Lincoln Avenue and Devon. Gone

'O' Baby 'O' Night Club, near Lincoln Avenue and Devon. Gone

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