Sunday, June 3, 2012

"Laurie's Pizza Closed Permanently"

The pictures tell the story at Laurie's.
  • A shuttered business.  
  • Gang graffiti etched into the door.  
  • A CeaseFire poster (and another one torn down).
Not shown:
  • A 13-year-old who died in his sister's arms.
  • A 22-year-old accused of first degree murder.
  • Two heartbroken families.
So utterly senseless and unnecessary.

13 comments:

  1. I used them for delivery every Friday evening. I will miss their good food...

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  2. Yeah, looks like the bad guys will win in TWO restaurant-related cases. In addition to Lauries, it's possible that the "Felony Franks" hot dog stand on Western Ave. will have to close, not because of the food or service, but because the owner of the liquor store next door won't do anything to keep the local "characters" away from the premises and harassing the restaurant patrons.

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  3. Curious: is this a result of the mayor's push to close down problem establishments, or something else?

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  4. The New Nuisance Business Law looks like its having some effect?

    Yes I wonder as well YO.

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  5. Gayle,

    Felony Franks was put in a VERY BAD LOCATION. It seems self evident not to name a business such a name in a crime infested area by the projects.
    Whenever I drive by there, there is always people loitering there and yes the Liquor store is ALSO a problem, but the ONE/TWO/THREE/FOUR/FIVE punch of

    1)Bus Stop
    2)Liquor Store
    3)Projects Nearby
    4)Still Fairly Rundown and Desolate Western AVE in that area
    5)Ok, add on Felony Franks that has a hotdog in a jail outfit?

    Thats not what that corner needs.
    I dont know what could turn that corner around right now, but thats definitely not it.

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  6. Bus Stop? LOTS of fast-food places, even "upscale" restaurants, are located along bus or L routes!

    Actually that stretch of Western Ave. is home to some fairly expensive condos on the other side of the Ike. They were built with the express purpose of providing new housing to people who work in the nearby "Medical District."

    The logo and name are supposed to be FUNNY! Also based on the owner's mission of providing a way out of trouble for ex-cons. It's sort of a West Side version of Uptown's very own Inspiration Cafe.

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  7. will i be charged with a felony if i claim that i'd spend 25-to-life in maximum security prison if they'd serve felonious franks like the chicago style hot dogs from felony hotdog stand for every meal of the day?
    i plead the fifth amendment...

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  8. gayle said

    "Bus Stop? LOTS of fast-food places, even "upscale" restaurants, are located along bus or L routes!

    Actually that stretch of Western Ave. is home to some fairly expensive condos on the other side of the Ike. They were built with the express purpose of providing new housing to people who work in the nearby "Medical District."

    The logo and name are supposed to be FUNNY! Also based on the owner's mission of providing a way out of trouble for ex-cons. It's sort of a West Side version of Uptown's very own Inspiration Cafe."

    Thats a bus stop in a bad neighborhood we are talking about, and thugs will use anything as an excuse to loiter, I know because us neigbhors in Rogers Park have had to fight to get the bangers away from the bus stop by Morse.
    Yes not every bus stop is bad, but that one is.

    Those condos by the Ike in that immediate vicinity are very ugly and alot of them across the street and to the south have low income people living there.

    Gayle I understand that the logo and name are supposed to be funny. I think he has a good business model but not for that neigbhorhood! And not for that location.

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    Replies
    1. Are u saying that all low income people are bad and what's so ugly about the condos by the ike

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  9. Lauries has been slowly fading into retirement for years.
    Some of us may remember how they wrapped all the way around the corner years ago, had full-service etc.
    They didn't close because of a "nuisance law", nothing works that fast.
    They just decided it was time to stick a fork in it, sometimes that is all it is...

    I know nothin' about the Fioretti Felony Frank Fiasco bu t Jeffo and his narrow brand of misinformation do not apply to Lauries.

    A sad ending for a pizzeria.

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  10. In regard to Felony Franks: Apparently the loitering outside Felony Franks on Western started at the same time as a liquor store opened (or re-opened) up next door. Before liquor store, business was doing well. After liquor store, loitering was pervasive and customers stopped coming because the loitering crowd. I drive by there just about every week during the evening rush and can attest to the loitering crowds. I can see where it would hurt his business.

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  11. No misinformation here Littleton just trying to figure out what happened. Glad Lauries Closed, they didnt keep up the times and sadly something like this happened putting the nail into the coffin.
    Glad that it didnt take the new business nuisance law for Lauries to Close, they saw the (gang) writing literally on the wall.

    Im not saying all low income people are bad but the people hanging at Jackson and Western FOR THE MOST PART arent the kind of people you want to live by or hang out with regardless of their income level. If people think that the corner where felony franks is great you are free to live there, but you couldnt pay me enough to.

    And Yes those new construction buildings right on Western on the west side of the street and north of the IKE are super ugly.

    Regardless of what caused the loitering by FF it was a bad one two combo for that corner. Rough part of town to make a go of it for a business obviously.

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  12. So sad and disappointed that Lauries's is closed. I drive about 31/2 hours to eat their pizza. Best i have ever had. I used to eat there on a regular basis back in the 50, 60, and 70's when i lived in Chicago. I would like to see them open up somewhere else in a better neighborhood. Maybe even in the burbs.

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