Of course, if you thought that version of the Sugar Bowl was how it always was, you would be wrong. It only reopened with that "new look" just under 51 years ago.
Before that, walking down Miner Street (in this case in 1946) you would have seen this venerable establishment serving citizens and commuters:
A nice, dignified front, but it just doesn't have that... pizazz of the other one. It DID still use neon though. And a few years later, in 1949, they added their Ice Cream plant. That candy kitchen even gained a moment in the spotlight in 1986, when it was used as a location for a Brach's candy commercial.And even earlier?
(buildings before the Sugar Bowl)
So from the start pretty much, the Sugar Bowl was three things: the Sugar Bowl Candy Shop, the Des Plaines Restaurant/Cafe and the Cypress Cafe/Inn. The building in this form dates to 1924, according to Terra Cotta records; but the Sugar Bowl has existed since 1921. It was only in 1957 when the Sugar Bowl really 'merged' with the restaurant, and the Cypress Inn name stayed until Ted Vlahopoulos of Mr. Allison's took over from the founding Fifles family, after their shocking and tragic exit from the restaurant business. Ditching the sweets angle (and rendering the 'Sugar Bowl' name a little meaningless), he totally gutted the interior and built a new one (which in turn has evidently been replaced) and changed the signs outside to remove "Sweet Shop" and "Cypress Inn". While they match pretty well, they don't fit as evenly. He also had the wisdom to drop his plan of calling it "Mr. A's Sugar Bowl". Luckily, the new owners seem to have likewise thought better of changing a good thing.Now if only they can bring those hand-dipped chocolates and homemade ice cream back...
(also Green River sodas.)
The second of the interior photos is interesting; I didn't know there were originally booths on that side of the restaurant. Later, that side of the room was walled off and thus ended at the candy counter and ice cream freezer area. Interesting, too, that there were bathrooms against the rear wall; we would always be directed towards the bathrooms on the Cypress Inn side.
ReplyDeleteIn the late 80s my grammar school chums and I were there on almost a daily basis (when it had the paintings of DP on the walls) and our server, Maggie, was always nice to us despite our probably being smart-mouthed punks who hardly tipped. Around that time, a couple of us were at Ed Debevic's downtown, and hung on the short wall of a server station were framed b&w photos of short-order cooks and waitresses. One of them was of Maggie, carrying a Sugar Bowl menu.
I hadn't noticed those booths, but you're right! Cool story. I remember the paintings a little - one was of the dam.
ReplyDeleteTerrie Collins My very first job in 1956 was working for the Fifles,and the 5 "boys" at the Sugar Bowl. We made hand dipped candy, icecream and I waitressed and worked behind the candy counter. Also made fabulous Fresh Strawberry Sundays. My husband, Larry, whom I married in 1959, would come in and order a coke and leave me a $1.00 tip! We also ate at the first McDonalds when it opened! We now live in Grass Valley, Calif.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember Frank Mallaghan also known as'Red' who worked in the Sugarbowl I believe in the bar. He was my uncle and I would be very grateful for any information. Email me at rosemaryduffy1@hotmail.co.uk. thanks.
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