It is encouraging to hear that 79th and Halsted in Auburn Gresham is coming to life again. This week, city leaders broke ground for the first phase of a $40-million-dollar development that will bring affordable housing, new retail, a community center and a healthy lifestyle hub to the South Side neighborhood. After years of neglect and disinvestment, it’s about time.
Growing up, 79th and Halsted felt like the center of the universe. The Muhammad Speaks Newspaper office was there, and so was the Capitol Theater, where I first saw the Jackson Five. There was a bank with national in its name and medical and business offices thriving in second story walk-ups. There was that place with good corned beef sandwiches, a Walgreens and a Woolworths with cool lunch counters. And then there was Frank’s. Frank’s Department Store was magical — they had everything. It was deliciously tempting for first-time African American homeowners, like my parents, anxious to furnish and flourish in their newly purchased bungalows and two-flats. My mom and I would spend hours browsing the aisles of treasures at Frank’s. There were wish list items for the living room and kitchen, but also summer dresses and an unbelievable array of knick-knacks. Mom still has the set of ceramic black cats I saved up to buy for her one Mother’s Day.
