The Chainlink

Business that combine disparate services under one roof

The Green Machines thread got me to wondering why Chicago doesn't seem to embrace "mixed" businesses like they seem to in other cities.

But maybe my perception is just skewed there by lack of awareness?

What local businesses are you aware of that combine different types of services under one roof?

I'll start with some examples I can think of:

-Bar and model train store, 18th and Damen

-Tire shop, corner store, ice cream shop, video arcade, and used bike shop, corner of 18th and Leavitt.

-Bike shop and cafe....Heritage Cycles?" (never been in there-- is that a fair description?)

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 11, 2014 at 9:32pm

This combination book store/bar/entertainment venue isn't local, but I wish it was. Cool idea.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on January 12, 2014 at 3:42am

Looks nice.

Anne Alt said:

This combination book store/bar/entertainment venue isn't local, but I wish it was. Cool idea.

Permalink Reply by Ben Gray on January 12, 2014 at 5:13am

Oasis Cafe in the back of the jewelry store downtown seems close enough. Falafel is pretty good, too.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/oasis-cafe-chicago

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on January 12, 2014 at 12:51pm

Oh yeah, good one!

Ben Gray said:

Oasis Cafe in the back of the jewelry store downtown seems close enough. Falafel is pretty good, too.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/oasis-cafe-chicago

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on January 12, 2014 at 8:03pm

Excellent falafel at Oasis for sure, but I'm not sure this qualifies as a combination business any more than pretty much every big box store that offers fast food (Target, Ikea etc). I could be completely wrong, but I don't think the jewelry store people run the falafel stand? 

h' 1.0 said:

Oh yeah, good one!

Ben Gray said:

Oasis Cafe in the back of the jewelry store downtown seems close enough. Falafel is pretty good, too.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/oasis-cafe-chicago

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on January 12, 2014 at 8:59pm
There is a hardware store/bike shop in west Humbogan Squark.
Permalink Reply by H2 on January 13, 2014 at 11:09am

back in a small town of Ohio there was a laundromat/bar/tanning salon all rolled into one near the camp I worked at. Cracked me up! Didn't take advantage of the bar or tanning (was underage and don't do tanning beds) but figured it was a smart practice to fill that time while you wait to switch loads!

There are the ones that seasonally change like Soupbox which becomes Icebox in the summer (if they still do that?!)

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 13, 2014 at 1:27pm

Englewood has a business with the same mix - John's on S. Halsted.

Kelvin Mulcky said:

There is a hardware store/bike shop in west Humbogan Squark.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 13, 2014 at 1:28pm

Tony - I think you're right. And I also like their falafel.

Tony Adams 7 mi said:

Excellent falafel at Oasis for sure, but I'm not sure this qualifies as a combination business any more than pretty much every big box store that offers fast food (Target, Ikea etc). I could be completely wrong, but I don't think the jewelry store people run the falafel stand? 

h' 1.0 said:

Oh yeah, good one!

Ben Gray said:

Oasis Cafe in the back of the jewelry store downtown seems close enough. Falafel is pretty good, too.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/oasis-cafe-chicago

Permalink Reply by BruceBikes on January 13, 2014 at 1:47pm

Tom Dworzanski said:

There are many such businesses in rural communities as well as among immigrant communities in Chicago. 
This makes me think of a recent Oatmeal comic.  Perhaps the diversity of a big city allows more specialization in business and requires fewer "combined services" under one roof.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 13, 2014 at 2:21pm

When I lived in NH, I sometimes visited Lowell MA, which had a significant southeast Asian community with a mix of several ethnicities. They had a homey corner restaurant with a name like Southeast Asian Cuisine and a menu with dishes from several different countries (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and South Korea). The food was actually pretty good and was popular with folks of those ethnicities and plenty of other people.

Permalink Reply by Nancy L. Fagin on January 13, 2014 at 5:11pm

In ancient history days, I was part of 17 North State/16 North Wabash 9The Stevens Building) on the 13th floor.  The building sort of/kinda dove tailed on top of another building, so the floors didn't start until the 10th floor (I can't quite remember).  It still had manually operated elevators so you could shout down the shaft and the operator would back up or down and get you.

It was full of small traditional and not so traditional shops - watch repair, Capisio (dance supplies), high school ring shop, electric razor repair, a specialty swimsuit shop, tea leaf readers, International Bead and Button, etc.  Each store had a big glass front like a real street (with the snow ice and salt) and everyone checked on each other. 

The rents were cheap and could have been a hot house of innovation.  As it was, "traditional" trades were able to serve their customers (no computer repair at the time I was there....).  

Once there was a buzz that a refrigerator was coming to the ring shop.  Big deal, I thought.  Except it was THE REFRIGERATOR (football guy) coming in to pick up a ring. Silly me.

I can be done.

Nancy L. Fagin

N. Fagin, Books

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