Howard-Western Shopping Center

The Howard-Western Shopping Center has undergone changes since its construction in the 1950s. It used to be "L" shaped. Presently there's a "strip mall" of stores running north to south along the western side of the shopping center and a stand-alone Walgreens Drug Store along the south side of the shopping center. At the north end, where once stood the Pickle Barrel Restaurant, this part of the building was torn down and replaced with a Fifth-Third Bank. At the northeast corner, once empty, there is now a Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robins franchise.

At the peak of its size, the Howard-Western Shopping Center offered 85,600 sq.ft. of retail space. Of the original three anchors, Walgreens, Jewel, and Woolworths, only Walgreens remains.

Photos

RPWRHS photo C036-025 shows southbound Chicago Surface Lines 49 Western streetcar 752 waiting for passengers at the northern end of the line at Howard Street. The land to the right (west) will later be developed as the Howard-Western Shopping Center. 1931. Car 752 was one of a series of 350 cars (751-1100) called "New Pullmans" or "Small Pullmans" (because they were 3 ft. 2 in. shorter and 3 in. narrower than the first series. But, they were taller by 1-1/2 in.). By 1952, all the cars in this series had been scrapped by the CTA. None were saved by a museum or private collector.

RPWRHS photo C036-026 shows the northern end of the Chicago Surface Lines 49 Western line at Howard Street. The land to the right (west) will later be developed as the Howard-Western Shopping Center. 1931.

RPWRHS photo R036-0101 shows Howard-Western Shopping Center site, 1950.

RPWRHS photo R036-0102 shows Howard-Western Shopping Center site, 1950.

RPWRHS photo R036-0103 shows Howard-Western Shopping Center site, 1950.

RPWRHS photo R036-0104 shows Howard-Western Shopping Center site, 1950.

RPWRHS photo R036-0105 shows Howard-Western Shopping Center building, 1950.

RPWRHS photo R036-0106 shows Howard-Western Shopping Center building, 1950.

RPWRHS photo R036-0107 shows Howard-Western Shopping Center building, 1950.

RPWRHS photo R036-0108 shows Howard-Western Shopping Center building, 1950.

RPWRHS photo R036-0109 shows Howard-Western Shopping Center building, 1950.

RPWRHS photo R036-0110 shows Howard-Western Shopping Center building, 1950.

RPWRHS photo R036-0111 shows Howard-Western Shopping Center building, 1950.