The Motor Row District is a historic district in Chicago's Near South Sidecommunity area. Motor Row includes buildings on Michigan Avenue between 2200 and 2500 south, directly west of McCormick Place convention center, and 1444, 1454, 1737, 1925, 2000 S. Michigan Ave., as well as 2246-3453 S. Indiana Ave., and 2211-47 S. Wabash Ave.[2] The district was built between 1905 and 1936 by a number of notable architects.
Auto rows developed in numerous US cities shortly after 1900 as car companies sought to create districts where the sale and repair of cars could become an easy urban shopping experience. At its peak, as many as 116 different makes of automobiles were sold and repaired on Motor Row. Current-day marques that formerly had showrooms on Motor Row included Ford, Buick, Fiat, and Cadillac. Other marques with showrooms there that have since dissolved include Hudson, Locomobile, Marmon, and Pierce-Arrow. Currently, only one car dealer (Fiat/Alfa Romeo) still stands in Motor Row while the remaining buildings have been or are being redeveloped into condominiums, nightclubs, and retail storefronts.
The range of buildings in Motor Row illustrates the evolution of the automobile showroom and related product and service buildings, from simple two-story structures used for display and offices to multi-story buildings housing a variety of departments for the repair, storage, painting, and finishing of automobiles. Many of the buildings were designed by significant architects, including Holabird & Roche, Alfred Alschuler, Philip Maher, Albert Kahn, and Christian Eckstorm. The overall design highlights elaborately carved stone work, ornate facades and intricately scrolled ironwork that decorates recessed automotive doorways.
In recent years, Motor Row has been undergoing a transformation into a music and entertainment district.[3] Motor Row Brewing [4](formerly known as Broad Shoulders Brewery) opened in the district in January 2015.[5][6] Riff Music Lounge opened in the district in 2013.[7] Motor Row Brewing closed in 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and shortly thereafter a new brewing company, Duneyrr, was started in the same space by two former Lagunitas employees.[8]
In 2011–2012, local officials attempted to lure a Cheap Trick-themed restaurant, music venue and museum to the district; however, this deal fell through in 2013.[9][10][11][12]
Galleryedit
2210 S. Michigan
2222 S. Michigan
2200 block S. Michigan
2400 block S. Michigan
Former Joyce Ford (now New City Fiat), 2401 S. Michigan
^ ab"Motor Row District". City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division. 2003. Retrieved November 15, 2010.[permanent dead link]
^Motor Row revival plans shift into gear - Chicago Tribune - September 30, 2012.
^"More South Loop Suds: Motor Row Brewing Opening in mid-January". December 22, 2014.
^Brewery headed for Motor Row - Chicago Sun-Times - June 22, 2011.
^Broad Shoulders Brewery Coming to Motor Row; Plans for Summer Opening - Sloopin - December 29, 2011.
^Riff Music Lounge Looks To Fulfill Your Dancing Desires - Sloopin - November 18, 2013.
^Noel, Josh (March 4, 2021). "Motor Row Brewing didn't survive the pandemic, but 2 Lagunitas alums hope their wine-beer hybrids will flourish in its place". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
^Motor Row developer loses Cheap Trick club, dinner theater - Alison Burdo, Chicago Real Estate Daily - March 13, 2013.
Further readingedit
Motor Row Memories Jerome M. O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, October 21, 2012.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Motor Row Historic District.
January 01, 1970
motor, district, historic, district, chicago, near, south, side, community, area, motor, includes, buildings, michigan, avenue, between, 2200, 2500, south, directly, west, mccormick, place, convention, center, 1444, 1454, 1737, 1925, 2000, michigan, well, 2246. The Motor Row District is a historic district in Chicago s Near South Side community area Motor Row includes buildings on Michigan Avenue between 2200 and 2500 south directly west of McCormick Place convention center and 1444 1454 1737 1925 2000 S Michigan Ave as well as 2246 3453 S Indiana Ave and 2211 47 S Wabash Ave 2 The district was built between 1905 and 1936 by a number of notable architects Motor Row Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtChicago LandmarkLocationChicago IllinoisCoordinates41 51 10 N 87 37 26 W 41 85278 N 87 62389 W 41 85278 87 62389Area28 acres 11 ha Built1905 1936Architectural styleEarly Commercial Mission Spanish RevivalMPSMotor Row Chicago Illinois MPSNRHP reference No 02001387 1 Significant datesAdded to NRHP2002Designated CLDecember 13 2000 Auto rows developed in numerous US cities shortly after 1900 as car companies sought to create districts where the sale and repair of cars could become an easy urban shopping experience At its peak as many as 116 different makes of automobiles were sold and repaired on Motor Row Current day marques that formerly had showrooms on Motor Row included Ford Buick Fiat and Cadillac Other marques with showrooms there that have since dissolved include Hudson Locomobile Marmon and Pierce Arrow Currently only one car dealer Fiat Alfa Romeo still stands in Motor Row while the remaining buildings have been or are being redeveloped into condominiums nightclubs and retail storefronts Contents 1 Architecture 2 Redevelopment 3 Gallery 4 References 5 Further readingArchitecture editThe range of buildings in Motor Row illustrates the evolution of the automobile showroom and related product and service buildings from simple two story structures used for display and offices to multi story buildings housing a variety of departments for the repair storage painting and finishing of automobiles Many of the buildings were designed by significant architects including Holabird amp Roche Alfred Alschuler Philip Maher Albert Kahn and Christian Eckstorm The overall design highlights elaborately carved stone work ornate facades and intricately scrolled ironwork that decorates recessed automotive doorways Though characterized by its auto showrooms Motor Row was also home to newspaper The Chicago Defender a newspaper voice for Chicago s large African American community Chess Records was also located in Motor Row and acts such as Muddy Waters The Rolling Stones Willie Dixon and many other blues artists recorded there Motor Row was designated a Chicago Landmark on December 13 2000 2 It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 18 2002 1 Redevelopment editIn recent years Motor Row has been undergoing a transformation into a music and entertainment district 3 Motor Row Brewing 4 formerly known as Broad Shoulders Brewery opened in the district in January 2015 5 6 Riff Music Lounge opened in the district in 2013 7 Motor Row Brewing closed in 2021 as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic and shortly thereafter a new brewing company Duneyrr was started in the same space by two former Lagunitas employees 8 In 2011 2012 local officials attempted to lure a Cheap Trick themed restaurant music venue and museum to the district however this deal fell through in 2013 9 10 11 12 Gallery edit nbsp 2210 S Michigan nbsp 2222 S Michigan nbsp 2200 block S Michigan nbsp 2400 block S Michigan nbsp Former Joyce Ford now New City Fiat 2401 S Michigan nbsp 2300 block S Michigan nbsp 2337 S Michigan nbsp 2327 2329 S Michigan nbsp 2315 S Michigan nbsp 2200 block S Michigan nbsp 2245 2251 S Michigan nbsp 2239 S MichiganReferences edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 a b Motor Row District City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development Landmarks Division 2003 Retrieved November 15 2010 permanent dead link Motor Row revival plans shift into gear Chicago Tribune September 30 2012 More South Loop Suds Motor Row Brewing Opening in mid January December 22 2014 Brewery headed for Motor Row Chicago Sun Times June 22 2011 Broad Shoulders Brewery Coming to Motor Row Plans for Summer Opening Sloopin December 29 2011 Riff Music Lounge Looks To Fulfill Your Dancing Desires Sloopin November 18 2013 Noel Josh March 4 2021 Motor Row Brewing didn t survive the pandemic but 2 Lagunitas alums hope their wine beer hybrids will flourish in its place Chicago Tribune Retrieved August 20 2022 Cheap Trick Eyes Record Row for museum concert venue Chicago Sun Times October 4 2011 City Council moves to transform Motor Row into Music Row Chicago Sun Times September 1 2011 Cheap Trick team reveals big plans for Motor Row Chicago Sun Times July 6 2012 Motor Row developer loses Cheap Trick club dinner theater Alison Burdo Chicago Real Estate Daily March 13 2013 Further reading editMotor Row Memories Jerome M O Connor Chicago Tribune October 21 2012 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Motor Row Historic District Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Motor Row District amp oldid 1169256074, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
