The Great Gritzbe's Flying Food Show

Last updated
The Great Gritzbe's Flying Food Show
The Great Gritzbe's Flying Food Show
Chicago locator map.png
Red pog.svg
Location within Chicago metropolitan area
Restaurant information
Established1974
Owner(s) Richard Melman
Dress code Casual
Street address21 East Chestnut Street [1]
CityChicago
StateIllinois
Postal/ZIP Code60611
CountryUnited States
Coordinates 41°53′54″N87°37′38″W / 41.898285°N 87.627223°W / 41.898285; -87.627223
ReservationsNo
Other informationClosed 1983

The Great Gritzbe's Flying Food Show was the name of a popular Chicago restaurant during the 1970s.

It opened in 1974, under owner Richard Melman. The style was designed by Lettuce Entertain You. Institution magazine selected it as one of the top ten in design for 1975. [1] The restaurant featured a cheese bar and a dessert bar. The interior was painted completely grey. [2] Steve Stone, part owner, also worked there during the off season, as host, wine steward, waiter and bartender. [3]

However, by 1983, business had slowed. Melman changed the name to The Not So Great Gritzbe's in a bid to revitalize the restaurant. Business continued to drop off, and several months later, the restaurant closed. [4] [5]

Currently, a condominium occupies the site. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belvidere, Illinois</span> City in Illinois, United States

Belvidere is a city in Boone County, settled on the Kishwaukee River in far northern Illinois, United States. Known as the 'City of Murals', Belvidere is home to several public art installations throughout the North and South State Street historic districts, which are on the national register of historic places. These historic districts are home to places like the Boone County Museum of History, The Funderburg Museum, several restaurants and bars, antique stores and Boutique stores. Popular festivities like Heritage Days are held yearly. The population was 25,339 as of the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Boone County. Belvidere is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Butkus</span> American football player (born 1942)

Richard Marvin Butkus is an American former professional football player, sports commentator, and actor. He played football as a middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) from 1965 to 1973. He was invited to eight Pro Bowls, named a first-team All-Pro six times, and was twice recognized by his peers as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. He was renowned as a fierce tackler and for the relentless effort with which he played and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most intimidating linebackers in pro football history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Boy Restaurants</span> American restaurant chain

Big Boy Restaurant Group, LLC is an American restaurant chain headquartered in Southfield, Michigan. The Big Boy name, design aesthetic, and menu were previously licensed to a number of regional franchisees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois Tollway oasis</span> Rest areas on top of a highway

An Illinois Tollway oasis is a type of commercialized rest area sited over Interstate Highways that are part of the Illinois Tollway system in northern Illinois, United States. The four oases offer food and gasoline vendors and are found in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, DeKalb, and Belvidere. Although the oases date back to the original tollway construction in 1958, they were redeveloped in 2003–2005 by Wilton Partners, a private developer. The redevelopment of the oases has been the focal point of alleged political corruption. The four oases are administered by a court-appointed manager following default of Wilton Partners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two Brothers Brewing</span>

Two Brothers Brewing Company is an independently owned Illinois-based microbrewery founded by brothers Jim and Jason Ebel in 1996. The brothers brought their knowledge of different brewing styles to the Chicago craft brew market after living in Europe and experiencing the variety of beers available there. Jim and Jason started the business using bulk milk tanks converted into fermenters that were donated to them by their grandfather who was a retired dairy farmer. Two Brothers Brewing has now been in business for over 20 years and has opened multiple locations throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, as well as one in Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elgin and Belvidere Electric Company</span>

The Elgin and Belvidere Electric Company was a 36-mile (58 km) interurban line that connected Belvidere, Illinois and Elgin, Illinois. It was the central link in the interurban network connecting Freeport, Rockford, Elgin, and Chicago which included the Rockford and Interurban Railway to the west and the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Railroad to the east. The line was operational from 1907 until 1930. In 1927, the line was extended to Rockford over a line of the Rockford and Interurban.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lundy's Restaurant</span> Former seafood restaurant in Brooklyn, New York

Lundy's Restaurant, also known as Lundy Brothers Restaurant, was an American seafood restaurant in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City, along the bay of the same name. Lundy's was founded in 1926 by Irving Lundy as a restaurant on the waterfront of Sheepshead Bay; five years later, the original building was condemned to make way for a redevelopment of the bay. The present building opened in 1934 or 1935, and closed in 1979. Another restaurant operated in the Lundy's building from 1996 to early 2007, after which the building was converted into a shopping center.

Rich Melman is an American businessman, and the founder and chairman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, a privately held restaurant company with more than 100 venues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises</span> Hospitality group based in Chicago

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) is a restaurant group currently comprising 120 or more restaurants mainly located in the Chicago metropolitan area. It was founded by Rich Melman and Jerry A. Orzoff in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSNS-TV</span> Telemundo TV station in Chicago

WSNS-TV is a television station in Chicago, Illinois, United States, serving as the local outlet for the Spanish-language network Telemundo. It is owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group alongside NBC outlet WMAQ-TV ; it is also sister to regional sports network NBC Sports Chicago. WSNS-TV and WMAQ-TV share studios at the NBC Tower on North Columbus Drive in the city's Streeterville neighborhood and transmitter facilities atop the Willis Tower in the Chicago Loop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois</span>

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 to elect the 18 U.S. representatives from the state, one from each of the state's 18 congressional districts, a loss of one seat following the 2010 United States Census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. Primary elections were held on March 20, 2012.

Yankee Doodle Dandy was a hamburger restaurant chain started in Bensenville, Illinois in December 1966 by brothers Chris and Bill Proyce as the Yankee Doodle House. The chain had as many as 27 restaurants, 7 company owned and the rest franchised, in the Chicago area by 1976. Yankee Doodle had restaurants on 125th and Burleigh streets in Brookfield, Wis. and at 1119 N. La Grange Road in La Grange Park, Illinois during the 1970s. The buildings had a red, white and blue motif. Their slogan in the early 1970s was "Come On Down Where The Good Times Are! Yankee Doodle Dandy!" Their T.V. ads featured an attractive woman in a 1776 "Betsy Ross" style costume. The restaurant had a design and menu similar to Burger Chef and Burger King. According to some sources, the chain went out of business in the early 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fashion Outlets of Chicago</span> Shopping mall in Rosemont, Illinois

Fashion Outlets of Chicago is an enclosed outlet mall located in Rosemont, Illinois, United States. Located within the Chicago metropolitan area, the mall lies east of Interstate 294 and O'Hare International Airport and is adjacent to Rosemont Theatre. Opening on August 1, 2013, the mall is owned by Macerich, and was co-developed by AWE Talisman. Featuring more than 140 stores, the mall was noted for its differences from a regular outlet mall.

The Tramp Dentists is a 1913 American silent short comedy film released by the newly formed Joker productions by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company. Directed by Allen Curtis, the film's cast includes Max Asher, Lee Morris, Eddie Boland Joseph Singleton and Bobby Vernon. The film is centered on two tramps, Dusty and Weary, who take over a dentist shop and get rich through their untrained dentistry, extracting teeth with pincers and ice tongs. After earning a large amount of money, the tramps return to their old way of life. Released on October 29, 1913, this film was the second Joker comedy. The film received some criticism for its vulgar humor. The film had a wide national release in the United States, but the film is presumed lost.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adolphus W. Green</span> American businessman

Adolphus Williamson Green was an American attorney and businessman. He was the co-founder of the National Biscuit Company in 1898. A year later, in 1899, he was the first person to sell packaged biscuits. He served as the President of the National Biscuit Company from 1905 to 1917.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin A. Ryerson</span>

Martin A. Ryerson (1856–1932) was an American, lawyer, businessman, philanthropist and art collector. Heir to a considerable fortune, he was a lumber manufacturer and corporate director. He became the richest man in Chicago by the age of 36. A long-time trustee of the University of Chicago, he made large charitable contributions for the construction of buildings on campus. He bequeathed his extensive art collection to the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Chicago, Aurora and DeKalb Railroad was a 29-mile (47 km) interurban line which operated from 1906 to 1923 and connected the cities of Aurora and DeKalb, Illinois. The line made connections in Aurora with the Aurora, Elgin and Fox River Electric Company, the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Railroad, and the Aurora, Plainfield and Joliet Railroad. Entry into Aurora was made via streetcar trackage of the Aurora, Elgin and Fox River Electric. Over the course of its history, the railroad used internal combustion, steam, and finally electric traction as motive power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grace Durand</span> American clubwoman, business owner, and temperance activist

Grace Garrett Durand was an American clubwoman, business owner, and temperance activist.

The 1903 Northern Illinois State Normal football team represented Northern Illinois State Normal College as an independent in the 1903 college football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach John A. H. Keith and played their home games at Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus. The team finished the season with a 4–2 record. Floyd Ritzman and Donald Kays were the team's co-captains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago</span> Water park in Gurnee, Illinois

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago is a 20-acre water park located in Gurnee, Illinois, United States. Six Flags owns and operates the park, which is located within the Chicago metropolitan area. The park opened on May 28, 2005, as part of a US$42 million expansion of the adjacent amusement park Six Flags Great America, from which it has been separately gated since 2021.

References

  1. 1 2 Kupcinet, Sue; Fish, Connie (Jan 1978). Chicago gourmet. Simon and Schuster. p. 135. ISBN   9780671228965 . Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  2. "Footloose in the Windy City". The Des Plaines Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois. 18 Jun 1977. p. 55 via newspapers.com.
  3. Ryman, Rich (29 Nov 1974). "Steve Stone: Restaurateur or Ballplayer?". Belvidere Daily Republican. Belvidere, Illinois. p. 2 via newspapers.com.
  4. Larson, Erik (1988-10-01). "The Man With the Golden Touch". Inc. p. 2. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  5. Silverman, Ruth (15 Oct 1986). "Eat, Drink and be Melman". The Daily Herald. Chicago, Illinois. p. 2, sect. 2 via newspapers.com.
  6. "21 E Chestnut" . Retrieved 23 May 2011.