🚘🎹From Cadillacs to Chess Records: South Loop Walking Tour! 🏙️ 🏛️

🚘🎶Cadillacs to Chess Records: South Loop Walking Tour! 🏙️ 🏛️

Motor Row & Record Row: Chicago History on Foot!

Step back in time on a Saturday stroll through the South Loop, where Chicago’s automotive and musical legends come alive! Explore iconic Motor Row showrooms, historic Record Row studios, stunning architecture, grand churches, and the fascinating stories that shaped this vibrant neighborhood.

🗓️ Sat, Aug 23, 2025
🕚 12–2 PM (~2 miles)
📍 Start: Chicago Firehouse Restaurant – 1401 S Michigan Ave
🎯 End: Quinn Chapel AME – 2401 S Wabash Ave
💰 $20 (cash preferred; Zelle/Venmo/PayPal accepted)
🚶 Casual pace | Outdoors | Rain or shine 🌦️

⚠️ Walk ends 1 mile from start — if driving, consider parking midway!

🔍 What You’ll See
🚘 Chicago’s first “auto row” – Cadillac, Buick, Ford & more
🎶 Record Row – Chess, Vee-Jay & the birth of Chicago R&B
⛪ Grand historic churches & immigrant stories
🏛️ Vanished businesses & reborn landmarks
🏗️ Amazing early 20th-century architecture

📸 Not a photo walk but bring your camera!

🗺️ Route Highlights:
🚒 Firehouse Engine Co. → now Firehouse Restaurant (1401 S. Michigan)
🎤 Jerry Butler’s Songwriters Workshop (1402 S. Michigan Ave)
🎵 Constellation Records (1421 S. Michigan Ave)
🎶 Vee-Jay Records & Brunswick Records (1449 S. Michigan Ave)
📀 Garmisa Distributing Co. (1455 S. Michigan Ave)
⛪ Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church (1500 S. Michigan Ave)
🎼 One-derful Records (1827 S. Michigan Ave)
🏭 B.F. Goodrich Co. Building (1925 S. Michigan Ave)
⛪ Second Presbyterian Church (1936 S. Michigan Ave)
🚗 Locomobile Company (2000 S. Michigan Ave)
🎹 Chess Records (320 E. 21st St)
🎸 Chess Records (2120 S. Michigan Ave)
🏨 Former Lexington Hotel (2135 S. Michigan Ave)
🍽️ Mama Batt’s Restaurant (112 E. Cermak)
🏢 The Lex (2138 S. Indiana Ave – former Lexington)
🐦 The Bird Company (2210–12 S. Michigan Ave)
🚘 Hudson Motor Showroom (2222–28 S. Michigan Ave)
🚙 Marmon Car Co. Showroom (2230 S. Michigan Ave)
🚗 Quality Car Co. (Premier Cars) (2329–31 S. Michigan Ave)
🏛️ Illinois Automobile Club (2400 S. Michigan Ave)
🚘 Former Joyce Ford → now New City Fiat (2401 S. Michigan Ave)
🚘 Pierce Arrow Showroom (2420 S. Michigan Ave)
⛪ Quinn Chapel AME (2401 S. Wabash Ave)

🏙️ Fun Facts:
🎶 Record Row – Chicago’s hub for blues, jazz, soul & R&B (1950s–70s). Chess & Vee-Jay defined a generation before Motown.
🚘 Motor Row – America’s largest intact early “auto row” with 100+ makes sold between 1905–1936, from Cadillac to Marmon.

👟 Bring:
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water bottle
• Weather-ready gear
• $20 fee (cash preferred)

🍽️ Optional Lunch After:
Join us at nearby spots:
• Fat Pour Tapworks 🍺 https://fatpourmccormick.com/
• Il Culaccino 🍝 https://ilculaccino.com/
• Windy City Ribs & Whiskey 🍖https://windycityribs.net/
💵 Bring cash — some restaurants don’t split checks!

📞 Questions? DM me here: 312.835.4259

🧭 Come walk where Chicago’s cars & records made history.

📌 RSVP & No-Show Policy
✔️ Please keep your RSVP current
🚫 No-shows make future planning tough
🕛 RSVP updates close at the tour start time