History in Mayfair

Marie's Pizza & Liquors at 4127 West Lawrence Avenue has been serving it up at this same Mayfair street corner since 1940.  Now in its third generation of ownership, this "old school" Chicago institution has more than a fair share of groupies who claim that this is the best destination for thin crust pizza in the entire city.  The decor hasn't changed (ever), the waitstaff have been fixtures for decades, and live music can still be heard several days a week.  During Christmas season, Marie's becomes more famous for its decorations than its food.  The lights, the elves, the train tracks, and the festivity all create a magical atmosphere.  Oddly enough, the restaurant is joined at the hip with a liquor store that sells thousands of different bottles of wine, among other spirits.

Jenny Craig has a warrant out for Susie's arrest.  With roots dating back to 1961, Susie's Drive-In sells tasty concoctions of saturated fat, cholesterol, high fructose corn syrup, and other heart-unfriendly ingredients from a colorful shack on Montrose Avenue.  The loyal following of diet-unconscious patrons come for foot-long gyros, Philly cheesesteaks, burgers, Polish sausages (served on a stick, battered and fried), chili cheese fries (served in an edible, taco-style tortilla bowl), and shakes of every conceivable flavor.

Susie's traces its origins to a greasy spoon restaurant called "Western Burger," which (based on flimsy historical evidence) appears to have opened in 1961.  Western Burger was a sit-down/take-out restaurant and offered no drive-thru option.  In its heyday, a certain "Mr. Ninos" loyally worked in the kitchen and gradually learned the business.  After the original owner passed away in 1973, Mr. Ninos purchased both the restaurant and the land from his widow.  Mr. Ninos and his wife changed the name to "Susie's Drive-In," rehabbed, reconfigured, and repainted the interior and then added the drive-thru option.  Mr. Ninos has since passed away, but his wife and daughters continue to operate the restaurant today at 4126 West Montrose Avenue.