Stolp Avenue, Aurora, part three:
Part two is available at thevoice.us/aurora-hotel-and-leland-tower-start-early-days-on-stolp
In 1964, Stolp Avenue and Island Avenue downtown were conjoined into one street (Stolp), and all of the addresses changed to either North or South Stolp with Galena Boulevard as the zero point.
Before listing any new businesses, I’ll update those listed in the previous essay. Addresses are South Stolp unless otherwise noted.
• The Aurora Hotel (North Stolp) was forced to close its doors due to unsanitary conditions. It stood abandoned until 1997 when it was rehabilitated and re-opened as the North Island Apartments.
• The Leland Hotel closed its doors in 1979. The building changed ownership a couple of times and, in 1988, became the Fox Island Place, an apartment complex.
• The Armory (North Stolp) was closed in 1968 and its equipment and personnel transferred to a new location (I’m still looking for where).
• Huesling Jewelry moved across the street to 32 and remained there from 1939 to 1955.
• Block and Kuhl remained on the street until 1963, and Carson Pirie Scott assumed ownership of the building.
• Montgomery Ward changed its address to 10-18 in 1941, then to 10-20 in 1942, and finally moved off the street in 1971.
• The Virginia Shop moved to 24 and remained there from 1985 to 1989.
• The Isle Theater changed its address to 21 in 1964 and closed its doors in 1981 (boo!). In 1998, it and a few adjacent addresses were razed to make way for Millennium Park.
• Bill’s Hat Shop moved off the street in 1972.
• Assell Photo Service closed its doors in 1999.
• Arnold Lies, contractor, moved off the street to a new location in 1951.
• Staudt and Newman moved in 1967. This address has become home to a succession of bars and restaurants.
• The Aurora Steak House moved in 1973.
• Jo Anne’s School of Charm moved in 1967.
• Carson Pirie Scott remained on the street until 1979 when it re-located to Northgate Shopping Center on North Lake Street. This address subsequently became the temporary home to Waubonsee College (Aurora Campus). It is now the Paramount Arts Center.
Update to part one: the Aurora Chamber of Commerce re-located to 17 South Island Avenue until 1945 when it moved to 2 North Island; the Junior Chamber of Commerce joined it in 1951. Both moved off the street in 1963 and are now residing at the city parking garage on West Galena (hopefully for good!).
Notable new addresses (South Stolp unless otherwise noted):
The Aurora Diner became Barefoot Charlie’s in 1963. It was an iconic eatery if there ever was one, because it was an old re-converted railroad coach car propped up by railroad ties above the parking lot behind the Metropolitan Block building. It went out of business in 1979 (boo!).
• Tuberty World Wide Travel agency at 71, 1966-1972, expanded to 71-73, 1972-1973.
• Tanquary’s Shoe Store at 24, 1965-1983.
• WLXT (channel 60), Aurora’s TV station, at 17, 1968-1971, after which it re-located to the North Island Center (northeast corner of Stolp and Galena).
• Aurora Trophy Center at 32, 1969-1989.
• Fox Valley Office Machines at 19, 1971-1982.
• Stanley’s Furniture at 14, 1973-1976, moved to 10-12, 1976-2000+.
• The Cut Above (barber shop) at 61, 1978-1993.
• Sal’s Tailor Shop at 59, 1965-1966, moved off the street, returned to 26, 1980-1985.
• The Alamo Club (tavern) at 17, 1973-1989.
• Michael Dee’s Gourmet Cookies and Pastry at 36, 1987-2000+.
• Waubonsee College (Aurora campus, bookstore entrance) at 2, 1989-2012, moved to present location on South River Street.
• Alpha Christian Registry (employment agency) at 75, 1997-2000+.
• African-American Chamber of Commerce at 30, 1999-2000+.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the old Tom-A-Hawk Club at 5 Fox Street where once stood the original Aurora Post Office. The entrance to the Club was on Stolp. It opened in September 1947 after the post office re-located to Holbrook Avenue (now West Benton Street) and provided students from East and West High Schools with alternatives to “less desirable modes of leisure haunts” (quote from an article in the Aurora Beacon-News, 07 January 1954). In 1960, it changed its name to the Junior Teen Club. Sadly, it closed its doors in 1963. The building was torn down to make way for the city parking garage (ugh!).
Just a thought.