By Ricky Rieckert Dear readers, subscribers, all. This week, I’m going to write about, first, something a reader suggested. Betty sent me a compliment about my articles and that she likes reading them. She said it brings back memories. This letter was forwarded to me from The Voice. Upon reading,...
By Ricky Rieckert I’m proud to say that I received my first compliment letter from a woman reader/subscriber. Thanks to The Voice for forwarding it to me. It was really touching. This week, I’m going to finish-up with E. Galena Boulevard (Main Street) in Aurora. Starting at Root Street and...
By Ricky Rieckert This week in Aurora’s past, I am continuing on West Galena Boulevard (Main Street), from Blackhawk Street on the west side heading East towards Downtown Aurora. Down at Locust and W. Galena, there were gas stations on three corners, except the northeast where there was a church....
By Ricky Rieckert This week, I’m going to start on W. Galena Boulevard, heading east, from Constitution Drive. On the Northside, right off Galena Boulevard, was a department store called Zayre’s. It was open for a long time. However, due to theft and it becoming trashed, it was closed. Walmart...
By Ricky Rieckert This week, I’m starting on N. Farnsworth and E. New York Street moving north. At the southwest corner, of Liberty Street was a small grocery store called the Bread Box. Don, who was Greek, I believe, owned it for many years, since I was a little boy....
By Ricky Rieckert I’m sorry, but I left a few things, out of my article, last week. First off The Mug Tavern, was a great place to see live bands on the weekends. I saw quite a few. I saw the bands Off Broadway and Survivor. Jim Peterik, from Berwyn...
By Ricky Rieckert This week, we’re starting from E. New York Street and Broadway, going South. About the third building, on the Westside was the Paradise Inn. One of the best Chinese restaurants in Aurora, owned by the Park family. Moving south, on the south westside of Galena Boulevard (Main...
By Ricky Rieckert Dear reader’s, It was brought to my attention that when I wrote about S. Lake Street, a couple of weeks ago, I forgot to include Hardee’s, which was between Gayle and Prairie Street’s, on S. Lake Street. They had a store on N. Farnsworth Avenue and Indian...
By Ricky Rieckert Hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day. This week in Aurora, I’m going to touch base about the Blue Lantern Restaurant on E. New York Street. Some people wanted to know more about the restaurant. In the Summer of 1973, my brother, a year younger and I...
By Ricky Rieckert I hope everyone has a beautiful upcoming Labor Day weekend. This week in Aurora, we take off at Broadway and Illinois Avenue and go south. On the riverside, west of Illinois is Carl Stirn’s Boat Marina. It’s been around a long time. I purchased my first yacht...
By Ricky Rieckert This week, I will finish up with North Lake Street in Aurora. On the northwest corner of North Lake Street and Indian Trail, on the corner, was Ed Fanning Chevrolet car dealership. Set back, in a strip mall, was Gaylord’s Department Store. It then became a Jewel...
By Ricky Rieckert This week, we start at Illinois Avenue and North Lake Street in Aurora. At the northeast corner was Golden Bear Restaurant. I remember going there at midnight, with a couple of friends on a Friday night. There was a waiting list, to be seated. One friend, gave...
By Ricky Rieckert Welcome readers; This week, we continue on South Lake Street in Aurora, where Arnold Avenue runs East and Jericho Road runs West. A block away, on the west side of the street, I believe originally was a Gas Station. It then became a hot dog and sandwich...
By Ricky Rieckert Last week we made it to Lake Street in Aurora in the recapture of businesses in Aurora in past years. Just one-half block from Lake Street, on West New York Street, on the south side, was another Prince Castle restaurant with burger and one-in-a million shakes. South...
By Ricky Rieckert Hi everyone. I left off at Lincoln Avenue and East New York Street, last week in the recapture of Aurora businesses in years past. I know a woman who used to live in the brick three-story apartment building, on the southeast corner. When they were kids, she...
By Ricky Rieckert Last week, we were still on East New York Street coming up to Lincoln Avenue in the recapture of Aurora business in years past. On the northeast corner, in the Hill, was Don Walker’s Sandwich Center. It was built into the Hill. During the Winter, the large...
By Ricky Rieckert Dear readers, subscribers, and patrons, Happy Fourth of July! This week, on East New York Street at Union Street, on the northeast corner, was Matt’s Texaco. Matt Monaco owned and operated it. He had a white flag outside of the station, for a Chicago White Sox win,...
By Ricky Rieckert This week, I’m taking you west on East New York Street in remembrances of Aurora to Broadway, from my old homestead. But first, I wanted to tell you about, Harold O’Brien, who lived across the street from me. When we were 7 and 8 years old, we...
By Ricky Rieckert This week I want to start out by wishing and hoping all the dad’s had a great father’s day. I ended last week in the history of Aurora places at State Street and East New York Street. In the middle of block between State Street and Union...
By Ricky Rieckert This week, we’re starting off with our history of Aurora at East New York Street, west of Farnsworth Avenue. Many year’s ago on the south corner was Kilborns Gas Station and Automotive. On the north corner was Harpers Used Cars, now KFC. Heading west to Kendall Street:...
