---david corker <cor1ker@y...> wrote:
Do you have a photograph of the Chicago Music Store traffic
accident; was it always a cave in the wall?
Hi David,
As a matter of fact, I do. What I have posted above is actually a
picture of a picture. I noticed that someone at the Chicago Store
posted pictures of the accident in their window, more than a year
after it happened. You can see the huge, unrepaired cracks in the
plate-glass, which sort of adds something, right? Look for a folder
of additional pictures posted in the "Photos" section.
I'll also cut and paste a newspaper article below. Note that the
article gives the impression that the Chicago Store has occupied the
building since 1919, but you can see from the old photos that the
building was used by Penneys throughout the 30's, 40's and 50's (at
least).
The inlayed tilework on the sidewalk outside says "Aaronson Bros",
which probably predates Penneys. Does anyone know for sure?
Thanks,
Carlos
Here's the article about the crash:
chicago store's redo
Repairs to restore damage to music emporium from nearly year-ago crash
By Joseph Barrios
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Published: 12.17.2004
Some things don't change at the Chicago Music Store.
Patrons strum guitars in crowded aisles. Employees holler at each
other from around corners and over stacks of musical instruments.
And soon, the familiar downtown fa?ade will lose the black eye it
suffered last year when a tractor-trailer smashed into the front of
the store at 130 E. Congress.
This week, the business received the OK from its insurance company to
make roughly $85,000 worth of repairs. The impact literally pushed the
front of the building about 2 inches back, said Mark Levkowitz, whose
great-grandparents founded the Chicago Store in 1919.
The crash happened at 5:25 a.m. on Dec. 30. Tucson police reports say
Candice Elizabeth Beckham, headed north, ran a red light at Sixth
Avenue and East Congress Street and collided with a westbound
tractor-trailer. The impact and possibly the driver's swerving sent
the tractor-trailer into the front of the store.
The top half of the tractor-trailer was crushed as it lodged under the
building's overhang. The trailer hit and damaged the familiar metal
sign bearing the store name.
Levkowitz was at home that morning when the phone rang about 5:30 a.m.
"I got a call from the alarm company saying, 'There's a truck in the
entrance of your building.' The alarm company tends to exaggerate,"
Levkowitz said. "I came down and there was a truck in the entrance of
our building. It was quite a shock."
Levkowitz said it took time to process the insurance claims because he
wanted to be meticulous about the repairs. In October 2003, the
Chicago Store was one of eight Downtown properties named to the
National Register of Historic Places.
Construction will begin in a few weeks and should take about a month
to complete. Levkowitz said he doesn't expect the work to disrupt
traffic or business.
A glance at the point of impact shows the brick and mortar walls of
the building sit about 2 inches back from the concrete foundation.
Levkowitz isn't clear on exactly how it will be done, but workers will
try to pull the damaged portion of the building back out. Workers will
also repair some support columns, reinforce portions of the basement
and replace the smashed and cracked glass in front display cases.
Employees and customers of the Downtown fixture have dealt with tough
times in 2004.
Mark Levkowitz's father, Joe, and his uncle, Phil, who ran the store
for decades, both died early this year within 16 days of each other.
Phil was known to stay by the front counter and greet customers while
Joe could often be seen talking to young musicians in the store
aisles.
David Membrila, a local school music director and longtime store
customer, said he felt bad when he heard about the crash.
"I remember when that accident happened, thinking to myself, that was
Phil's spot," Membrila said. "It was a rude awakening for how tragic
life can be. There's a lot of traffic that goes through the Chicago
Store. It's kind of like the 'Cheers' bar, that counter."
The crash did force both the Chicago Music Store and its adjoining
business, Music Land Sheet Music & Instruments, to close for two days.
Sort of.
Even on the day of the crash, faithful customers were still coming to
the front door, said Mary Levkowitz, Mark's wife. And her husband was
still helping them.
"He would run back, get them what they need, and come out. He was
pushing pianos out the front door," she said.
Once the repairs are complete, there's still more work to be done. A
$40,000 Back-to-Basics grant from the city will serve as the
foundation for a $200,000 restoration of the building's front. The
original black and yellow tile will be revealed and windows, which had
been covered by the store sign, will be opened up again.
