Chez Paul
Chez Paul was a French restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1945 by Paul Contos, Chez Paul became famous under Paul's son, Bill. When it was open, it was the oldest French restaurant in Chicago,[1] and was only exceeded in prestige by Le Francais (which is also closed).[2]
Bill Contos died in April 1993[3] and though the restaurant was struggling, his wife, Regina kept it open for a few more years, long enough to see its 50th anniversary.
Paul Contos opened Chez Paul at Delaware Avenue off Michigan Avenue, but moved it into the Robert Hall McCormick II mansion in 1964 at 660 North Rush Street,[1] after refurbishing the building. The steps and pillars are marble, as is the mantel in the Louis Room, which was presented to McCormick when he was Ambassador to Italy by Victor Emannuel III, King of Italy.
A replica of the restaurant's interior was used for a scene in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. Bill Contos said of the replica, "It was either that or ship the McCormick mansion to the West Coast, and this just seemed easier."[4] A similar set was used in the 1986 movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Chez Paul closed in 1995,[5] and the building is currently[when?] used for office space.
See also
Notes
- ^ a b Pacyga, Dominic A.; Skerrett, Ellen (1986). Chicago, City of Neighborhoods: Histories & Tours. Loyola University Press. p. 43. ISBN 0-8294-0497-X.
- ^ "Legendary Chicago restaurant closes". Chowhound. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
- ^ "BILL CONTOS; OWNED CHEZ PAUL RESTAURANT". Chicago Tribune. April 28, 1993. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024.
- ^ Daly, Maggie (October 12, 1979). "Rosalynn will skip Carter's visit here". Chicago Tribune. p. D6.
- ^ "CHEZ PAUL". WTTW Chicago. November 22, 2013.
References
- Bruno, Pat (October 2, 1994). "Chez Paul Falls Short Of Billing". Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago, IL.
External links
- Google News Archive entries for Chez Paul
- v
- t
- e
- Alinea
- Ann Sather Restaurant
- Argo Tea
- Atelier
- Aurelio's Pizza
- The Berghoff
- Big Chicks
- Billy Goat Tavern
- Boka
- Brown's Chicken & Pasta
- Cafecito
- Calumet Fisheries
- Ceres Cafe
- Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company
- The Cubby Bear
- EL Ideas
- Elske
- Esmé
- Ever
- Fluky's
- Frontera Grill
- Frontier
- Galit
- Gino's East
- Giordano's
- Golden Nugget Pancake House
- Goose Island Brewery
- Greek Islands
- Green Door Tavern
- Harold's Chicken Shack
- Home Run Inn
- Indienne
- Irazu Costa Rica Restaurant
- Kasama
- Kikko
- Lem's Bar-B-Q
- Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
- Longman & Eagle
- Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
- LYFE Kitchen
- Mako
- Manny's Deli
- Margie's Candies
- Maxwell Street Depot
- Michael Jordan's Steakhouse
- Mon Ami Gabi
- Moody Tongue
- Morton's The Steakhouse
- Mr. Beef
- Next
- Les Nomades
- NoMI
- North Pond
- Oriole
- Parachute
- Park Grill
- Portillo's Restaurants
- Porto
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop
- Pueblito Viejo
- Revolution Brewing
- Roeser's Bakery
- Roister
- Rosati's
- Schwa
- Sepia
- Smyth
- Spiaggia
- Superdawg
- Tamale Guy
- Temporis
- Topolobampo
- Uno Pizzeria & Grill
- Walker Bros.
- The Wieners Circle
- 42 Grams
- Acadia
- Angels & Kings
- Blackhawk
- Brasserie Jo
- Chez Paul
- Demon Dogs
- Everest
- Fat Rice
- Goosefoot
- Grace
- GreenRiver
- The Great Gritzbe's Flying Food Show
- Heartland Cafe
- Henry's Hamburgers
- Holly Tree Inn
- Hot Doug's
- L2O
- London House
- Michael Jordan's Restaurant
- Moto
- The Pump Room
- RIA
- Rock N Roll McDonald's
- Schaller's Original Pump
- Sixteen
- Stir Crazy
- Tru
- Vie
41°53′40″N 87°37′33″W / 41.894498°N 87.625743°W / 41.894498; -87.625743