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Edison Park

The Edison Park neighborhood was a small farming community named after inventor Thomas Edison, before it was annexed by Chicago in 1910. This thriving Northwest Side residential area grew rapidly between World Wars I and II, and is well served today by Metra commuter rail and expressways. An interesting feature is the neighborhood’s high concentration of streets beginning with the letter ‘O’, resulting from a partially successful project to standardize and alphabetize Chicago’s street names.

Edison Park: Good Restaurants, Lively Bars, and Strong Community on the Northwest Side

Written by Alan Solomon, with research assistance from the Chicago Neighborhood Tourism Project.

The Edison Park neighborhood, named in 1910 for the inventor, has long been perceived as this cute little village by the train station.

"It used to be a very quaint community, like Mayberry," remembers Mike Kaage, whose family has operated Kaage's Newsstand at Oliphant Avenue and Northwest Highway since his grandfather bought it in 1943.

It remains a solid residential community of bungalows, split-levels, Georgians and other styles, with newer development getting a boost when O'Hare, a reasonable commute, became the city's dominant airport in the 1960s. The parks are ample -- one, Monument Park near the station, has a nice World War I memorial set in a small plaza surrounded by benches -- and the streets are tree-lined.

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Public Transportation:

Bus: 68, 90N. For more travel information, visit www.transitchicago.com.

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Community Resources

Edison Park Chamber of Commerce Community Guide 2009

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Unless otherwise noted, each site on this map has identified itself as wheelchair accessible.

Edison Park continued...

What replaced the "Mayberry" commercial district in Edison Park, and what actually makes coming here worthwhile to visitors, is a concentration of good restaurants and lively bars steps from what today is the Metra train station.

It's not just the number but the range of restaurants that makes this short stretch of Northwest Highway -- which, incidentally, is a narrow two-lane commercial street here, not a highway -- especially delicious.

The Mecca Supper Club is a log-interior take on the Wisconsin-style tavern-restaurant combo, complete with mounted game-fish and fried walleye and, some nights, music. Zia's Trattoria and Nonno Pino's satisfy any craving for pasta. Bouillabaisse and entrecote are on the menu nightly at the tres French Cafe Touche.

Don Juan's, a veteran here, mixes familiar Mexican dishes with entrees that challenge tradition (venison fajitas anyone?). Elliott's Seafood Grille and Chop House -- a relative newcomer here but offspring of Elliott's Pine Log, a favorite of yore -- is just what it sounds like. Throw in a couple of Irish pubs to round out the mix.

All this, keep in mind, is within a two-block area of one street, a block from that Metra station. And on the street directly across from that station, Olmsted Avenue, are still more places, one of which, the Edison Park Inn, offers pizza and other bar food, eight beers on draft -- and eight lanes of bowling.

It's not all restaurants. Conca d'Oro, a pastry shop among the dining rooms, is especially proud of its cannoli; Le Flour Bakery features croissants like mere used to make (plus sandwiches). Grazie Cafe serves high-octane coffee, and Tony's is a deli with a few tables.

After enjoying the neighborhood's culinary samplings -- for now, at least -- visitors can expand their minds with a newspaper purchased from whichever Kaage happens to be on duty at a family business that has employed four generations of Kaages -- including four Irvins.

Irvin Jr., Mike's dad, is in his 80s and still works the stand. Irvin III is Mike's brother, and he's done it. So has Mike's nephew, Irvin IV.

"For 67 years, we've never missed a day," says Mike.

Irvin V hasn't worked there yet, but he's 2.

Some things don't change so easily . . .

For more information about Edison Park, please contact the Edison Park Chamber of Commerce at 773.631.0063.