email: roadarch@outlook.com

Chicago Car Dealerships

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former Riviera Motor Sales
Chicago, IL
The Riviera Motor Sales Chrysler dealership was designed by R. Bernard Kurzon and built from 1925-1926. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

former Marmon Hupmobile dealership
Chicago, IL
This former Marmon Hupmobile dealership was designed by Paul Gerhardt. It was built in 1920 in the Egyptian Revival style. From 2000-2013, the building housed Nick's Uptown, a bar/nightclub. It has been vacant since then. For more, see this website. [map]

Chicago Motor Car Company [gone]
Chicago, IL
This Chicago Motor Car Company building was constructed in 1919 as the company's Fred Heyden branch. The building housed New Clark Auto Repair when these photos were taken in 2012. It later housed Smashy Automotive. In 2022, the building was devastated by a fire and demolished.

former Sexauer Garage
Chicago, IL
The former Sexauer Garage was designed by David Saul Klafter and built in 1924. The building was demolished but the facade was preserved. The new building is now occupied by the Center on Halsted and a Whole Foods supermarket. [map]

Buick Motor Car Company
Chicago, IL
This Buick Motor Car Company building was designed by Christian Eckstorm and built in 1907. [map]

Locomobile dealership
Chicago, IL
This Locomobile dealership was designed by Jenney, Mundie & Jensen and built in 1909. For more, see this website. [map]

former dealership?
Chicago, IL
This building is probably a former dealership. It is located in the Motor Row district. Does anyone know the history of this building? For more, see this website. [map]

Capital Garage
Chicago, IL		 former dealership?
Chicago, IL
The Capital Garage was built in 1927. I believe this was a parking garage not a repair shop but I'll include it here anyway. For more, see this website. [map]

This detail above Edgewater Produce probably indicates that this building is a former dealership or repair garage. [map]

former Jack Stewart Ford
Chicago, IL
The Jack Stewart Ford oval-shaped dealership was built around 1966. The building now houses McCarthy Ford. For more, see this website. [map]

Grossinger Cadillac
Chicago, IL

2009:
2025:
The Grossinger Cadillac building was built in 1911. The Art Deco details were added later. Tower Oldsmobile was located here until around 2002. I don't know what was here originally. By 2014, Grossinger had moved to a new location. The building now houses a Fresh Market. [map]

Rogers
Auto Group [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Perillo Lincoln Mercury Saab [gone]
Chicago, IL
The Rogers Auto Group building looks like it has always been a dealership. Does anyone know more about it? This photo is from 2010. In 2015, the facade was either stripped and/or covered with silver panels. [map]

The Perillo Lincoln Mercury Saab building originally housed a Pontiac dealer. It was probably built in the 1940s. This photo is from 2006. By 2014, Perillo had moved and this building had been demolished. A Mini Cooper dealership is now on the site.

Car Town [gone]
Chicago, IL
Car Town was a used car lot with great vintage signs. The business and signs are probably from around 1954. In 2020, it was announced that the lot would be developed for condos and retail space. The signs were removed by a private collector. For more, see this website.

Z Frank Chevrolet [gone]
Chicago, IL
2006: 2012:
Z Frank Chevrolet was founded in 1936 by Zollie Frank. Initially, the dealership sold Chrysler-Plymouth cars. In 1953, the company switched to General Motors and Chevrolet. This sign was most likely built at that time. It is about 40 feet tall. The dealership moved in 2008 leaving this sign behind. City sign regulations prohibited installing it at the new location. In 2009, the Z Frank dealership became Mike Anderson Chevrolet. In 2011, the Chevrolet letters were removed from this sign. In 2014, the building and sign were demolished. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

More Chicago:
Hudson Motor Building
Marmon Building
various Motor Row buildings

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