If you are new to Hey Chicago, we regularly spotlight neighborhoods and suburbs. This week, we’re featuring a “suburb within the city”: Galewood.
Abram Gale developed the Far West Side neighborhood in the 19th century. It was once a farm and later a golf course before a residential boom in the 1920s. With three Metra stations in the area, it’s easy to see the unique bungalows and other houses in Galewood today.
Tom Drebenstedt — Galewood Neighbors board member, Galewood Is newsletter columnist, and Rutherford Sayre Natural Area co-steward — told us about some of the sights and sounds of the neighborhood.
Something to Eat
- 🥪 Serrelli’s on North Avenue just celebrated their 90th anniversary.
- 🍽️ Check out 6978 Soul Food, which is also nearby.
- 🌮 Maria’s Mexican Restaurant has a location on Harlem Avenue and another further northwest.
- 🤤 Perfect Jerk and Hacienda Memos showcase the neighborhood’s diversity.
The Mars Candy plant, which is now closing. (Courtesy of Tom Drebenstedt)
Something to See
- 🍫 Before much of Galewood was built, Mars Candy put its headquarters and plant there almost a century ago. (Remember when Chicago was the candy capital of the world?)
- 🏡 Explore the architectural delight of homes ranging from bungalows to romantic revivals to a mid-century landmark, but don’t forget to seek out a few gems from the 1870s and 80s.
- 🪩 The futuristic-looking Miracle House was built in 1954 as a grand prize in a raffle.
Something to Do
- 🌳 Amundsen Park, with a state-of-the-art track and football/soccer field, is loved by the community.
- 🌿 Rutherford Sayre Natural Area contains a historic field house, baseball diamonds, and a five-acre natural area with a walking path running both over and under railroad tracks. Experience what the Illinois prairie was like before development.
- ☀️ Head to GaleWoodstock in late summer!
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