Chicago Furniture Storage Company

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Chicago Furniture Storage Company, Model lodging house, Vestibule Hotel
Life Span: 1882-~1955
Location: NW corner of Van Buren Streets and Fourth (Custom House, Federal), 60-72 Van Buren (1911)
Architect: Daniel Burnham (remodel)

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1884
Chicago Furniture Storage Co. 97 to 103 Vanburen nr. Clark

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1885
Chicago Storage Co. 97 to 103 Vanburen

Lakeside Business Directory of Chicago, 1899
Harvey & McGuire 99 Vanburen

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1903
Harvey Edwin L. 99 Vanburen, 134 W. Madison, 312 and 334 Clark and 449 State

Lakeside Business Directory of Chicago, 1907
Vestibule Co (The) lodgings 99 Vanburen

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1911
Miller & McGinnis 66 W Vanburen, 517 and 816 W Madison

Polk’s Reverse Directory, 1928

W. Van Buren, Federal intersects
62 Hutcheson’s Restr (br)
64 Manhattan Coffee Shop
66 Vestibule Hotel
68 Elroy Restaurant
70 Murphy C J men’s furngs
72 Harrison’s Orange Hut

Inter Ocean, March 30, 1882

STORAGE.
Chicago Storage Company.
Have removed to their new and spacious 5-story building, Nos. 97, 99, 101, and 103 Van Buren street, near Clark, where our patrons and all who may want storage facilities will find the best accommodations in this city at low rates. and advances if desired. Call and see.

A New and Spacious Warehouse,
with superior facilities and modern improvements for storing furniture, merchandise, and ail goods of value, now opened by The Chicago Storage Company at Nos. 99, 101, and 103 Van Buren street, near Clark. No increase in rates. Liberal advances.

LEFT:

RIGHT: Nos. 62, 64, 66, 68, 70 and 72 Van Buren street, 1914.
“The remarkable possibilities of Kellastone, the imperishable stucco, in reclaiming aged property and beautifying and restoring its value and earning capacity, are plainly evidenced in the rebuilding and remodeling of the property owned by Mr. David Mayer, Van Buren and Federal Streets, by D. H. Burnham & Co., architects. Not only is this 30 year old, cracked, dilapidated, out-of-date structure being enabled to compete with modern buildings in architectural beauty and earning capacity, but it is being done in the most economical way at a most economical time.”

Inter Ocean, May 26, 1883

A COMMON SWINDLER.
A curious case came before Justice Meech yesterday. George C. Wheeler, a young man who was acting for a concern known as the Chicago Piano Storage Company. sold a Grovestein & Fuller upright piano, March 24 last, to a Mr. Elliot, of Manitoba, agreeing ta ship it to him April 24. April 3 he took the same piano and stored it in a warehouse and some time after he bargained for and sold it to a man who was going to Rocky Island. He sold the piano “yet once again” to another party and then told him that he could not deliver it because he had got into a lawsuit about it. His next move was to actually ship the piano to Manitoba, which shipment was made lay 12. Justice Meech bound him over to the Criminal Court in the sum of $700 to answer the charge of larceny. A question was asked by George Scoville, counsel for the defendant, as to whether a man could steal his own property, and the famous defender of Guiteau was informed that in such a case a person could.

Wheeler is a boyish looking fellow, and is often called the “slickest rogue in Chicago.” A fine little game of his was to start bus directly under the Chicago Furniture Storage Company, and by adopting the firm name of the “Chicago Piano Storage Company” he was enabled to draw away much of the business of the other firm. When parties wanted furniture he would direct them to the Garden City Furniture Store, receiving a commission from them.

He was busily engaged at the telephone “hallooing” for a bondsman when The Inter Ocean reporter left the room.

Inter Ocean, May 3, 1885

Removal—The Chicago Furniture Storage Company have removed from 99 Van Buren st to their new and improved warehouse 350 and 352 Wabash av, where they ofter superior facilities for storage of household goods, furniture, etc.

Chicago Storage Company.
Nos. 97, 99. 101, 103 Van Buren st.
Storage taken at moderate rates. Will, if desired. send our agent to help pack furniture and arrange for storage. Call or address.

Chicago Tribune, April 18, 1888

Chas. F. Keeler, Chicago Storage Warehouse, 97 to 103 Van Buren-st. corner Fourth-av,—60,000 feet light, airy space for furniture, pianos, etc.; low rates; advances made. Telephone 801.

Inter Ocean, January 21, 1894

Keebler & Co. control 100 feet square at the northwest corner of Van Buren and Custom-house place, which they leased for P. J. Sexton.

Chicago Tribune, April 29, 1899

ARCHIBISHOP TO SUE “L” LOOP.
Will Ask $150,000 Damages for Injury to Church’s Property, 97-103 Van Buren.
Archbishop Feehan will bring suit soon against the Union Elevated railroad company for $150,000 damages. The property, 97-103 Van Buren street, is in the Archbishop’s name, and it will be his contention that the construction of the elevated loop has damaged his property by reducing rents. This, it will be said, is because the loop prevents free entrance to the building. It is also asserted that vibration, dust, and dirt, caused by passing trains, make the location undesirable, and that the structure precludes the advantageous display of goods and advertising matter in the windows. City Attorney Andrew J. Ryan is Archbishop Feehan’s lawyer.¹

Chicago Tribune, September 4, 1910

Real Estate Sales.
The feature of the week’s market was the lease by the Catholic bishop to David Mayer of the property at the northwest corner of Van Buren and Federal streets, 100 feet square for ninety-nine years, at an average annual rent of $24,000, or a total of $2,376,000 for the term. On a 4 per cent basis the rent is equivalent to $600,000, which is at the rate of $6,000 a front foot and $60 a square foot.

The board of review valued the property at $492,000, of which $30,000 is in the building. The improvements comprise a five story brick building under lease to the estate of P. J. Sexton, and which contains eight stores on the first floor and the Vestibule rooming house on the upper four floors.

The lease provides for a modern, fireproof building not less than six stories high within fifteen years. The bishop was represented in the deal by Cremin & O’Connor, and Mr. Mayer by E. F. Keebler & Co., who have represented him in nearly all of his recent real estate transactions. They will have the exclusive renting and management of the property.

Inter Ocean, October 9, 1910

E. F. Keebler & Co. have rented a store on Clark street in the Hotel Sherman, adjoining the entrance to the hotel on the south, to a prominent retall druggist, for ten years. at an aggregate rental of 340,000 for the term. The store is 16½x30 feet. The same brokers have rented for David Mayer to John G. Papadopulos the store at 103 Van Buren street for ten years from May 1 at a rental of 340,000 for the term. The store just leased is in the building at the northwest corner of Van Buren and Federal streets. It has just been rented to various tenants on ten year leases from May 1, 1911, at a total gross rental of $45,000. This is the property which Mr. Mayer acquired from the Catholic Bishop.

Chicago Tribune, March 22, 1914

Leases and Loans.
David Mayer has leased through E. F. Keebler & Co. to the Newark Shoe Stores company, an eastern corporation, the alley store and basement at 70 West Van Buren street in the building at the northwest corner of Van Buren and Federal streets. The lease is for ten years from May 1 at a term rent of $60,000, and it will give the shoe company six stores in the city, five being in the downtown district and one at 1583 Milwaukee avenue.

The Van Buren street store will be remodeled and a new store front put in. Mr. Mayer plans to remodel the entire front of the building with a kellastone, a stucco. The property fronts 100 feet on each street.

NOTES:

¹ Shortly after the Union Loop opened, it was called Chicago’s Great Down-town Nuisance. A lengthy article was published in The Chicago Tribune on September 5, 1897 describing the issues of traffic, noice and building access.

NOTES:

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