Bonfield Block

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Bonfield Block Albert Pick Building
Life Span: 1872-1934
Location: Northwest corner of Fifth avenue (Wells Street) and Randolph street (208-10 W. Randolph Street)
Architect: L. D. Cleveland

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1874

Grommes & Ullrich

Bonfield Bldg.

Lakeside Business Directory of the City of Chicago, 1899
Bonfield Bldg.—199 to 203 Randolph

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The Land Owner, July, 1872

THE BONFIELD BUILDING, RANDOLPH STREET.
This fine structure, together with the Sherman House, and many other buildings now going up in Randolph street, settles the question of that thoroughfare ever losing its prominence among the streets of our new Chicago. It is owned by Joseph F. Bonfield, Esq., and comprises Nos. 199, 201 and 203. It is just west of the building erected by H. H. Honore, on the northwest corner of Fifth avenue and Randolph street. When finished, it will be one of the largest wholesale stores on this street, and one of the most substantial buildings of its class in the city. Its frontage on Randolph street is about 54 feet, and its depth is 162 feet, the front being of Cleveland and Kankakee sandstone, four stories and basement in height, the whole costing upwards of $50,000. The architect is L. D. Cleveland, Esq.

This large building has been rented to Messrs. Grommes & Ullrich, importers of wines and liquors, who before the fire were located at 146 South Clark street, but since the fire have temporarily transacted business at 229 and 231 West Madison street, where they are now awaiting the completion of their new quarters, into which they will move in August next. The firm is one of Chicago’s old landmarks, having been established in 1860. They buy their goods direct from the wine producers in Europe, besides which they are the agents for several of the largest wine firms in Germany and France, among whom we may mention Cuzol fils & Cie, and Flouch Freres, Bordeaux, France; Jacques Goerg & Co., Chalons sur Marne, Joseph Falck in Mayence, J. Oppmann is Wurzburg, Bavaria, who makes the finest sparkling wines in the world, equal to the best brands of French champagne; Underberg Albrecht in Eheinberg, who makes the finest bitters, called Bonekamp, ever sent to this continent; Ruinart, Pere & fils, Reims, a well known champagne; Kelly’s Island Wine Co., the very best Catawba produced in this country; Buena Vista Vine Society in San Francisco, and Herman Heye, in Bremen, manufacturers of bottles and demijohns.

Connection with such producers as above, renders Grommes & Ullrich the largest firm in this trade in the West. Their trade extends southward to Memphis, and all through the Western States and Territories. They now have thousands of casks and cases of wine on the way for their mammoth new establishment in the Bonfield building. They sell goods either in their store or in their bonded warehouse, and for square and upright dealing they have won an unblemished record.

This house also deals largely in Kentucky whiskies, of which they keep the finest and best assorted stock, buying direct from the distillers. They can therefore compete with any house in this line in the United States.

Rebuilt Chicago

The Commercial Advertiser, January 3, 1878

A LEADING HOUSE.
Grommes & Ullrich. Dealers in Sour Mash Whiskies, Wines and Liquors.
The demand for liquors of all kinds, has stimulated men of means to invest their money in stock of all grades, and in the few years that have elapsed since the beginning of the wholesale business in this line, in the west, many have built up large and flourishing trades in all sections of the country. This has been the means of bringing large amounts of money into this city, which would otherwise be sent to the East, a course which compelled dealers to pay more for the same brands of liquors than we can now supply them for as they are saved the expense of going East, railroad fares, hotel bills and freights.

Chicago is well able to supply all dealers in this line, guaranteeing pure wines, brandies, gin, ete., at lower figures than can be purchased in the East. The most prominent and reliable establishment in this line in this city, is that of Messrs. Grommes & Ullrich, of Nos. 199, 201 and 203 E. Randolph street, where they occupy large and commodious quarters, which are filled with a complete stock of sour mash whiskies, and all kinds of wines and liquors, in which they will fill all orders at the lowest prices. They have been established in this line since 1856, and are too well known to the trader far and near, to need any commendation at our hands. One feature of this firm is that all patrons may rest assured that they will receive nothing but pure wines and liquors, as this firm carry no other in stock Their stock of old whiskies is the largest in the market, and in addition to their extensive trade in this line they are agents for the well known foreign houses of J. Oppmann, Wuerzburg, Ruirart, Pere and Fils & G H. Mumm & Co., Reims, Flouch, Freres and Cuzol Fils, Bordeaux and Geo Sayer & Co., of Cognac. They are also agents for the Kelley Island Wine Co., the Buena Vista Vin cultural Society, of Cal., and the celebrated Boonekamp Bitters and for Bollinger’s champagne.

All in all, this is one of the most complete establishments in the city, from which dralers can, at all times, make their selections from a large and and well assorted stock of pure wines and liquors at the most reasonable prices. If we have been the means of introdueing any of our readers to this firm, we are satistied that they will receive courteous treatment at the hands of Messis Grommes & Ulrich of 199 to 203 East Randolph St. Chicago, Ill.

Chicago Tribune, May 4, 1879

Messrs. Grommes & Ullrich, one of the oldest and largest wholesale wine and liquor houses in the West, who have been in business in Chicago for the past twenty years, will remove this week to the spacious double store at Nos. 174 and 176 Madison street, between Fifth avenue and LaSalle street. This firm are the sole Western agents for the celebrated “O. F. C.,” E. H. Taylor, Jr., the Bond & Lillard, and the Waterfill & Frazier brands of sour-mash whiskies, much are acknowledged to be the best whiskies made in this country. They also import all the leading brands of foreign wines, brandies, gins, etc., and every one of the largest and finest stocks of liquors in the country.

Rand, McNally & Co.’s Birds’-Eye Views of Chicago, 1893

⑩ The Bonfield Building.
At 199-203 Randolph Street, was erected in 1872 for wholesale jobbers; 4 stories, 50 feet wide, 120 feet.

Chicago Tribune, July 13, 1910

STORE BUILDING SOLD TO WOMAN. BUYS FROM ALBERT PICK
The property at 211 Randolph street has been purchased by Mrs. Grace L, Whitehead from Albert Pick for $60,000. The lot is 20×180 feet, improved with a four story and basement building. It adjoins the large store of Albert Pick & Co., to whom the building has been leased for a form of years at a rental of $63,000 for the term. The board of review valued the property at $50,010 of which 85,000 is in the building. The sale and lease were negotiated by Frank S. Pagin & Co.

Chicago Tribune, February 17, 1940

The Albert Pick building at 208-12 West Randolph street, torn down in 1934 and space used for parking.

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