The Blackhawk Restaurant was an iconic Chicago, Illinois eating establishment from 1920 until 1984. It was located at 139 N. Wabash Avenue, just south of Randolph Street in Chicago’s Loop District. Owner Don Roth (1913-2003) took over The Blackhawk from his father, Otto Roth, in 1944.

One of Don Roth’s obituaries described the restaurant:

My great grandfather, Arthur Bryan Myers Sears (1900-1964), was one of the “business types” and dined at The Blackhawk with his colleagues one evening in the 1950s. This souvenir photograph was included in a trove of his and my great grandmother, Ida Rhoads Sears’ (1900-2002), photos and memorabilia.

Arthur, cigarette in hand and elbows on the table, is sitting on the right side five back from the front.

Arthur spent most of his professional life living and working in Battle Creek, Michigan, a three hour drive east of downtown Chicago. He worked for Consumers Power for 38 years. At the time of his death in 1964 he was the Superintendent of Appliances in Battle Creek.

Vintage restaurant memorabilia vividly captures a time, place, and mood in history. This is especially true for me when I look at this photograph of my great grandfather with his friends and colleagues at The Blackhawk Restaurant.

Here is the front of a 1930s version of The Blackhawk menu.

Learning about where your family ate, drank, smoked, or celebrated can be as meaningful as knowing where they married, prayed, or were buried. How did they live their day to day lives? What music did they listen to? Who were their friends? What sort of salads did they eat?

Asking yourself these kinds of questions can really bring the histories of your ancestors to life. You might not know the answers for sure, but your educated guesses will help you feel closer to your roots. You’ll know better who and where you came from.

Here is a great video showing some of the history of the original Blackhawk Restaurant as well as the second restaurant Don Roth opened in 1969 (closing in 2009) in Wheeling, IL. Don’t miss the 6:48 mark that shows the “spinning salad bowl” in action!

And here is the inside a 1952 version of the menu. This is likely the menu my great grandfather ordered from on the night his photo with colleagues was taken.

I am guessing he had the Roast Prime Rib of Beef with French Fried Potatoes, rolls, and butter. And of course the Spinning Salad Bowl.

For $3.75! Now THAT is a meal I would love to have shared with him!

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