THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008
City Eyes Choo Choo For New Cop Shop
By TODD WESSELL
Journal & Topics Editor
The famed downtown Choo Choo Restaurant property is being eyed by Des Plaines city officials for possible purchase to make way for construction of a new police headquarters or some other development, the Journal & Topics Newspapers has learned.
Consideration to purchase the small restaurant has intensified in recent weeks because of the city's decision to aggressively pursue buying the former Masonic Temple building across from the Des Plaines Theater. Aldermen two weeks ago agreed to move forward with trying to buy the building, which is no longer used by the Masons but by several retail businesses. A decision whether to finalize an offer to acquire the Temple property could come as early as the next City Council meeting on Sept. 2. The asking price is more than $3 million.
The Choo Choo is one of the area's most famous restaurants. It has been located at Lee and Jefferson streets, for more than 50 years. It's famous because it serves hamburgers and other food to patrons on a moving train. Should the city acquire the Masonic Temple building as well as retail property east of City Hall, the only remaining parcel on that city block would be the Choo Choo site.
News of the possible purchase of the Choo Choo property will likely generate much interest throughout the area by families, adults and children who have visited the eatery over the last five decades.
City officials have privately said that they are aware that some people might be upset and because of that plans have been discussed about moving the restaurant to the River-Rand area.
Numerous calls made this week by the Journal & Topics Newspapers to the owner of the Choo Choo property and to the owner of the restaurant were not returned.
When the Journal & Topics contacted the Choo Choo owner in May about rumors of a possible sale of the property she responded that she had no knowledge of such discussion.