Maury Andes, behind the counter at Maury’s Red Hots, 3544 W. Lawrence, about 1966. Photograph courtesy of Jerry Alter.
Last week Roosevelt High School alum Jerry Alter posted a comment on the Albany Park, Chicago, group page Facebook about Maury Andes, who was the owner of Maury’s Red Hots in Albany Park. Although so many of you have remembered Maury’s in your comments on this blog, his story and photo were missing from these pages. No longer. Thanks to Jerry kindly agreeing to let me share his comment and photos, we’ve put things right.
Maury Andes is a Albany Park story not to be forgotten. Recently I came across his obituary and thought you might find it interesting. Mr Andes, one of Chicago’s most beloved restaurateurs, also known as the unofficial mayor of Albany Park, was the proprietor of Maury’s Red Hots, a snack shop he operated on Lawrence Avenue in Albany Park for 33 years. He was a counselor, adviser, political commentator and community statesman.
His store was the center of social and community activity for the neighborhood, especially for the students of Roosevelt and Von Stuben High Schools. Everyone in the neighborhood old and young alike , sought Maury’s advice and a Polish with fries. People continued to call Maury whenever they visited the area , and he was proud to be invited to more than one of Roosevelt High School’s class reunions. He also served on the board of directors at the Max Strauss and Henry Hart Jewish community centers.
Maury began his restaurant career in Albany Park in 1952, in a building affectionately known as The Shack. The restaurant then relocated to the corner of Lawrence and Lawndale in 1959, and finally moved to it’s final location at Lawrence and Central Park Avenue in 1972. His custumers followed him, and many visited him on a regular basis. His infectious smile and unconditional acceptance will be missed.
P.S. I took this picture of Maury myself and he was one hell of guy, and he truly is missed.
Jerry also shared this classic photograph, and here’s what he had to say about it: “This is a picture of the Maury’s Boys Baseball team that was taken in front of Maury’s on Lawndale and Lawrance in the summer of 1967. It was the only game we ever played as A Maurys Boys team, but we did win and Maury said this was his favorite picture and it hung in his restaurant for as long as I can remember. He once looked at the picture and said to me, “My boys,” and smiled !”
Maury’s boys, 1967. Photograph courtesy of Jerry Alter.
From front row, left to right: Marc Gurber, Keri Lyle (holding sign), Jerry Alter. Second row: Wayne Bacica (in crutches), Tommy Smith, Jimmy Satterfield, John Abramawitz. Back row: Dennis Neuhauser, Billy Abramowitz, Howie Shafran, Louie White.
Read more:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-06-12/news/0306120358_1_hot-dogs-polish-sausages-shop, obituary.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-06-18/news/8502080767_1_hot-dogs-korean-businesses-kids Chicago Tribune article by Barbara Brotman, July 18, 1985.
I lived at 4650 Lawndale. Sharon Glassman lived around the corner in the other side of the bldg on Leland. I spent half my life at Maury’s and loved to hang out with the Jovens who came in regularly
Hi, Marv. Thanks for sharing your memories. Glad to be have you document history of the Jumbo here.
I lived at 4722 N Lawndale and was in the shack always. Loved Maury and our crew the Anacondas could always be found hanging out at the corner. I was credited with inventing the Jumbo my favorite. The Jumbo was 2 hot dogs end to end on French bread. Albany Park was the greatest Max Strauss, Jensen Park,Lesters,Glicks,The Terminal it was a great time in the 60’s
Great story! Nothiing like a hot dog, is there?
I was a very regular “diner” at Maury’s while I lived at 4650 N Lawndale. I married in April 1960 and moved out of the area-all the way to East Rogers Park. When my husband was drafted in the summer of 1961, I moved back in with my parents. I found out shortly after that I was pregnant and it was awful being “single” yet married and nearly alone. Maury was a good listener and I poured my heart out over fried hot dogs and salami and cokes! Many months later when labor pains started I ran to Maury’s to have a couple of dogs in case I was in the hospital a few days! Crazy memories. Still married to the same guy 56 years later. Phyllis Jamison Marcus
frances i have a picture of the jovens if you send me your e-mail i will forward
Hi, Jerry, thanks for stopping by and sharing your recollections. I will send you an email so you can reply directly to me. If you find the phonts, we might talk about sharing them, along with your story, on the blog, if you wish.
I am Jerry Handel and I lived at 4720 N Lawndale and I was Maury’s 3rd employee at the shack behind Stu Fishman and Al Bers. My job every Saturday morning was to peel and cut two 100 pound bags of potatoes. I was paid $3 and got to eat lunch for free whenever I wanted.
Maury’s hot dogs were great but his fried salami sandwiches were even better. Many of us Roughriders would meet on Fridays around noon until the day he was forced to closed.
I have had many pictures of Maury’s store and customers but I never put them on my computer. I will see if I can find any of those photos and scan them. Also, Gary Hoffman, myself, and the Lawndale Sluggers played softball at Jensen Park against the Monticello ??? almost every day we could and finally merged and became the DeRons and eventually became the Jovens. How I treasure those years in Albany Park.
Rick, thanks for stopping by and leaving your message. What a nice note–makes doing this blog worthwhile!
He was my second family and first employer I’ll never forget him or his family.( hi Brian)
Thanks Gary — Maury must have given away a lot of hot dogs and fries! So many have said he gave to them when they couldn’t afford to buy.
I LIVED AT 4731 N LAWNDALE AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT I WAS MAURYS 1ST CUSTOMER ,IN FACT I JUST ABOUT LIVED THERE. IT WAS AL,S RED HOTS BEFORE HIM.MAURY WAS ONE OF THE KINDEST MOST TRUSTING PERSON I HAVE EVER MET.YOU CAN SAY I GREW UP AT MAURYS.I REMEMBER THAT WHEN I DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR A HOT DOG HE WOULD SELL ME A BUN WITH EVERYTHING ON IT INCLUDING A FEW FRIES FOR A NICKEL.I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA NOW BUT EVERY TIME I CAME BACK TO CHI TOWN I MADE SURE I SAW MAURY.IF YOU WANTED A TICKET TO ANY EVENT IN CHICAGO MAURY WAS YOUR MAN. ESPECIALLY BLACKHAWK GAMES.LOTS OF GREAT MEMORIES.THANKS FRANCES
Thanks, Marv. I’ve heard he had a terrific memory for people.
His memory was unbelievable. While working at a deli in Glenco he not only remembered me but knew I went into the service.He then brought me up to date on lots of other people.A real live legend
Thank-you for the Maury Andes photo and information (Maury’s Hot Dogs). Maury is definitely an important part of Albany Park (Chicago IL) history – especially in the 1960’s era.
Great picture – no athletic shorts, sweat pants, dry-fit wear and only one or two guys wore cleats, love it! My boys would break down if they didn’t have their $20 sport water bottles with the latest cold keeping technology, padded sliding shorts with built in cup holder and $200 LeBron sport shoes..
My parents once had a $13,000 hot fudge sundae back in 1948. They got out of a Saturday evening movie at the Alba Theater on Kedzie, and my mom wanted an ice cream. However, they were no place still open. My brother Neil was just getting out of his 18 month Army stay. They decided that Neil should have his own Ice cream parlor/hot dog place. There was an empty store just past the Alley next to the Sinclair gas station where the owner of Seiner’s Tavern ran a loosing campaign for Alderman of the 40th Ward. My Dad gutted it and built a great all new big counter and 10 booth store right across from the Alba Theater. It was called Neil’s Dug Out.
Bowman Dairy gave him a mirror display that had mechanical monkeys and plaster of Paris fake ice cream treats in the window. The lunch crowd was 15 cent hot dogs and 25 cent hamburgers and real french fries for a dime. He created special ice cream treats like Lincoln’s log cabin with built out of wafers. Fatal 13-13 scoops of ice cream on Friday the 13th and Killroy’s Choice made with real whipped cream flavored lime or strawberry.
Sadly, Neil preferred hanging out with his friends and it only lasted about 9 months. Soon after Neil’s was closed… Lerner Hot Dogs opened up down the street and became a fixture selling mostly hot dogs. Hot dog with fries and small coke was 37 cents!
You are so right about Maury.He lived near me in Buffalo Grove,and I used to see him and his wife often.There will never be another Maury Andes.