Photo taken in the 1980’s. Chicago Tribune
Hello everyone. Today on my blog, I will be talking about my memories of Peacock Alley. It was located at the lower level of Ford City Shopping Center. When my family first moved to the Ashburn neighborhood in September 1974 from Roseland, we didn’t visit the mall right away and we have never heard of it at the time. One day, my mother, my brothers and I went on a Saturday and took the Ford City Shuttle Bus to the mall. It cost a quarter to ride it and I remembered it being parked at W 76th St & S Pulaski Rd. My mother didn’t drive at the time, she started to learn the following year. When we visited Ford City, I noticed the sign called Peacock Alley. I asked my Mom if we can go downstairs to look around. She told us that we should browse around the stores on the first level first and then go downstairs another day. I was a little disappointed, but I understood what she meant, because Ford City was and still is such a huge place to walk around. A few months later, I met up with a friend of mine from the neighborhood and asked him if we can go to Peacock Alley. He said yes. We took the shuttle bus, arrived at the mall and then proceeded to the escalator outside of Woolworth’s. We walked through it and I was totally amazed by it. I have never saw anything like this in my life. We passed by the all the stores and at the end we took escalator up. It was either at Turn-Style or Jewel. Anyone can correct me on that, please do. Here is a list of stores that I remembered at Peacock Alley:
- Just Pants
- Nickel Bag
- Park Magnavox
- Nickelodeon
- House of Health Foods
- Tricks & Toys
- Catholic Center
- Knit-Kit Shoppe
- Judo Karate School
- All Sports Inc
- Gingiss Formalwear
- John Amico Beauty School
- Peacock Gifts
- A T-shirt store
- A shoe repair shop
- Wizard of Games
- And many, many more
Peacock Alley changed its name to The Connection in the late 1980’s when Ford City Mall was being remodeled. The last time I went there was in September 1992 when Moondog’s Comicland Comic Book Store was located at The Connection. I pre-ordered the Death of Superman comic book issue #75, because it was going to be a hot seller. I still have the comic book today. The Peacock Alley/The Connection is closed now. I’m not sure when it happened, but people who shop at Ford City presently, don’t have that opportunity anymore of going downstairs to shop or hang out like the people I knew who lived in the area in the 70s and 80s. I miss it very much to this day. Please leave you comments here of your memories of Peacock Alley. This blog entry will also be shared on Facebook and Twitter and my other social platforms. Thank you. Pete Kastanes-Admin for Vanished Chicagoland Facebook Page.
Wizard of Games I Loved this place and my mom was a teacher at John Amico Beauty School for years so I had to watch what I was doing because she caught me and my friends a bunch of times cutting school or just not supposed to be there kind of situation.
I was the “night manager” at the record store across from Magnavox. Black light posters, Job rolling papers, roach clips, buttons, and of course, records. The guy who owned the record shop owned another in Old Chicago. I think I lasted 3 months back in 1977-78.
I worked in a wig store on the ground floor, cant remember the name, it was in 1969, I met my husband in Fort city, he was manager of a restaurant, . it is so nice to read this blog, brings back allot of good memories
My Nannie (Grandma) was the manager at The City Art Gallery in Peacock Alley. I always loved visiting her there! Sometimes for a treat my mom & dad would take my brother & I to an ice cream shop that I believe was right across from the gallery! I remember it had big blow up clown that inflated and deflated. The Bernina Sewing Machine shop a bowling alley and for some reason, I picture a shop that had cool science based gifts! Fond memories!