Businesses of Mount Prospect

Does MPHS have photographs: Yes

Address: 2 E. Northwest Highway

Is building standing: Yes, at 10 S. Pine Street

What is at site:  Le Peep

When was business founded: 1971

Is business still operating: No

If no, when did it close: Sometime between 1983-1990

Who owned business:  Mike Herman was the owner and Bill Herman was the manager

Interesting stories, facts, history:

Hotter Than Mother’s Music opened its doors at 2 E. Northwest Highway in 1971, after Jim Faetz’s State Farm Insurance agency moved its offices in fall 1970. Music fans of just about any genre could find albums there, from Led Zeppelin IV to Jesus Christ Superstar to Carole King’s Tapestry. Mother’s Music also sold music equipment, like 8-track tape players, headphones, and tape recorders. During the 1973 oil crisis one of their December ads quipped that “If you run out of gas, at least you could still listen to your favorite music!”

The famous pinball machines arrived at Mother’s Music sometime after an April 1975 hearing to request the permit. Many former customers fondly remember spending plenty of quarters on the many pinball machines. A February 1976 Daily Herald article noted that pinball players came from all over the surrounding suburbs and enjoyed hot pizza and pop while playing. “The Wizard” was the most popular machine at the time.

It’s unclear when Hotter Than Mother’s Music closed, but it was still operating as of December 1983, when it was briefly mentioned in a Daily Herald article. By 1990 Keyser Chiropractic Center occupied the building and Mother’s Music did not appear in the phonebook. The building itself moved to Pine Street where it is now the home of Capannari Ice Cream.

Redwood Restaurant was located at 506 E. Northwest Highway. Old newspaper ads show the restaurant changed hands many times between 1956-1964, as it can be found under various names: Fadaro’s Redwood, Azzaro’s Redwood, and Romano’s Redwood. In 1964 there is an ad for “Casa-Nova Restaurant – Under new management, formerly Redwood Restaurant.” By 1967, Prospect Bike Shop moved in.

Does MPHS have photographs: Yes

Address: Central Road and Rand Road

Is building standing: No

What is at site: Mount Prospect Plaza

When was business founded: 1924

Is business still operating: No. Closed 1970s

Who owned business: Zenith Corporation

Interesting stories, facts, history:

Mount Prospect used to be home to a pair of radio towers and an early broadcasting station. The Zenith towers operated from 1924 through the 1970s. Zenith built the towers in Mount Prospect to broadcast into Chicago and to all the farmers and small towns northwest of the city. Much of early broadcast radio was done live and this station was no different. Bands would come out to the station from Chicago and around the country to play in the broadcasting station. Some very famous musicians from the big band era played in Mount Prospect. For years these towers were the tallest things in Mount Prospect and could be seen for miles. There was a small broadcasting station in between the towers that was also the home of the Zenith employee that ran the station. Gilbert Gustafson was the first station manager for WJAZ who lived in the station with his family from around 1925 through 1935. In the 1920s, radio was in its infancy. Because this area was still mostly farms and there were only a few radio stations broadcasting, there was little interference and on a clear day you could pick up radio stations from hundreds of miles away. Unfortunately, because the radio signals were much weaker, on a day with wind, rain or clouds you could only pick up the most local stations.

You can read an article about the Zenith Radio Station here.