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'Time Capsule' Dentist's Office in Wicker Hub Up for Rent After $550K Sale

By Alisa Hauser | November 5, 2015 12:37pm
 A one-story building at 1948 W. North Ave. that was home to Dr. Luis Casals for many years is up for rent.
Luis Casals Dentist Building in Wicker Park
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WICKER PARK —  A dentist office that feels like a time capsule, with wood paneled walls and stuffed and mounted fish on display, appears to have closed, with "for sale" signs taped to the waiting room's 1960s-era furniture.

Located just east of the North, Damen and Milwaukee avenues intersection, the one-story storefront building is 109 years old and part of the Milwaukee Avenue Landmark district, which extends to parts of North Avenue just off of the main hub.

Dr. Luis Casals, a dentist who owned the building for over 50 years and operated his practice out of the building, sold it for $550,000 to Tefik Mehmeti on Aug 31, county records show.

Entering the 80-year-old doctor's office, captured in a Chicago Reader profile on Casals, is like stepping into "a relic of a bygone era of Wicker Park's ever-shifting history."

Casals and Mehmeti were unable to be reached for comment Thursday, but Doug Brenner, a Baum Realty broker who is assisting Mehmeti with renting out the 1,760 square-foot retail spot said there are several possible uses for the storefront.

"We're looking at cafes, apparel, national brands, cellular providers," Renner said.

Due to its proximity to the Wicker Park's main hub, Renner said rent will likely start around $60 per square-foot, which equates to about $8,800 per month.

A rendering of Dr. Casals' building, for rent.  [Baum Realty Group]

Casals' dental practice, where his wife worked as the office receptionist and would often read fiction books at her desk and chat with passersby, has just one review on Yelp.com

"No frills dentistry. Dr. Casals office is very old school, but he is definitely a great dentist. He does not perform special services like root canals, but if you are looking for a filling, pulling out a tooth or a cleaning, he is highly recommended," a Yelp.com member wrote.

The building is not listed in the Chicago Landmark Historic Resources survey, but due to the property's inclusion in the Milwaukee Avenue Landmark District any modifications or permits would need to get approval from the Landmark Commission, a spokesman said.

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