WICKER PARK — Renovations at Parlor Pizza Bar's upcoming Wicker Park outpost have revealed the barely visible remains of a billboard advertising a video rental store that specialized in Spanish movies.
Michael Bisbee, co-owner of West Loop's Parlor Pizza Bar, said Monday that the vintage sign facing Honore Street was uncovered a few months ago when brown stucco facade was pulled off the brick building at 1824 W. Division St.
Now that the weather has warmed up and more people are walking around outside, they are noticing the old sign, which Bisbee said he will try to preserve as much as possible.
"I love to see old vintage signs come through. We are trying to incorporate it into our sign but we will see," said Bisbee, adding that street artist JC Rivera has been commissioned to do a mural along the same wall where the advertisement is located.
Though Bisbee was not sure of the name of the video store that once operated out of the building, a 1986 Tribune roundup of spots to rent foreign films at includes La Vos Espana at 1824 W. Division St.
Prior to Parlor Pizza Bar, the building was home to Moonshine, a bar and restaurant that closed in Nov. 2014 after 13 years in the space. Before Moonshine, the spot was a grocery store.
The second location for the West Loop-based Pizza Parlor Bar is expected to open in June, if everything goes as planned, Bisbee said.
"People are requesting parties, reservations and events for Division Street, and are coming to the West Loop stop asking about Wicker Park," Bisbee said.
Parlor Pizza Bar uses an imported Italian wood-fired oven to make its pies, several featuring unique ingredients such as Dijon bechamel, spicy pineapple with coconut cheese, sunflower seed basil pesto, and duck confit.
During the summer months, the new location will add about 100 part- and full-time jobs, Bisbee said. Anyone interested in working at Parlor can send an email to jobs@thelgngroup.com.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
