Eli Schulman
By Megan McKinney
Cricket’s, Arnie’s, Eli’s, Gordon. They were the places to lunch in the latter part of the 20th century and we were in those spots five days a week—all of us. For the most part, ladies lunched at Cricket’s, pols were at Eli’s, corporate tycoons came up from the Loop to Arnie’s and everyone went to Gordon.
Cricket’s was designed by Chicago’s Annie Gray who used New York’s “21” as her inspiration .
She copied it all, the red checkered tablecloths and corporate boy toys hanging from above.
Not all were boy toys at Cricket’s. Footwear aficionado Abra Prentice Wilkin stood on a banquette to hang a shoe she was asked to donate from her stunning collection. When it was stolen, she had another just like it which she also cheerfully donated.
What would Cricket’s have been without Maître d’ Jean-Pierre Lutz?
Or lovely General Manager Nancy Jennings, who organized eleven regulars to form The Crickettes; both Annie Gray and Abra were members.
Photo credit: Jennifer Girard
Nancy and admirer Patrick Swayze
Here’s Eli Schulman again with a couple of his out-of- town customers.
This was The Place for Steak until Eli’s Cheesecake nudged the Steak aside.
Now the business is Eli’s Cheesecake and Eli’s son, Marc Schulman, is company president.
Arnie Morton with two of his restaurant-owning offspring, Amy and Michael.
Arnie’s was fabulous—and so was Arnie. He was the middle member of a three-generation family of astonishingly successful restaurant owners. (For that story, check the Classic Chicago Archives for The Restaurateuring Mortons, published December 24, 2022).
Johnathan Harding
Johnathan Harding was the man to know if you wanted great seating—or any seating—at Arnie’s. As with Jean-Pierre Lutz, he was a delightful man, but he did need to know who you were.
Gordon Sinclair created the core of River North with his great Clark Street restaurant.
Gordon on Clark Street
Gordon Sinclair at Gordon
Author Photo: Robert F. Carl
