Anyone from Chicago? Is there really an East Side where Al Capone conducted business?

Answer 1

Oh yeah, for sure. It's history, honey, not legend! I'm from Chicago, and there is one tour in particular that rocks. Check it out at the site below! The drivers for these bus tours even dress the part! It's really cool.

Also, check out a documentary or book on the history of Capone at your local library or bookstore. Just because there are countless movies and tv shows about the Big Guy doesn't mean Capone (and his Chicago biz locales) didn't exist.

Answer 2

Al Capone actually conducted most of his business in the nearby town of Cicero, just to the southwest of Chicago. Chicago's east side back in the REAL old days was the head quarters for vice (prostitution, gambling, drinking, etc). It was presided over by a guy name Cap Streeter, who sailed a boat from Milwaukee to Chicago, and ran aground around what is now Oak Street Beach. he decided to stay there, lived on his boat and claimed the land as his own, calling it the District of Lake Michigan. He started selling "deeds" to the land and it attracted prostitutes, transients and other "undesireables". The city was trying to clean itself up after the Great Fire and sought to get him out of there. There were a few battles between cops and Streeter supporters and around the late 1890s they finally forced him out. The John Hancock building sits on the land where Streeter's boat was docked and the area is now known, ironically, as Streeterville.

Answer 3

I was born and raised in Chicago and have lived here all my life. I can assure you that there is not and never has been an east side of Chicago. The only thing east of Chicago is Lake Michigan (except on the far South Side on the border with Indiana).

Answer 4

I have lived in the NW suburbs of Chicago all of my life, and I can tell you that indeed there is. There are some pretty cool tours of where he conducted business too!