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History Blog

The Goldblatt Estate of Wilmette

6/22/2015

22 Comments

 
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The Goldblatt / Wilmette connection is that earlier today the Goldblatt Estate came on the market.   Even though I have lived here in Wilmette for nearly 20 years I did not know about this amazing place tucked in the village.

 Let's explore this together.    From the Encyclopedia of Chicago:
Goldblatt Bros. Inc.In 1905, Simon and Hannah Goldblatt moved with their children from Poland to Chicago. In 1914, two of their sons, Maurice and Nathan Goldblatt, opened a store at Chicago and Ashland Avenues, in a neighborhood that was then home to many Polish immigrants. Over the next 10 years, the firm's annual sales rose from about $15,000 to $1.4 million. As the operator of medium-size department stores that offered goods at low prices, Goldblatt Bros. prospered even during the Great Depression. By 1933, the company exceeded $20 million in annual sales, and owned five stores in Chicago, as well as stores in nearby Joliet, and Hammond, Indiana. Goldblatt's entered the city's high-rent retail district in 1936, when it opened a store on State Street. By the end of World War II, when younger brothers Louis and Joel Goldblatt began to lead the company, it had 15 stores and 2,500 employees. When the company's operations peaked in the 1970s, it had 47 stores, close to $250 million in annual sales, and about 8,000 employees in the Chicago area. Yet, the company was losing money quickly, having trouble competing with rival discount chains such as Kmart. After it entered bankruptcy, the chain was purchased in 1985 by JG Industries Inc. The flagship State Street store was purchased by DePaul University. By the 1990s, Goldblatt's was a chain of about 15 Chicago-area department stores, located mainly in the kind of low-income immigrant neighborhoods in which the company had started in the 1910s. In 2003, with only six stores remaining in Chicago, the company liquidated.

This entry is part of the Encyclopedia's Dictionary of Leading Chicago Businesses (1820-2000) that was prepared by Mark R. Wilson, with additional contributions from Stephen R. Porter and Janice L. Reiff.

Louis Goldblatt's home is the one in the photos above that is for sale.  It can be yours for $10.9M.

There is more to the story of the Goldblatt Family and Wilmette.   Nathan Goldblatt (Louis' brother) also lived here.   Nathan's home, 612 N Sheridan, was just a bit north of Louis's home.  The prominent part of the story though is the previous owner of Nathan's home, Benjamin Marshall.   More to come in my next post.....
22 Comments
Wilmette
6/22/2015 10:30:49 am

I've been in this house! I had no idea it had a famous past. My friend's family bought it when we were in 5th or 6th grade, and we had a sleepover there one night shortly after they bought it and it was empty. It was beautiful but eery. Everything was original or the last time it has been updated was the 60s. It had a Shining vibe since it was this huge, vacant mansion. I'll always remember how it had a huge walk-in fur closet and safe in the hallway and a massive dressing room connected to a huge bathroom in the master. There was a maze of bedrooms, some I imagine must have been for servants. The basement was unfinished and had cells, like some kind of bath house (perhaps for the beach?). It was cool seeing it before the renovations. Now it's spectacular.

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Gary Goldblatt
6/22/2015 01:58:32 pm

I know all the secrets and history of this house..since this house was my parents house and I lived in the house from 1966-1976 and was my parents home until 2003....It was magnificent, enchanting and a lot of fun....

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Samantha Kalamaras
6/22/2015 02:55:29 pm

Gary! What a great story! Let's go see it!

Steve Shattil
6/22/2015 06:59:04 pm

Hi Gary, I grew up a few houses away. My parents sold their house in 2006.

Susan Little
3/12/2021 01:03:40 pm

I know this is an odd place to post this question, but I figure it’s worth a try....

My parents, Bobbie & Jerry Schechter have been good friends with Lionel for over 35+ years. They’ve been calling him and he, unchacteristically, hasn’t called them back. They’re concerned.

I’m hoping you may know if he’s ok. If so, could I ask you to email me please? TY

Liz Cheevers (Betsy Sayre)
6/22/2015 10:49:08 am

I went to new Trier with David Goldblatt we both graduated in three years. I think our actual graduating class was 3 as we finished in August after our junior year. We walked in June and got our diplomas later

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Sue White
6/22/2015 01:02:14 pm

Hi Betsy! ☺

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Julie vanzevern
6/22/2015 01:47:01 pm

i did too but was wondering what year?

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Peggy Watson
6/22/2015 10:54:54 am

Stu and Gary Goldblatt went to NTE in the late 60's early 70's. Stu was a nice kid, kind and quiet as I recall. The "legend" was that they each received a gold Cadillac for their 16th birthdays, but I don't know if that was true or not. I hope they each have had a good life.

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Gary Goldblatt
6/22/2015 02:02:17 pm

Peggy,
Not true...never heard this legend. Stu lives in North Carolina and I live in Mundelein. Great house, great memories, just remember trying to be normal....It worked

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Peter Eckert
6/22/2015 01:28:47 pm

Stuart graduated in 74. Was in automotive class. He drove a Pontiac.

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Dan Wagner
6/22/2015 01:41:50 pm

Stuart Goldblatt wa sin the class of 1973 at New Trier East. I knew him during our time together in 1968 at Howard Jr high. We were in the same home room together in 1969 and I stayed over at his house one night.

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Alan May
6/22/2015 02:15:45 pm

I saw this come on the market today... I didn't realize it was the Goldblatt house....

If it were really the Goldblatt house, it would be priced like their products at their stores. No marked price... just ask the salesperson... they'll make up the price based on giving you the 'once over'.

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Elliot Solomon
6/22/2015 05:25:59 pm

I am the great grandson of one of the goldblatt's and while the house has been destroyed in the depression. The original gates are still there across from the Bahia Temple.

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Patrick Leary
6/23/2015 03:26:16 am

Gary, several years ago I enjoyed meeting Nathan Goldblatt's two daughters, who stopped by the Wilmette Historical Museum and talked to me about what it was like to live in the 612 Sheridan Rd. house (the Benjamin Marshall mansion). It was fascinating. Are they still living?

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Patrick Leary
6/23/2015 05:27:56 am

FYI, according to our records, this house was built for J. W. Droll in 1939. Architect Fred Rippel.

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Patricia B
4/20/2016 12:37:10 pm

Dear Gary,

I am trying to find out some information about the private Estate Sale that Joel had in the 1960's (?)
I happen to have one of the pieces of Art sold in this Estate sale and am trying to establish provenance.
It had a bill of sale but it has been lost over the years. I was wandering if there is an Auction Catalogue.



Thank you

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Ferguson
2/5/2021 10:05:42 am

I went to Howard with Dave Goldblatt. Strange, but I was wondering about him the other day.

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Patricia B link
2/5/2021 10:22:34 am

Thank you...still looking for any pics, info or inventory from the Auction.

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Patricia B
3/13/2021 07:20:26 am

Updating Subscription

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Gary L Goldblatt
4/20/2022 03:30:41 am

Current update on the Goldblatt boys. Gary lives in mundelein Illinois. His wife Denise and he have two children..Mmarina and Ribert and 3 grandchildren. Gary works for Target and has remained in the retail field his entire life. Stuart lives in North Carolina and has no children David lives in Portland Oregon and has a son. Both are in the music business.

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Sandi D
7/23/2022 09:03:32 pm

Hello Gary,
I purchased the book authored by your father, I believe. It is Life is a game, play to win! It’s inscribed to “Carol” signed by Louis Goldblatt July 1995. Would you have any interest in it? I could sure send it on to you! We lived in Downers Gove a few years ago, that’s where I purchased it at an estate sale.
Hope to hear back from you!

Reply



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