Chicago Magazine’s online feature of Chicago street photography on February 23 featured historic Blue Star Auto Stores on South State. This place has been around for 133 years, and it’s still selling auto parts and supplies.The shot was taken by ChicagoGeek, a local photographer who shoots a lot of architecture around the city. The article talks about the history of the Blue Star Auto Stores, saying:
Until 1900 it was a very respectable hotel but then illegal gambling began to take place in the basement, the upstairs became a brothel. Deep below the hotel was a series of secret tunnels, an elaborate 25-mile system. Today you can still see bricked-up entrances to the numerous gangster getaways.Photo Credit: (ChicagoGeek, Chicago Magazine)
