79th Street Modernist Pride Dry Cleaners in Chatham Closing

Pride Cleaners, a striking Space Age structure on Chicago’s South Side, is facing closure after nearly seven decades in operation. The article examines the building’s architectural significance, its Googie-inspired aesthetic, the uncertain future of landmark protections, and the community and preservation advocates pushing for a solution.

The piece also highlights the building’s cultural footprint, including its appearances in film and music videos. It considers what its loss could mean for the neighborhood’s architectural legacy.

Architectural significance and design features

The Pride Cleaners building was designed in 1959 by architect Gerald Siegwart. It embodies an era when Space Age ideas inspired bold commercial forms.

Its self-supporting hyperbolic paraboloid concrete roof creates a column-free interior. This enabled an expansive, nearly uninterrupted plan that was ahead of its time for a neighborhood-scale commercial project.

The structure’s nearly all-glass façade amplified the sense of openness and modernity. It invited light and underscored its futuristic character.

Complementing the architecture is a vibrant, freestanding lozenge-shaped sign. The sign, electrified and rendered in Pop Art colors, completed a distinctive Googie-inspired look.

This combination of sculptural roof geometry, glass transparency, and playful signage made the building a memorable icon in the local streetscape. It is a rare example of midcentury commercial design on the South Side.

Cultural footprint and midcentury aesthetics

Beyond its engineering and architectural boldness, Pride Cleaners became a touchstone of local culture. The building’s midcentury aesthetic reflects a broader trajectory of American commercial architecture, from Space Age optimism to the entertainment value in signage.

The structure’s visibility extended into popular culture. It appeared in the 2001 film Ali and in Chance the Rapper’s 2025 music video for “Ride.”

The lozenge sign and glass-wrapped storefront made the site recognizable even to passersby unfamiliar with its architectural pedigree. For engineers and architects, the pride lies in how the design integrates structural ingenuity with dramatic civic form.

The elimination of interior columns, enabled by the hyperbolic paraboloid roof, shows how geometry can create usable space while maintaining a light, transparent envelope. This is an important lesson for retrofit planning and adaptive reuse in dense urban contexts.

Status and preservation conversations

Pride Cleaners will close this Friday after seven decades. The future of the building is unsettled.

It was never granted city landmark protection. This leaves its fate subject to market forces and the decisions of prospective occupants.

New operators purchased the business last July and informed staff two weeks ago that they would shutter. The mortgage note remains with the long-time owners, Greg Ehman and his brother.

Ehman indicated that the new operators stepped away after less than a year. He is now actively seeking another buyer.

Preservationists and local leaders have sounded alarms about losing a rare midcentury commercial landmark. Without landmark designation, there is less certainty about incentives or protections that might support reuse.

The tension lies in balancing economic viability with the desire to preserve a distinctive piece of neighborhood history. Pride Cleaners is a notable example of Chicago’s midcentury architectural language.

Preservationists push for reuse and landmark designation

Officials like 6th Ward Ald. William Hall and organizations such as Preservation Chicago’s Ward Miller argue that the building’s value goes beyond nostalgia.

They advocate for adaptive reuse—finding a tenant that honors the structure’s design integrity while creating a functional urban space.

Landmark designation could help secure incentives and ensure that any changes respect the building’s historic character.

What lies ahead for the Pride Cleaners site?

The future of Pride Cleaners depends on balancing economic viability with preservation goals.

Possible options include adaptive reuse, renovations that keep key architectural elements, and redevelopment that supports local services.

• Adaptive reuse as a bridge between preservation and economics
• Landmark designation as a tool for incentives and safeguards
• Engaging the community to define a viable future use
• Balancing design integrity with modern accessibility and code requirements

 
Here is the source article for this story: Modernist 79th Street dry cleaners featured in film “Ali” and Chance the Rapper’s video set to close