Café Brauer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lincoln Park, South Pond Refectory
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 Location in Chicago metropolitan area
Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2021 N. Stockton Dr., Chicago, Illinois |
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| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | Perkins & Hamilton |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| NRHP reference No. | 86003154 |
| Added to NRHP | November 20, 1986 |
Café Brauer is a special building in Lincoln Park in Chicago, Illinois. It sits right next to the Lincoln Park Zoo. People also know it as the South Pond Refectory. It was designed by Dwight H. Perkins and finished in 1908.
What is Café Brauer?
Café Brauer is famous for its green roof, red bricks, and a big ballroom on the second floor. It's located right by a lagoon (a small lake). Experts say it's a fantastic example of the Prairie School style of architecture. This style uses strong horizontal lines and natural materials. Many believe it shows Perkins's building ideas very well.
The Brauer family from Chicago, who were in the restaurant business, paid for the building. In the early 1900s, Café Brauer was one of Chicago's most popular restaurants. Caspar Brauer was the owner for many years until he passed away in 1940.
Changes Over Time
The first restaurant at Café Brauer closed in the 1940s. In 1947, the big ballroom on the second floor opened to the public. It became a fun indoor place for kids to learn ballroom dancing, square dancing, and waltzing. At that time, it was going to be called the Lincoln Fieldhouse.
By the 1960s, the building was mostly used for storage. A part of the second floor became a theater. There was also a small cafeteria on the first floor. In 1967, a group tried to bring back the building as a restaurant and ballroom. They also wanted to add an outdoor dance area. But their plan didn't happen because of rules about selling drinks in park buildings.
Restoration and Landmark Status
In 1987, the Lincoln Park Zoo Society started a big project to fix up Café Brauer. They spent $4.2 million to restore it. The second-floor ballroom was made new again so it could be used for special events. The first floor was changed into a small family restaurant and ice cream shop.
Café Brauer is an important historical building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it's recognized as a place important to the history of the United States. Later, on February 5, 2003, it also became a Chicago Landmark. This means the city of Chicago protects its history and design.
The building stands where an older building once was. This older building was a wooden boathouse and restaurant called the South Pond Refectory. It was designed by William Le Baron Jenney and was open from 1882 to 1908. That's why Café Brauer is sometimes still called the South Pond Refectory.
Gallery
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Café Brauer in 1908
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A close-up view from the sidewalk
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Café Brauer seen from Stockton Drive
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Before 2010, you could rent paddle boats here
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South Pond and Café Brauer in 2013
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A close-up of the porch
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