Tuesday, June 21, 2011

‘Rooftop Baron’ George Loukas achieves an immigrant’s dream

A terrific story about an immigrant and how he succeeded in this country. - - Donna Poisl

By Mark Konkol Staff Reporter

A rooftop view of Wrigley Field changed everything for George Loukas, the gym teacher son of an immigrant Southeast Side steelworker.

In the spring of 1974, Loukas and his brother Angelo scraped together enough cash to buy a decrepit apartment building on Sheffield with an unfettered view of the hapless Cubs in action.

Back then, tenants were mostly poor folks and the occasional drug dealer. Rent was 75 bucks a month for a two-bedroom. Cubs games were sparsely attended novelties. Local bars were dives. Latin Kings controlled the dope trade. Prostitutes worked the corners. Junkies slept in alleys. And there was nowhere to get a half-skim, no-foam latte.
Loukas and a pal had a barbecue on the rooftop at 3700 N. Sheffield, which the brothers bought for just $135,000.
Click on the headline above to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.

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