Milan’s Restaurant postcard

This restaurant was located at 9545 South Colfax Avenue in the South Deering neighborhood. Its Grand Opening was June 12, 1961. Officially named Milan’s Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge, it was one of the largest and most modern restaurants on the Southeast Side. It included a restaurant with a 200 person capacity, a cocktail lounge for 75 people and a banquet room for meetings and other events. It was the site of numerous community and personal social events including parties, wedding receptions, reunions, anniversaries, and dinners. Milan’s was a step up from the usual neighborhood restaurants, often referred to as a “supper club.” It advertised “all electric cooking, heating and air conditioning” and “first all electric restaurant in Metropolitan Chicago” There was dancing and entertainment on weekends. The owner of the restaurant was Milan Panayotovich, former owner of Milan’s Restaurant and Pizzeria in Hegewisch. Milan’s mother and father, Sam and Ella, who had immigrated to Southeast Chicago from Serbia, previously operated Sam’s Snack Shop in Hegewisch.