Round Lake District 116

So, how long have YOU been a resident of the Round Lake Area? Do you remember when we used to enjoy a movie at the old theatre that was located where Blockbuster now sits? And an ice cream cone from Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors after the movie? I’ve always wondered why the old theatre closed and the strip eventually demolished altogether. I was going through a local area presentation book that I used to use and thought I would jar your memories with several photos that show the original shopping areas at Rollins & Rt. 83. Since Grayslake wanted to stay a bedroom community rather than embrace commercial development, Round Lake Beach became the beneficiary of huge tax dollars from this commercial intersection. The person that I give most of the credit to is former Mayor Carl Schrimpf who, with his Board of Trustees, had the foresight to arrange for a pretreatment plant to handle the sewage prior to it entering the overloaded Round Lake Sanitary System. This was back before the Round Lake area started sending their waste to the new Fox Lake plant. It was years before Grayslake finally woke up, with residents complaining about their high taxes, and decided to pursue commercial development with the first major one developed where the old Grayslake Outdoor Theatre used to be.

Remember when these stores existed back in the 80’s? Many of them have either moved elsewhere or fallen to the wayside.

ZAYRE – Kinney Shoes – Walgreen’s and others

OMNI – Fanney May – TCBY and others

Old K-MART - Red Noodle – Midas and others

Old Wal-Mart – Auto Express and others

Jewel-Osco – Little Ceasars – Flipside and others

Ace Hardware – Wholesale Furniture – Office Supplies and others

First of America Bank

Now known as PNC Bank, it also could be history (demolished)
if the intersection gets major renovation