Yes, back in the day that was a major intersection in Chicago with a vibrant shopping district. When the department stores were in neigborhood shopping centers at the big crossroads before the suburban malls sprang up. Woodlawn is just south of the University of Chicago and was a very nice middle class area for years. Capone lived just a bit south of there.

In the 1960s Woodlawn was the main turf of the Blackstone Rangers street gang, run by Jeff Fort. It evolved into the El Rukns later. That shopping district along 63rd went up in flames in the 1968 riots -- I believe when many of the store owners would not pay protection money to the local gentry in return for the buildings remaining standing the next day.

John