Article: Older south suburbs fighting to regenerate retail corridor; Merchants go west, fleeing once-vital Route 30 strip.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

When the Lincoln Highway was established as the nation's first transcontinental road before World War I, it traversed Chicago's south suburbs along U.S. Route 30, creating a vibrant commercial corridor through towns like Chicago Heights, Park Forest and Olympia Fields.

In the 1960s, every major automobile nameplate had a dealership along Route 30, recalls Chicago Heights Mayor Angelo Ciambrone. But today, just two remain, surrounded by vacant lots and a blight that has sent other retailers packing.

Empty factories and shuttered storefronts litter the corridor. Once-bustling Kline's Department Store closed about five years ago, while Dominick's ...

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