Introduction

As far back as 75 years ago, the ravenswood corridor was a bustling center of commerce.  Families were supported by the jobs in the neighborhood which were not limited to the downtown area.  As factory jobs moved overseas during the early 1990’s the factories closed down.  Buildings sat empty and new businesses began moving in.  As demographics in the north center neighborhood changed from working class to middle and upper-middle class, with an emphasis on families with young children, the ravenswood corridor began to reflect the absence of industrial jobs and create an opportunity for creative retail outlets.