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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING BUDDY BEAR CAR WASH 50TH YEAR OF BEING IN BUSINESS
WHEREAS, the De Geratto family migrated to the United States of America in the late 1800s; and
WHEREAS, the De Geratto’s lived at 207 North Menard, Chicago, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, it all began with Phillip De Geratto I, in the 1950s opening and operating his first grocery store, “Big Bear Foods,” located at 5007 West Chicago Avenue; and
WHEREAS, Phillip De Geratto I, would later open two other Big Bear Foods on the west side of Chicago with his son, Phillip De Geratto II, who renamed the stores “Buddy Bear Food Centers,” and adopted the motto, “People Who Care, Shop Buddy Bear”; and
WHEREAS, during the Chicago riots in 1968, the Buddy Bear Food Centers on Chicago Avenue was destroyed; and eventually the two remaining Buddy Bear Food Centers were closed. Phillip De Geratto I, retired from the grocery business and later died in 1979; and
WHEREAS, Phillip De Geratto II (Buddy) and Phillip De Geratto III inherited their father and grandfather’s entrepreneurial spirit; and
WHEREAS, Phillip De Geratto I, and II, demolished the Robert Hall Department Store, located at 3940 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois. The site became the home of the first largest, automatic, state-of-the-art “Buddy Bear Car Wash” in 1972; and the motto changed to meet the new business, “People Who Care, Wash at Buddy Bear”; and
WHEREAS, Phillip De Geratto II operated the Buddy Bear Car Wash with his son Phil De Geratto III, until his death in 1990; and
WHEREAS, Phillip De Geratto III has taken on a legacy of building thriving businesses; and
WHEREAS, Buddy Bear Car Wash would hire community residents at competitive compensation and benefits, generate traffic for other retail businesses, and put long vacant properties back on the tax rolls; and
WHEREAS, the first Buddy Bear Car Wash location underwent a $500,000 renovation to meet the new standards of the other Buddy Bear car washes; and
WHEREAS, Buddy Bear Car Wash has 16 locations throughout Chicago and Cook County suburban communities; and
WHEREAS, Buddy Bear Car Wash in 2022 marks 50 years of service, growth, and commitment to being a good neighbor and employer; and
WHEREAS, three generations of the De Geratto family have claimed the west side of Chicago as home for their retail business; and
WHEREAS, June 16, 2022, is proclaimed as Buddy Bear’s Day of Appreciation; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County does hereby honor and celebrate 50 Years of the De Geratto family contribution and bettering the lives of all those in Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Proclamation be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to the De Geratto family.
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