HR0757 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0757 LRB103 40570 LAW 73154 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Clark-Devon Hardware on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its founding; and

WHEREAS, Originally, Clark-Devon Hardware was a small business purchased by a Russian immigrant named William Walchak in 1924; the business grew and moved until landing at its iconic location in 1985, a former movie theater with enough room for future growth, where it remains today; and

WHEREAS, Under the Walchak family's ownership, Clark-Devon Hardware played a key role in helping many immigrants establish themselves in Chicago, providing customers with the opportunity to meet people arriving from all over the world, and these same customers would continue to frequent the store when they became building engineers and property owners; the business has played and continues to play an essential role in preserving vital housing stock in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Clark-Devon Hardware has long been a staple in Rogers Park and the larger Chicago area for being a one-stop shop for the ever-changing needs of property managers, maintenance workers, and small businesses, stocking items that may be hard to find or may no longer be available in wide circulation; and

WHEREAS, In 2023, when Clark-Devon Hardware owners Ed and Ken Walchak could not find buyers, they knew that they wanted to continue the legacy of and the community built around the store; they sold the business to their employees, some of whom were immigrants themselves, and have subsequently continued the business' heritage as a means to achieve the American dream; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Clark-Devon Hardware for its astounding 100 years of service to Rogers Park and the City of Chicago; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Clark-Devon Hardware and its owners as an expression of our esteem and respect.