1920's ambassador hotel "ghost sign" emerges as the dust clears from the demolished building that concealed it

an incredible find was made earlier this week during demolition in lincoln park, as heneghan wrecking company tore back the walls of a c. 1927 grocery store. while the structure was turned to rubble, a long hidden "ghost sign" was unveiled on the neighboring building, having likely been covered over during the grocery store's construction. the hand-painted advertisement on the ambassador hotel's west masonry wall was executed by a company that still exists today, its ethereally faded paint reads in large black and white lettering "ambassador hotel/ restaurant and drug shop/ management/ h.m.witt."

the sign itself is connected to a fourth-generation business still operating in chicago after 122 years. henry m. witt started his sign making business in 1894 and subsequent generations of the witt family have continued to run the company started by their predecessor. the business was originally housed in the monadnock building, where it stayed for 100 years before relocating to 626 s. clark street. h.m. witt & company was known for its hand-painted lettering, engravings and gold leaf on storefronts and office windows. they later branched out to include services in brass and bronze work, real estate signs, and works exclusively for downtown office buildings.

the building at diversey and pine grove which hosted the ghost sign is the former embassy hotel, an 11-story beaux arts building completed in 1925. since converted to an apartment complex, the building was, until recently, bordered by 'the market place,' a grocery store that had been there for 90 years. having withstood the great depression and world war II, the market place faced more recent threats in the form of chain stores like trader joe's and walmart.

as it turns out, the family owned business (run by the grandson of the store's founder) could not survive these encroaching markets, and coupled with the push for high rise housing by developers, the market place faced a slow demise. when peter stellas opened shop & save in 1927 (which was renamed the market place in the mid-1980's) it was known specifically for its exotic food products. now shuttered and in the process of being razed, it will soon be replaced by its antithesis -- a 17-story condo building.