Bob Sirott's one more thing about The Pekin House - New York News | NYC Breaking News

One more thing, about the closing of a restaurant: one that was a Rogers Park institution going back more than 60 years.

The Pekin House on Devon near Western was a classic old-school Chinese favorite, whose famous egg rolls kept bringing loyal old customers back, and new ones in - from across the city.

It was never much to look at, from the outside or the inside. But they never moved, and they never changed that great old sign.

For the last five or six years, I've been afraid this day would come. I'd make myself stop in every so often for the egg rolls with the unique peanut-y taste.

In fact, The Pekin House started shipping them all over the country to transplanted Chicagoans.

But lately it became the victim of a neighborhood's changing tastes, and lack of parking.

The once primarily Jewish area is now populated by people from India and Pakistan. The space has been leased to a new Pakistani restaurant.

The Pekin House owners said they have hopes of someday opening a smaller location in the neighborhood - maybe just for takeout.

Judging from all the warm comments about the old place on various restaurant review websites, I'm not alone in saying this is a sad time for egg roll lovers

Although I'm getting some good alternative recommendations on my Facebook page, I'd love to get yours.

Maybe another Chinese restaurant could duplicate the recipe? Someone would be smart to.

I believe everyone always remembers with great affection their first love - and their first Chinese restaurant.

For a lot of us on the north side of Chicago, it was The Pekin House.