Ciere Boatright commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development (DPD) | City of Chicago Website
Ciere Boatright commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development (DPD) | City of Chicago Website
The Mars candy factory in Austin, designed in the Spanish Revival style, has been officially designated as a Chicago landmark by the City Council. The factory is located at 2019 N. Oak Park Ave. It features clay tile roofs, arched windows, and balconets that give it an appearance more akin to a country club than a traditional factory. This design allowed the complex to blend seamlessly with nearby residential areas when it opened in 1929.
The building was designed by The Austin Co., an engineering firm based in Cleveland. Despite its exotic exterior, the factory was known for industrial innovations inside, including producing popular candy bars such as Snickers, Milky Way, and Three Musketeers.
This new designation will ensure that the front portion of the complex along Oak Park Avenue, including its entry gate, is preserved during redevelopment plans for the 20-acre site after its expected closure by Mars, Inc., later this year.
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