Looking back: The Pump Room Boutique (Part I)

An interview with Dulce Ramos

Earlier this month I sat down with Dulce Ramos, owner of The Pump Room Boutique, a shoe store located on Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square from 2003 to 2007.

The Pump Room Boutique began in a small space at 2727 N. Milwaukee Avenue in late 2003. Two years later it moved to a larger space at 2630 N. Milwaukee Avenue, only to close down in early 2007. I thought it would be interesting looking back on Dulce’s experience with The Pump Room Boutique and Milwaukee Avenue.

Messy urban vitality (Part I)

Overwhelming messiness

Reader Christopher has made a couple of comments disagreeing with my take on signage on Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square (see previous posts: Sign of confusion and Sign, sign, everywhere a sign). He advocates for a “messy urban vitality;” and I suspect he means the “urban edginess” that I have referenced. I thought I’d take an opportunity to address his comments in a larger context.

The larger context is important because, while my individual posts may cover a specific element of Milwaukee Avenue, such as signage, there are a myriad of elements that can contribute to the success or failure of Milwaukee Avenue. Not all elements may need to be addressed–or addressed simultaneously, but some do, as the messiness currently overwhelms the vitality. The proper balance must be sought and maintained to keep the messiness from impeding the revitalization of this stretch of Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square, while allowing the place to remain urban.