{"product_id":"krochs-and-brentanos-car-coaster","title":"Kroch's and Brentano's Car Coaster","description":"GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdd a reminder of Chicago’s literary past to your everyday drive with this Kroch's and Brentano's car coaster. Adolph Kroch opened a bookstore on Monroe Street in 1907, and the Chicago branch of Brentano's had served readers since 1884. The businesses merged in 1954 and built a celebrated downtown flagship before growing into a regional chain. This small tribute is made for book lovers, Chicago commuters, and collectors who remember the city’s changing bookstore landscape.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKroch's and Brentano's was formed in Chicago in 1954 by combining Adolph Kroch's bookstore with the Chicago branch of Brentano's. Kroch, an Austrian immigrant, opened a German-language bookstore on Monroe Street in 1907, later switching to English-language books during World War I. His business moved to 22 N. Michigan and, in 1927, to 206 N. Michigan Avenue, where it became Chicago's largest bookstore before closing there in 1953. Brentano's Chicago branch dated to 1884, when Arthur Brentano opened it at 101 State Street. After Brentano's filed for bankruptcy in 1933, Kroch and financier Stanton Griffis acquired the firm; Kroch received the Chicago branch and rights to the Brentano's name in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Kroch operated the two bookstores separately until the 1954 merger, which created a 40,000-square-foot flagship at 29 S. Wabash Avenue. At its peak, the chain had 22 stores in the Chicago metropolitan area. Carl Kroch sold it to its 700 employees in 1986; after financial difficulties, it was resold to Businesship International. The company filed for bankruptcy in June 1995 and was liquidated. Its remaining stores closed on July 31, 1995.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-row=\"1\" style=\"padding: 10px;\"\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-row=\"1\" style=\"padding: 10px; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 500;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003e2.6'' × 2.6\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-row=\"2\" style=\"word-break: break-word; border-top: 1px solid rgb(237, 237, 237); font-size: 15px; padding: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(82, 82, 82);\"\u003eWidth, in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-row=\"2\" style=\"word-break: break-word; border-top: 1px solid rgb(237, 237, 237); font-size: 15px; padding: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(82, 82, 82);\"\u003e2.60\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-row=\"3\" style=\"word-break: break-word; border-top: 1px solid rgb(237, 237, 237); font-size: 15px; padding: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(82, 82, 82);\"\u003eHeight, in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-row=\"3\" style=\"word-break: break-word; border-top: 1px solid rgb(237, 237, 237); font-size: 15px; padding: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(82, 82, 82);\"\u003e2.60\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-row=\"4\" style=\"word-break: break-word; border-top: 1px solid rgb(237, 237, 237); font-size: 15px; padding: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(82, 82, 82);\"\u003eThickness, in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-row=\"4\" style=\"word-break: break-word; border-top: 1px solid rgb(237, 237, 237); font-size: 15px; padding: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(82, 82, 82);\"\u003e0.30\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProduct features\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Made from 100% soapstone — naturally absorbent\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Available in 1, 2, or 4-piece sets with the same print on each\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- One-sided full-color print with a matte finish\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- 2.6″ × 2.6″ size fits most vehicle drink holders; notch for easy removal\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Removable “Made in China” sticker on the bottom\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCare instructions\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Gently wipe the dirt or dust off with a clean, dry microfiber cloth\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEU representative\u003c\/strong\u003e: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct information\u003c\/strong\u003e: Generic brand, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999\/44\/EC\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare instructions\u003c\/strong\u003e: Gently wipe the dirt or dust off with a clean, dry microfiber cloth\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Printify","offers":[{"title":"2.6'' × 2.6\" \/ 1pc","offer_id":54643163693340,"sku":"19675288999711408183","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.6'' × 2.6\" \/ 2pcs","offer_id":54643163726108,"sku":"75858881376322915672","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0955\/2517\/5580\/files\/6742129448536280652_2048.jpg?v=1791022721","url":"https:\/\/ghostcorpapparel.com\/products\/krochs-and-brentanos-car-coaster","provider":"Ghost Corp Apparel","version":"1.0","type":"link"}