Joliet gives landmark status to future home of Illinois Rock and Roll Museum

The building that will house the future Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 has been declared a landmark itself.

The Joliet City Council on Tuesday approved local landmark status for the downtown building that was a store for most of its 90-year existence.

The building at 9 W. Cass St. was the original home of the White Store and later housed the local Goldblatt’s Department Store, the Silver Dollar Store and Buy-Rite Furniture.

“The three-story building at 9 West Cass Street was built in 1929-1930 and is a well-preserved example of a late Beaux Arts style/Sullivanesque style commercial building,” according to the landmark application for the building. “The world plunged into the Great Depression in late 1929, which halted commercial building activity and ushered out the popularity of these architectural styles. Therefore, the building is late example of both styles.”

The one other downtown building of the same architectural genre is the Crystal Square Building at 79-81 N. Chicago St., according to the
application.

The group forming the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 is remodeling the building for the museum and performance center.

An opening date for the museum has not been set.

Museum founder and president Ron Romero told the council that the museum’s 17 board members include 10 historians. Romero said the museum has 500 charter members.

The museum is intended to be a tribute to rock and roll musicians with Illinois connections. It is located along the historic Route 66 that passes through downtown Joliet.