the jonrev projects

@jonrev

Observer of obsolescence. Photographer & printmaker on Lake Wazzapamani. 🖕🇦👁️ Musings about retail/design/esoteric history/things on wheels/whatever... www.jonrev.com

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the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jul 11

Earlier...

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jul 10

After 19 years I've whittled car shows I still give a shit about down to like five. Scoop Waukegan is one of them -- one of the finest melting pots of car and local cultures between Chicago and Milwaukee. Open cruising in downtown Waukegan starts today at 5, free car show and more cruising Saturday

Photograph. A Pontiac Fiero on display in a classic car show, a variety of lowrider 1960s cars across the street.

Photograph. A variety of 1960s muscle cars on display in a car show.

Photograph. A variety of custom and classic cars on display in a car show.

Photograph. A street scene in downtown Waukegan, Illinois during Scoop in 2019. Food vendors are set up before a mural declaring a "Waukegan Arts Revolution". Abandoned high-rise building with a ghost sign for Chandler's stationery store in the background.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jul 8

Designed by the St. Louis Bank Equipment Co. and completed in 1925 as the city's first skyscraper, the Waukegan Building functioned as a bank until 1937 when it was repurposed for retail and offices Was one of my favorite exploring haunts in the 2010s. Unfortunately it's in far worse condition, now

Photograph. A vacant neoclassical high-rise building on a corner, viewed at night in a long-exposure photograph. Traffic signals and passing traffic, in front. A taller building, the Lake County Courthouse, looms in the background. Lowrise commercial buildings to the left.

Photograph. Fish-eye angle. Interior of a historic former bank hall that is now abandoned and being used for storage. A damaged plaster ceiling and frieze is partially obstructed by remains of a tile drop ceiling and fluorescent light fixtures added in the mid-20th century, when the space was occupied by Walgreen's.

Photograph. An empty bank vault viewed from the rear looking toward the rusted and graffiti-covered door. Thick concrete walls on either side. Some exterior fragments rest beside the vault door.

Photograph. Green wall with peeling paint in an abandoned building. A radiator grille near the center. A pair of windows overlook downtown Waukegan, Illinois looking north. The Genesee Theatre is on the horizon, on right.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jul 7

Libertyville, Illinois #Polaroid SLR-680, Color 600

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jul 7

Former Boston Store (1970), the Milwaukee metro's last one standing untouched since the 2018 demise of parent company, Bon-Ton Stores. Now city-owned and soon to be razed for a medium-density development known as "Verdell on the Green". Southridge - Greendale, Wisconsin #Polaroid SLR-680, Color 600

Photograph, Polaroid scan. A concrete arch structure at the entrance to a stone and concrete-faced department store building shrouded by eight years of plant overgrowth. Blue skies overhead.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jul 6

Cleanest Merc Topaz I've ever seen... #carspotting

Photograph, a blue Mercury Topaz (Ford Tempo) coupe in a suburban parking lot under an overcast sky.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jul 5

cheers

Photograph. A cat wearing a Coors Banquet can as a party hat. She is unamused.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jul 5

The American dream was nothing to write home about. Forest Fair Village - Forest Park/Fairfield, Ohio (2021) #deadmalls #abandoned #mall #retail #OH #photography

Photograph of an empty concourse of the dead Forest Fair Village shopping mall. The decor caricaturizes American agriculture with large hanging American flag sculptures and farm animals. The mall is devoid of any shoppers or retailers. Daylight of a mall exit is visible in the distance.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 30

100° heat indexes are good days for upcycling old server fans

Photograph. An old server fan pulled from the trash wired into a switch and 12v AC power supply.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 30

Deercompacto

Photograph. POV from someone riding a Honda Motocompacto e-scooter, the digital speedometer and handlebars in lower frame. A pair of deer in the distance, between the road and treeline in the background.

Photograph. A pair of deer in a field at night, zoomed in from the previous view.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 30

Advertise your account with a Simpsons image

Still from The Simpsons S18:E3 depicting the Springfield Mall in a dead mall state.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 30

Cars of the Schlitz celebration - Verona, Wisconsin #Polaroid SLR-680, Color 600

Photograph, Polaroid scan. 1/4 view of a tail light and chrome rear bumper of a turquoise 1960 Cadillac sedan against an asphalt parking lot.

Photograph, Polaroid scan. Rear 1/4 view of a blue 1969 Ford Mustang notchback with a black vinyl top.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 29

Regrettably, YouTubers were unsuccessful at saving the Kmarts and Eddie Lampert is still a jabroni Caledonia, Wisconsin #Polaroid SLR-680, Color 600

Polaroid scan, photograph of a Big Kmart store entrance under a blue clear sky. The store has been closed for years but weathered, oversized signage remains. Reddish contrast caused by the film being exposed to heat.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 29

There were aftermarket glove boxes made once upon a time, the door would lay flat and have a drink shelf. Really hard to find, now. Mine has this wide pocket thing. The poor-spec cars had nothing, some had half a map pouch, and some had this wide elastic band that's usually stretched to hell, now.

Photograph. A "dark gray" stock interior in a 1988 Pontiac Fiero Formula

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 29

Allen & Wright - Janesville, Wisconsin #Polaroid SLR-680, Color 600

Pair of Polaroid scans. The left photo is an A&W restaurant sign, a holdover from their 1960s-1990s branding. Letterboard below reads, TRY OUR FLAVOR OF THE WEEK". Right photo depicts the restaurant building, a brick and glass facade with a bright orange metal roof, a tall chimney in the center of the structure. jonrev's white Pontiac Fiero parked outside.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 28

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 27

Had Schlitz still been made to the 1948 specs all these years, like this last batch, they absolutely would still be the #1 brewery in America.

Photograph. Caucasian hand holding a can of Schlitz beer. A blurred backdrop of the Lake Louie Brewery in Verona, Wisconsin. A large crowd has gathered to celebrate the last batch of Schlitz, which the brewery was allowed to produce by Pabst.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 24

The wall graphics in the Crystal Lake Menard's...

Photograph. An aisle of car cleaning products in a Menard's store. Oversized wall graphics at the end display a desktop computer setup from no later than the mid-1990s.

Photograph. Close-up an oversized wall print displaying a desktop computer monitor, peripherals, and shelves with software and floppy disks from no later than the mid-1990s. A Rolodex and calculator are also seen on the desktop.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 20

Uhh welp...

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 19

Golden Apple, Chicago (2022) #bleedingneon #polaroid #neon #chicago #photography

Photograph, a scan of a Polaroid-type print. Red neon sign reads "GOLDEN APPLE RESTAURANTS", the neon light is streaked across the image due to the photographer laterally moving the film negative inside the camera mid-exposure.

• Mamiya Universal
• Fujifilm FP-100C single-shot reload

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 16

Pizza Hut has been sold to a private-equity firm with a stake in the funeral industry... how fitting. Geneseo, Illinois (2023)

Polaroid scan. Exterior of a classic Pizza Hut restaurant, a white banner (from covidtimes) announces "WE'RE OPEN FOR DINE-IN".

• Polaroid SLR-680 SE
• Polaroid Color 600

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 15

Anyway they have these, the Polish on parade, the "Beefed-Up" L poster and a couple others.

Photograph. A bundle of tubes containing poster prints, tops marked with the design contained. Blue tiled floor with a condiment rack in the lower-right frame. A stray Chuck Taylor sneaker on bottom.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 15

My local stand had the Navy Pier poster and I always wanted one. I found a faded example at an antique store up north for $80 the other week, then I checked ebay and I'm pretty sure I'm now ruining some guy's hustle.

Photograph. The aforementioned Navy Pier Vienna Beef poster but all the red and yellow ink has faded from sun exposure, likely from decades in direct sunlight as restaurant decor. Only the blue and some green inks survive. A price tag lists it for $80.

Screenshot, ebay listing for the same Navy Pier Vienna Beef poster priced at $125, user has declined an offer of $105.00.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 15

I can't believe what these posters go for — either used and faded to shit, or through resellers. The Vienna Factory Store at 38th/Morgan has them for $20.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 14

Bridge lift (from afar), yesterday

Photograph. View from driver's position in a Pontiac Fiero stopped on Chicago's Michigan Avenue while a drawbridge over the Chicago River is raised in the distance. Tall skyscrapers surround the street.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 8

The show must not go on Deerbrook Mall Cinema 4 - Deerfield, Illinois (2017) #deadmalls #abandoned #generalcinema #pepsi #retail #IL #photography

Photograph. Corner view depicting glass and brickwork in a commercial retail building - an abandoned shopping mall under demolition. A large theater marquee over a darkened entryway, the mall's former General Cinema quad.

Photograph. A large, empty, dark auditorium in an abandoned movie theater. Rows of seating and a screen still intact. Maroon walls and blue carpeting, combined with the blue-upholstered seats, indicate a 1990s renovation for this former General Cinema theater.

Photograph. An older Pepsi soda fountain in an abandoned movie theater. On tap are Pepsi, Lipton Raspberry Iced Tea, Mountain Dew, Diet Pepsi, 7up and Pepsi again.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 5

I could tell you a thing or two about mega-developments built on slag heaps. Century III Mall - West Mifflin, Pennsylvania (2023) #deadmalls #abandoned #retail #handegghandouts #photography

Photograph. An abandoned, specular-clad JCPenney department store entrance viewed across an abandoned mall's upper level concourse; stone, iron and wood-capped handrails of the balcony can be seen. Floodwater covers most of the floor, a yellow wet floor/attack snakes sign stands in the puddle.

Photograph. Grand court of the abandoned Century III Mall, a bilevel shopping mall with vacant storefronts lining both floors on either side. A round skylight opening in the ceiling, over a damaged blue-tiled water feature. Elevator tower rises behind. Decorative stars hang from the skylight, overhead. Debris and trash litters the floor.

Photograph. View of a tri-level enclosed concourse in an abandoned shopping mall, flights of escalators visible in the center. Empty retail spaces line either side on all floors. Ramps, stairs and planters fill the center of the lowermost floor, which is covered in debris and trash.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· Jun 1

Backrooms of Dixie Square Mall... Turn-Style, JCPenney, Jewel Foods Harvey, Illinois (2010-11) #deadmalls #abandoned #retail #IL #photography

Photograph. A ladder to the roof of a severely derelict and flooded abandoned building - a service area in an abandoned Turn-Style department store. Yellow, severely damaged walls covered in graffiti. Daylight at the top of the hatch. Reflection in a pool of water.

Photograph. Corner of an upper level stockroom area in an abandoned JCPenney department store. The roof has collapsed allowing daylight in, natural greenery sprouts from the broken concrete. A section of broken drywall still hangs. Pool of water looks like a hole in the floor.

Photograph. An upper level machine room above an abandoned Jewel Foods. A handful of bread crates scattered about. Cinder block walls with large square louvered vents on the left.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· May 28

No confirmed date, but Exton Square's last holdouts were apparently given short notice the mall is closing. The near-vacant mall was sold to Abrams Realty & Development last March, however NIMBYs and sewage worries have their redevelopment proposal tied up in court. Exton, Pennsylvania #deadmalls

Photograph. Corner of an enclosed shopping mall's concourse, viewed from the upper level. A stacked pair of vacant jewelry stores. Tiled floors and open skylights, above. Yellow bucket catching water leaking from the roof.

Photograph. Near-empty food court in a dying enclosed shopping mall -- a sea of empty tables and chairs. An ad for Round1 Bowling & Amusements hangs overhead from a tall wooden and exposed-beam ceiling. A Kay Jewelers at the end of the mall.

Photograph. A deserted childrens play area in a corner of an enclosed dead mall. Empty storefronts on either side.

the jonrev projects@jonrev· May 27

1959 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty-Special. Absolute ⛵