Posted on by bunnyhugger

E. Michigan Ave., L & L, 2000

At some point after the 1980s, L & L Construction apparently decided not to bother getting another fancy stamp and switched to this more home-made looking one. It’s a pretty common sight around my usual blocks, usually dated 1999 or 2000. This one is on the curb cut leading across Regent Street heading east on the south side of Michigan Avenue. There is a corresponding one on the other side of Regent and several others in nearby blocks of Michigan Avenue.

I used to think these had been drawn by hand, but I’ve changed my mind, because they are too consistent. Rather, I think the handwritten look is because the stamp (or perhaps stencil) was made in house and a bit rudely.

I think L & L ranks pretty high up among the most common stamps in my part of the east side. It’s not so common as the ubiquitous Cantu & Sons or the various versions of DPW/O & M, but it’s getting up there.

Posted on by bunnyhugger

E. Kalamazoo St., L & L, 1984

It’s a little hard to read but this is L & L Construction, Holt. I like the oval. I believe it says 1984; it looks like they decided to just have a stamp for the decade and write in the last number. Maybe Cantu and Sons should have considered that approach. L & L seems to still be in business, but as they don’t have a Web site I can’t say much more about them.

This slab is actually a curb cut on the southeast corner of Shepard and Kalamazoo. It’s in front of this building, which used to be a halal market.

The storefront has been unoccupied for years and the building is a deteriorating eyesore. I was surprised to notice a light on, meaning someone still lives in the upstairs apartment. I wouldn’t want to walk out on that suspiciously saggy-looking balcony.