Researching the Old Shangri-La Restaurant in Chicago's Loop

Primary Research Strategies

1. Newspaper Archives: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Defender (ProQuest, Newspapers.com, GenealogyBank). Search "Shangri-La" + "Loop" + "Wabash" / "Randolph" / "Dearborn".
2. Chicago Public Library: Special Collections (Harold Washington Library) – menus, ads, photos, city directories, Sanborn maps.
3. Encyclopedia of Chicago (online/print) – entries on restaurants, Loop history, Chinese-American community.
4. Chicago History Museum – Archives: menus, matchbooks, photos, oral histories. Contact research center.
5. City Directories & Phone Books: Criss-cross directories (Polk, Lakeside) – address, years listed.
6. Permit/Building Records: City of Chicago Dept of Buildings – permits for address.
7. Oral History: Interview former staff/patrons; post on Forgotten Chicago, Chicago History forums, Reddit r/ChicagoHistory.
8. Academic: Theses on Chinese restaurants in Midwest; UIC, DePaul, Northwestern libraries.

Likely Details

Shangri-La (various spellings) operated ~1940s–1980s at 158 W. Randolph or 130 N. Wabash—polynesian-themed, tiki drinks, Cantonese banquet. Part of mid-century "Polynesian pop" wave.