On February 14, 1929, seven associates of Chicago’s North Side Gang were lined up and gunned down inside a garage at 2122 North Clark Street. Two attackers wore police uniforms to lure the men into compliance. The massacre was part of a brutal gang war during Prohibition. Al Capone was suspected of ordering the hit on rival George “Bugs” Moran, who narrowly avoided being present.
Original Use and Significance
The address was home to the SMC Cartage Company garage, a staging point for gang operations. Its connection to Moran’s crew made it a target. The garage looked like a typical warehouse, but concealed a high-stakes turf war. Moran missed the attack by minutes, after spotting what he believed were real police officers near the entrance.
What Stands There Today
The garage was demolished in 1967. Today, the address at 2122 N. Clark Street is an empty lot—a stretch of lawn with trees and no structures. It sits adjacent to the Margaret Day Blake Apartments at 2140 N. Clark, a senior housing building run by the Chicago Housing Authority. No historical marker indicates the site’s significance.
Site Evolution
The massacre location has transformed from a gang-linked garage to a quiet, grassy space between residential buildings. Historical aerial imagery confirms the structure stood until the mid-1960s. Since then, no new building has taken its place. The apartment building next door, built in 1968, often causes confusion due to its proximity. Across the street, a pizza restaurant occupies a historic brownstone often mistakenly linked to the event.
Last Updated on May 4, 2025 by F.E.M