We recently came across this “Book of Experience” written by our founder, Eli Schulman, in the 1940’s. He shared this booklet with friends and guests at his restaurant, Eli’s Ogden Huddle. It was located on Chicago’s west side at Ogden and Kedzie and was a favorite spot for celebrities and locals.

Eli was the ultimate entrepreneur and really knew how to take care of his guests. Our favorite gem from the booklet  is “Treat others as though you were the others” – important words to live by in business and also in life.   His slogan for the restaurant was “Good Food – Always!” Words of wisdom that we’re still committed to today.

Eli’s Cheesecake was proud to help Michigan Avenue Magazine celebrate their 5^th anniversary in print. The event was held at the Langham Chicago Hotel.

Special guest, and Grammy award-winning singer, Michelle Williams, helped Eli’s President, Marc Schulman, cut the big cake Eli’s made for the birthday bash. The guests enjoyed the cake.

Michelle Williams also performed a few songs, including “Happy Birthday” at the big celebration.  She is on the cover of Michigan Avenue Magazine’s summer issue.

For more on the event, and for more pictures, click here: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Michigan-Ave-Mag-Celebrates-Five-Years-of-Production-218942921.html

Eli’s Cheesecake celebrated their first National Cheesecake Week July 25-30. The 6 day long celebration kicked off on a Thursday with Eli’s Social Media Breakfast! Bloggers came from all over to learn about the company and to decorate an Eli’s Cheesecake!  There was also the weekly Eli’s and Wright College Farmer’s Market.

On Friday, Eli’s was joined by Gene Hartman for Eli’s Music on the Patio and an Eli’s Cheesecake and Dessert Buffet.

For a quick video, click here: http://instagram.com/p/cPmPuJqp9C/

The celebration continued over the weekend with a Grilled Lunch on the patio on Saturday, and a Classic Car Show on Sunday with over one hundred cars. The Happiness Club performed Sunday at the Classic Car show, as well. Eli’s Mascot, Eli Slice, even joined them for a few numbers.

Monday customers in the store got to play Cheesecake games, including Cheesecake Bingo.

National Cheesecake Day concluded the weeklong celebration on Tuesday, July 30th. Vince Garasole from CBS2 joined Eli’s in the morning to talk to help celebrate. Customers enjoyed a free slice of cheesecake all day long serving a new flavor every hour. Eli;s Cheesecake Mobile was also around Chicago giving out free slices to the public. Free slices were also being given out at O’Hare terminal 1.

National Cheesecake Week was a busy and successful celebration.

Eli’s National Cheesecake Week Celebration, July 25-30, 2013

Thursday, July 25^th:

Farmer’s Market & Fun

• Farmer’s Market, 7am-1pm – fresh produce, handmade crafts & more
• Free Social Media Breakfast Meet-up – Ready, Set, Decorate!

Calling all bloggers, Tweeter, Facebook friends, Instagrammers and Pinners. Divide into teams and decorate an Eli’s Cheesecake. Prizes for winning cakes! Reservations required, call 773-308-7000. 8am.

• Enjoy a free slice of cheesecake (one slice per person) from 8am – 6pm
• Free snow cones and meet & greet with State Representative Robert Martwick, 9am-11pm

Al Fresco Grilled lunch, 11am-1pmLive performance by nationally acclaimed Redmoon Theater, 11am

• Free lecture given by Dana Benigno, Executive Director of

Green City Market, 1pm

• Free hearing tests courtesy of the Lions Club
• Facebook photo caption contest daily through July 30 facebook.com/elischeesecake
• Twitter free cheesecake drawing daily through July 30 twitter.com/elischeesecake
• Mail order four hour lunch specials

Friday, July 26^th:

Music on the Patio, 4pm – 6pm

• Gene Hartman – Solo Acoustic Entertainment and a FREE Cheesecake Buffet
• Mail order four hour lunch specials

Saturday, July 27^th:

Grilled lunch for sale on the Patio, 11am -1pm

• FREE Cheesecake Samples and a Live DJ

Sunday, July 28^th:

Classic Car Show, 10am – 3pm

• Grilled lunch for sale,  11am– 1pm
• Entertainment by The Happiness Club 11am-1pm

Monday, July 29^th:

Customer Appreciation Day, 10pm – 4pm

• Free cheesecake samples and an extra 10% off your entire whole cake purchase! (in-store only)

Cheesecake games for the whole family – cheesecake bingo, cheesecake hoola hoop, and a cheesecake cake walk

• Free shipping on 9” Cheesecakes for mail order at shop.elicheesecake.com

Tuesday, July 30^th:

National Cheesecake Day!

• Enjoy free cheesecake sample every hour in our café
• The Cheesecake Mobile will be out on the street giving away FREE cheesecake slices around Chicagoland! Follow us on Twitter @ElisCheesecake or #ElisMobile to find out where the Cheesecake Mobile will be throughout the day
• Free shipping on 9” Cheesecakes for mail order at shop.elicheesecake.com until 11am
• Free cheesecake at O’Hare Terminal 1 between gates B and C from 11am-2pm

Events subject to change, visit www.elicheesecake.com/calendar for complete schedule

The Eli’s Cheesecake Co., 6701 W. Forest Preserve Drive, Chicago IL 60634
(773) 205-3800   www.elicheesecake.com

Eli’s Cheesecake was part of the Green City Market Chef BBQ in Lincoln Park on July 18^th. The event included over 100 chefs and restaurants using fruits, veggies, cheeses, and meats from the market to create a tasty dish! Our fantastic culinary team made a Goat Cheese Cheesecake topped with a raspberry sauce and blackberries. It was a successful event that we were happy to be a part of, and the Goat Cheese Cheesecake was a hit!

On July 18^th, Eli’s Cheesecake helped celebrate Special Olympics’ 45^th birthday. Although the weather was hot, Special Olympics participants still celebrated their achievements at Grant Park in Chicago with a celebratory big Eli’s Cheesecake.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke cuts the first piece of the celebration cake in honor of Chicago’s Special Olympics birthday and the athletes enjoyed their slice of Eli’s Cheesecake!

The Special Olympics is one of the world’s most celebrated athletic traditions, with 4 million athletes in 170 countries, which hold more than 53,000 competitions every year.  Read more about the Chicago’s Special Olympics in the Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-special-olympics-anniversary-20130719,0,984295.story

To find out more information on Chicago’s Special Olympics, visit their Facebook page or their website:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/soillarea3

Website:  http://www.soill.org/?s=chicago

After a very successful Taste of Chicago, Eli’s is looking forward to National Cheesecake Day on July 30! But Eli’s thinks cheesecake deserves more than one day of fun, so we are preparing for a weeklong celebration for National Cheesecake Day! July 25-30 Eli’s will be celebrating with special events like a live performance by Redmoon Theater, a classic car show, grilled lunches, free cheesecake, and so much more!

For a complete schedule of events for National Cheesecake Week, check out our July calendar: http://www.elicheesecake.com/elis-in-chicago/bakery-cafe/calendar/

Hard to Believe! It was July 4th 1980 that Eli’s Cheesecake made its public debut at the first Taste of Chicago. 33 years later we are honored to be the only vendor still in the Taste that was there that first day!

Join us at 11am today (Wednesday, July 10th) at Buckingham Fountain as we celebrate the 33rd Birthday of Eli’s Cheesecake & the Taste of Chicago with our 1,000 lb. Birthday Cake free to all and then join us during the five days of Taste at the Eli’s Cheesecake Booth near the corner of Jackson & Columbus.