Jan 2, 2009 6:34 pm US/Central
Obama's Haunts Bid Farewell To Next President
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
-
-
Barack Obama's barber shop in Hyde Park -- where this painting hangs -- is among the regular haunts that will see less of the president-elect after Obama is sworn in later this month.
CBS
As Barack Obama and his family prepare to head to Washington this weekend, it's bittersweet for their Hyde Park neighbors. CBS 2's Pamela Jones reports.
At Manny's Deli, you never know when the next tray sliding down will be that of the next president of the United States. The owners here have their Obama pride plastered on the wall - honoring the last time their famous customer visited, about a week after the election.
"It was unbelievable," one employee said. "He greeted all our customers, and he paid his own way and it was just very exciting for everyone."
Customers thought they might savor that kind of excitement again Friday.
"I was hoping that Obama would come here," 14-year-old Bennett Saltzman said. "I mean, I saw you guys pull in."
The Saltzman family feels a special connection to the president-elect.
Allen Saltzman claims he predicted the Obama run for the White House after meeting him at a parade in Wheaton during Obama's campaign for U.S. Senate.
"I just kind of said to myself, that guy should run for President and I kind of said to myself he would do well if he ever gave it a shot, and here we are today," Saltzman said.
The potential for one last pre-White House Obama visit is all the "buzz" at the Hyde Park Hair Salon.
Even though Zariff is dubbed "first barber," he's still cutting hair for the not-so-famous. Zariff says he's been cutting Obama's hair for some 15 years.
"He definitely leaves it up to me," the barber said. "You know, it's definitely my decision. He used to wear it a lot longer. But (for) the 2004 National Democratic Convention, I decided to cut it short."
At another favorite Obama haunt -- Spiaggia on the Mag Mile – they are hoping Obama's next visit comes soon.
"I remember my first time that I got to say to him, `Welcome to Spiaggia, Sen. Obama,'" senior dining room manager Chad Bertelsman said. "We're all very excited for him and his family."
Back in the Obama family's Hyde Park neighborhood, the police still block the street - and check for ids.
"For me, it's been more safe with the police always around," resident Ruth Norwood said.
Neighbors say the new first family's presence here makes even catching the bus a little more challenging.
"We've got to wait," Brianna Lenior said. "They've got to detour. It takes a minute for the buses to come. It's cold, too."
She saw the Obamas on Halloween and says it was quite a rush.
"I was on a bus, so I was surprised to see him," Lenior said. "But we didn't know they lived over here. We was shocked."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Jewish Celebrities
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
