Joseph Liska - Czech Butcher

A promotional meeting was held last night in Sokol Chicago Hall, the purpose of which was to acquaint the general public with the basis upon which a co-operative business is founded. This establishment, the Bohemian Bazaar, has increased its capital to $150,000 and is now selling shares at $10 each; individuals may own from one to twenty-five shares. Many countrymen subscribed for shares at yesterday's meeting and much enthusiasm was displayed toward the enterprise. Applications for shares may also be made to the secretary, Joseph Liska, 526 West 18th street.

 

Chicago Tribune, Thursday, January 16, 1908, Page 3

BIG COMMUNITY STORE FAILS

Bohemian Bazaar, 534 Blue Island Ave., Taken by Receiver.

HAD 1,800 SHAREHOLDERS.

Store Organized Eighteen Months Ago; $180,000 Stock Issued,

An Involuntary petition in bankruptcy threw the Bohemian bazaar, a cooperative department store at 534 Blue Island avenue, Into the hands of a receiver yesterday. The stock was held by 1,800 Bohemian residents of that district. The largest amount of the stock, held outside of the directorate was to the value of $50. The total capital stock was $180,000.

" An absolutely honest failure," was the way Attorney W. W. Witty, acting for the petitioning creditors, characterized the assignment.

The store was organized. eighteen months .ago. It was planned to carry every commodity that might be required by the members of the corporation. For a time there was prosperity. It was considered a successful institution.

When the financial stringency developed there was a falling off in the receipts of the store. The number of clerks was reduced. The directors were called upon several times to advance money to keep the organization in operation. Finally it was agreed that a failure was only a question of time, and it was believed that more might be realized by a receiver than at some later time.

Judge Landis Names Receiver.

Frank Schraeder, with a claim. of $442 against the corporation; Thomas Valdar. claiming $1,000, and Joseph Pelant, with a claim of $420, appeared late in the afternoon before Judge Landis. After hearing the statement of Mr. Witty the court appointed the American Trust and Savings bank receiver. Possession of the store was at once turned over to the trust company. and for the present, the business will be continued.

The assets, according to the petition, are valued at $60,000. The liabilities are placed at $105,000. John Witrous is president of the company. Frank Schradner manager, and Joseph F. Schuh secretary.

Not Known to Stockholders.

It was not known in the neighborhood last night that the store was in the receiver's hands. It is not open in the evenings, and there was no notice of the courts action in the window. Even stockholders would not believe that the store had failed. " We have 1,800 shareholders who have about $10 apiece in the concern." said Mr. Schuh. " If the store can be carried along for a short time I believe that it will make money again, as it did before. If it does no one will lose anything at all. "

It was not decided until today that this step would be necessary. But our directors finally concluded that it would have to come, and the sooner the better for everybody."

Fire Destroys the Bohemian Bazaar

The Joliet Evening Herald-News (Joliet, Illinois) · 29 Mar 1908, Sun · Page 10

SEE THEIR MONEY GO UP IN SMOKE

Co-Operative Store at Chicago Destroyed Many Rescued from Threatened Death.

Chicago, March S. Thirty-five persons were rescued from threatened death in flames, one man was severely burned and a co-operative store in which hundreds had Invested their savings was burned early in the day, while frenzied men and women losers knelt in the street and prayed that the store might be saved. The stock was destroyed and the building badly damaged, the total loss being $50.000. The fire was in the Bohemian Co-Operative department store, known also as the Bohemian Bazaar, 534-538 Blue Island avenue. It spread so rapidly that a number of families in adjoining houses were cut off and were rescued by the firemen, while rapidly that a number of families in from their homes and crowded about the burning building. Many of them had their life savings invested In the store, and a number became hysterical as they saw their savings vanish in smoke and flames. The police had difficulty in keeping excited citizens at a safe distance from the fire.

NOTE: In 1905, Joseph Liska is listed as one of three mentioned in the incorporation of the Bohemian Bazaar.  In 1906, he is listed in the Denni Hlasatel article as secretary.  In 1908, at the time of the bankruptcy declaration, Joseph F. Schuh is listed as the secretary.

In 1905, Joseph Liska also began the incorporation and organization of the Chicago Packing Company, seemingly the Bohemian Butchers Association he was first involved had either been dissolved, or would be shortly.