Thread: Al Capone's Home on the Market

Al Capone's Home on the Market

For sale: Six-room two-flat in Chicago's Park Manor neighborhood; ornate tile work; impressive brick exterior; an underground cellar big enough to hide some cash or ditch a tommy gun.

The home at 7244 S. Prairie Ave. once owned by mobster Al Capone and his family has hit the market for $450,000. It's a hefty sum considering similar two-flats in that working-class South Side neighborhood are selling for $180,000 to $230,000. But no other home in Chicago can match the history of the modest brick house that has had just two owners since Capone's mother died in 1952.

"I'm looking for people who would be interested in the historical value of this home," said Patrice Brazil, the Coldwell Banker agent who's listing it. "It's an excellent home, and it's in great shape."

Records show the Capones bought the home for $5,500 in 1923 after moving from Brooklyn, N.Y., where Al Capone's notorious business interests began. Capone centered his bootlegging, gambling and prostitution enterprises in Cicero and later moved them to the old Lexington Hotel at Cermak Road and Michigan Avenue. But he was a frequent guest of his mother's, famously barricading himself inside one December night in 1927 when police threatened to arrest him.

Since 1963, the home has belonged to Barbara Hogsette, 71, who is selling it so she can move to California to be with her son. Hogsette said she knows the home's history might not appeal to every buyer, but charm and character count for a lot—especially in real estate.

"The time is right for me to move on and let someone else in," she said.

The house he grew up in doesnt appeal at 3-4 times market value, the house he lived in while he was the mob boss however, would be another story, although i seem to remember him living in a hotel...

Originally Posted by Jeremy

The house he grew up in doesnt appeal at 3-4 times market value, the house he lived in while he was the mob boss however, would be another story, although i seem to remember him living in a hotel...

He did live in a hotel... Although he had many hideouts from IL to MI.

Thats pretty cool. Not for 4 times the value but I would love to say I live in Alcapones old house!

i would love to see some more pictures of the place

I am holding out for Tony Montana's place

Originally Posted by Boston Litigator

I am holding out for Tony Montana's place

Dont wait, its for sale. Think someone threaded it before.

That's pretty cool, but like other's have said not at 4x the value. My grandparents lived next to his sister and used to be "friends", kind of cool I guess.

Al Capone owned a distillery down the road from me in Brookfield WI. Its a nice house now...apparently it has an escape tunnel to a neighbors house.

I would like his Palm Island mansion in Miami Beach.