I remember well the lunch counter/soda fountains at Woolworth's and Walgreen's, both near Devon & Western. (BTW, here in St, Louis, "soda" = "pop" or "soda pop," but when I hear "soda," I always think of something with ice cream in it.)
I remember, too, the nut & candy counter at Sears-Roebuck's, the one at Lawrence & Damen. Loved the salted cashews and the pistachios (the kind that made your fingers all red).
Prince Castle! I thought I was the only one who remembered that! Better burgers than White Castle. Also, there was a similar place called Cock Robin.
Remember Lockwood Castle, on Devon out by Central? A soda-creations place, all kinds of huge ice cream sodas, club BLTs, etc.
Then, of course, if you're talking Chicago, you're talkin' hot dogs, pizza, and Italian beef. For hot dogs and Polish sausages, I remember the original Fluky's, on Western, on the other side of Pratt from where it is now. Steamed poppy-seed buns, grilled onions, hot peppers, big pickle slice--that's the ticket. There was also a good place for dogs and Polish on Devon, almost to Kedzie (near Thillens Stadium). By my house, Ruby's (Devon & Rockwell) for dogs, burgers, and rib-eye steak sandwiches.
Lots of Jewish delis near my house, too. Devon between Western and California (that was my "turf") was mostly Jewish businesses in those days. There were still some Swedes (like us) living in the neighborhood, but our stores were more on Clark Street, between Foster and Bryn Mawr--Andersonville. Grandpa Henrickson used to take us there to Villa Sweden for Sunday dinner.