A North Side street received an honorary new name Friday, three months after a beloved store owner from the area was gunned down.
Honorary Bassam "Ollie" Naoum Way will extend down Oak Street from North Orleans Street to North Larrabee Street.
Secretary of State Jesse White and Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) were on hand for the dedication.
"He was a great American, and if we could put this gentleman on a Xerox machine and run off about 10,000 copies, this world would be a wonderful place and a better place for all of us," said White.
Naoum was shot six times inside his store, Munchies Market, at 950 N. Orleans St., last October.
While still a cold case, his Naoum's friends say they hope events like the one held Friday will keep the crime fresh in the public's mind.
"It was very touching, and it was a great recognition for a man that did his best for the community," said Gazi Mashall, Naoum's friend and managing partner for several years.
