The Walnut Room a Classic Chicago Christmas Tradition

Chicago - This morning in Classic Chicago we're featuring a Chicago Christmas tradition, the Walnut Room.

This iconic holiday destination has been delighting locals and tourists for generations.

If you're looking' for Christmas cheer look no further. There is no room any more festive, any more tradition-rich and more beloved at the holidays than the Walnut Room.

"We are in the unique position of selling holiday memories. We have customers that have been coming in 30 to40 years. Second-, third- and fourth-generations. We just feed off of that. It's a wonderful experience and we're very proud to be part of a Chicago tradition," said Art Lorenz of Macy’s.

Whether it's the always sparkling over-sized tree, the well-loved collector's edition coffee mug or the ever-entertaining fairy princesses -- they keep coming back for more.

So many tables are filled with three generations. All of them hooked on this classic holiday treat. And to think it all began in 1907, not long after a clerk by the name of Mrs. Herring was discovered serving home-made chicken pot pie to her female customers in the stock room. A smoking room was turned into the Walnut Room and America's first ever restaurant inside a department store was born. And they've been selling the pot-pies every since.

Mrs. Herring would be proud 103 years later that it's still going strong. In fact, it's perfect. Last year 12,000 pounds of chicken pot pie were consumed over the holidays.

They come for the food, another piece to the Walnut Room phenomenon. But it's the memories that keep the lines long year after year.