Oprah's Decision to Leave Her Show a Big Blow to the Windy City

The loss of the Oprah Winfrey Show in Chicago could result in big changes for the windy city and people who live there say not all of them will be good.

Over the two decades that Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios have graced the West side Chicago area, it's amazing what the show has done for the neighborhood. Paul O'Conner, charged with selling the city to businesses who want to relocate, and talking those wondering if they should stay, says

"I used to live across the street from Harpo and when I moved there it was me and cross-dressing crack addicts and Harpo. And now it's strollers and little white dogs all over."

So the rundown apartment buildings, abandoned warehouses and empty storefronts were replaced with upscale condominiums and pricey restaurants. And now, people in Chicago are just plain nervous about what will happen when Oprah leaves the building next season in the show's 25th season A restaurant owner just down the street, Joel Nickson, owner of the Wishbone eatery says...

"Chicago's going to find out that she's a real engine to hotel rooms, flowers, limo drivers, you name it, Even when she's not doing the show, we see people all the time taking cabs out here, taking pictures in front of the place."

Chicago was the neighborhood that Winfrey bragged about, reminding all who watched are that she loved it.

"Isn't this the most fabulous city in the world?"

That's what she yelled to more than 20,000 fans crowding into Chicago's Magnificent Mile in September for the taping of this season's premiere. Without Winfrey, some wonder. Some fans wonder about what's next. 41-year old Ann Coddington of Richmond, Indiana says

"What's this town going to come to? You think of Chicago, you think of Oprah."

Winfrey isn't definite about leaving Chicago...but it could happen. She has her own network called OWN, The Oprah Winfrey Network, and that's set to begin in January 2011. And there are reports that she could be moving to California to set this up. But Chicagoans will lose quite a bit when and if Oprah leaves. Celebrities came to town from everywhere when they appeared on her show. Sarah Palin recently showed up to kick off her book tour. And Chicago residents say Winfrey did more than just set up shop in Chicago: She was the reason for other companies to do so as well. Paul O'Connor, who now works for the Chicago Metropolis 2020 civic group says... "

She is part of the cultural infrastructure which provides a rich intellectual and cultural life to the city and that is absolutely critical for corporate decision making,"