An Old Fashioned Parlor With a New-Age Twist

You immediately know you’re not in an ordinary ice cream shop when you walk through the doors at in historic downtown Tinley Park.

The shop—it makes customers feel like they've stepped into a time warp—is a 21st century business where you can actually buy something with your spare change.

The sunlight beaming through the storefront's picture window is the main source of light. Booths along the wall invite customers to stay a while and stools lining its sleek bar counter offer them more possibilities. An old fashioned popcorn machine sits at the end of the counter. 

If you follow the counter farther inside the shop, you’ll land at a stand filled with your choice of penny candy next to chilled buckets of ice-cream and jars filled with colorful, sugary treats.

Just beyond the doorway hangs a picture showing a time when the streets of Tinley Park were unpaved and horses were the main source of transportation. People in the photo are standing outside the building at 17348 Oak Park Ave., which was built in 1907.  The space initially housed hardware and a drug stores before it was converted into an ice cream parlor. The light fixtures above the counter hang from the buildings original tin ceiling.

History is what owners Tim and Tracy Leo want to maintain.  Having purchased the shop four years ago, they’ve maintained a standard that Tinley residents have come to expect. 

“People come in all the time and say it reminds them of way back when there were soda shops,” Chase Leo said.  “We have that parlor feel.”

A working 1927 soda fountain is behind the counter and soft serve ice cream is not on the menu. Everything is made from scratch. With ice cream being the Leos' specialty, the shop boasts servings of the sweet stuff with the highest butter fat content.

Although the shop has an old world feel, it offers practical amenities like free wireless Internet. The shop's 28 ice cream flavors include no sugar, nonfat and soy options.  Chocolate bacon is a new flavor available at the shop, as well.

The Leo family prides themselves on knowing many of their regular customers ona first-name basis. Included in that group is Tinley Park resident Tom Hollingsworth and his 4-year-old son, Brock.

“He loves the trains,” Hollingsworth said, of his son. “We always see the trains first then head for ice cream.”