Tinley Students Give Vacant Storefronts Makeovers

When the economy closed several stores in the Oak Park Avenue strip mall Tinley Square, the area was left with eyesores of vacant storefronts, bare windows and empty spaces.

“It started looking like a ghost town and I wanted to do something to improve it,” property owner Joe Esposito said.

Esposito contacted Tinley Park’s Economic and Commercial Commission with a plan. He wanted to fill the empty storefronts with posters, photographs and art to make the spaces look more appealing and hopefully reel in potential tenants.

“I remember reading somewhere that Glen Ellyn had done something similar and I thought, ‘Why not?’” Esposito said.

Students Step In

The Economic and Commercial Commission loved the idea, but implementing it wasn’t as simple as Esposito originally thought. The village’s budget had also been hit by the economy, so the ECC had no  additional money to purchase the art.

The next idea was that that property owners be responsible for the posters. However, the legislation it would take to implement that proved to be too much, Esposito said.

“Then the idea came up to work with the schools and have them use their resources. Working with the schools would get the same results at little to no costs,” Rebecca Palumbo of the ECC said. “It was the perfect idea because it pulled in the government, the community and local businesses.”

The ECC contacted , , and .

“They all jumped on board,” Palumbo said. “It was nice for everyone to come together for the community.”

“We encourage our students to be a part of the communities that they live in,” Tinley Park High School Assistant Principal Wendy Bumphis said. “So anytime there’s an opportunity for them to learn as well as help their community, we are for it.”

Cathy Wojcik, Project Coordinator for Victor J. Andrew High School, agrees. This project provides “real-life business experience and helps the community,” she said.

“It is important because students learn many business theories but were able to implement them into this project,” Wojcik said.

The owners of empty storefronts throughout town got involved.

Esposito worked with Rich Central High School to complete displays at Tinley Square, 171st Street and Oak Park Avenue.

Property owner Khalil Khalil worked with Tinley Park High School to fill vacant spaces by 162nd and Oak Park Avenue. 

Lincoln-Way North and Victor J. Andrew took vacancies in the Park Center on the southwest corner of 159th Street and Harlem Avenue.

Smoothie Shops and Galleries Go Up

The schools took the project and made it their own. Each school came up with a theme and created mock stores that include art galleries, a smoothie shop and bakery.

Tinley Park High School students turned their space into an art gallery.

“Their work is so good another owner thought an art store was going up,” Esposito said.

“It’s always a plus when our students can directly impact their community,” said Bumphis.

The Andrew students took over what used to be a Starbucks and Currency Exchange and turned them into an organic juice bar and bakery naming them Chicago Juice and Thunderbake. 

“When you work as a team you can accomplish anything,” Andrew student Joe Muting said.

Art and marketing students at Andrew worked together for their project, learning teamwork, planning and communication skills, Wojcik said.

“At first we were all leery about how much work it would be on a Saturday afternoon,” Wojcik said. “But once we started, it was really fun and exciting to see our ideas come through and come out wonderful. Students loved doing it, and actually wanted to do more windows,” she said.

“Because of our hard work, potential tenant will find the spaces much more appealing” Victor J. Andrew student Patrick Mungovan said.

Esposito can vouch for that.

“I’ve gotten a lot of nibbles” Esposito said “I’m sure I’ll get someone in the properties when the snow melts and the sun shines.”

The displays will be on view until May.