Then and Now

Located about 25 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, Tinley Park, Illinois is one of the most beautiful Chicago suburbs. The town has acres of parkland and green space, making it a true retreat from city life.

The history of Tinley begins in the 1820s, when white-European settlement of the area first began. At the time, the government was selling land in the area for $1.25 per acre. Now a dollar was worth quite a bit more in those days, but a buck and a quarter for an acre was still a darn good bargain. Between 1820 and 1840, immigrants from Germany and the British Isles moved to the region and a couple of small agrarian communities, known as Batchelor Grove and Cooper's Grove, were established during those years.

In the early 1850s, a rail line that connected Joliet and Chicago was constructed. Tinley Park is located about halfway between the two destinations. With the railroad in operation and a sizeable amount of commuter traffic passing through the midpoint station, the small village surrounding the tracks began to grow rapidly. The community of Bremen (which would later be renamed Tinley Park) was established in 1853. In the early 1900s, heavy industry moved into the area, including a washing machine factory, an electric utility, and several other manufacturing plants, creating jobs and attracting workers to the budding town. By the mid 20th century, most of these factories and businesses had been shut down, and large tracts of land were preserved as public parks. In the past decade, Tinley Park has continued improvements and restoration, renovating the historic downtown district while maintaining its historical legacy.
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Park is the Place

Part of what makes Tinley Park one of the most attractive suburbs in the Chicagoland area is the abundance of public parks and recreational space available to Tinley Park residents and visitors. Tinley Creek Woods is a large nature preserve with a number of huge, old-growth oaks that are over a few centuries old. There's a paved trail in Tinley Park Woods that is perfect for biking, jogging, or taking a walk. The trail passes through prairies and wooded areas, affording a nice retreat from civilization. Another popular nature retreat located in Tinley Park is Vogt Woods (6527 W 171st St), a large wooded park maintained by the town's Parks District. In addition to providing a place where you can stretch the legs and enjoy Mother Nature, Vogt Woods is one of the most popular picnic spots in Tinley Park. The park also features athletic grounds for soccer, football, basketball and tennis.

For a more sports and recreation-oriented locale, head over to one of Tinley Park's bigger public park areas at Community Park (8105 W 171st St). It was converted from a farm into parkland in 1989 and is now more than 53 acres in size. The park features several baseball fields, a soccer field, a large playground, basketball and tennis courts, an outdoor ice rink, and a large indoor recreation center.
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Hit the Links

Tinley Park also has a lot to offer the golfer in the family. With three world-class courses, the suburb is a golf lover's paradise. Of the three, the Odyssey Country Club (19110 Ridgeland Ave, 708-429-7402) is the only 18-hole course in town, but because it's a country club, use of the greens is reserved for members. The par-72 course, which is set on beautifully manicured bent grass fairways, is one of the more challenging golf sites around. Water comes into play on several of the holes, and there's an abundance of sand bunkers to keep you on your toes. The golf course isn't the only thing that Odyssey has to offer its members, though. The clubhouse also has an impressive banquet hall for weddings and other special occasions, plus, daily meals are offered in the clubhouse restaurant.

If you don't feel like splurging for a country club membership, there are a few other spots in Tinley Park to set up your tee and play a round with coworkers or friends. White Mountain Recreation Center (9901 179th St, 708-429-7402) is one of the best options to get in 9 holes on an executive course without breaking the bank. A single game will only set you back $10 or $12, depending on what day of the week. There are water hazards on a couple of the holes, and tall grass and sand bunkers are strategically placed on most of the others to create a unique challenge every step of the way.
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Real Estate

The Tinley Park real estate market is quite diverse in housing type and price range. While some residential areas invoke images of large Prairie-style homes, surrounded by thick grass and shaded by towering oak trees, others are a picture of blissful suburban life with mid-century split-levels on manicured lots along sidewalk-lined blocks. And, because it is only 25 miles from downtown Chicago, many growing city families find Tinley Park an easy move, offering much more space and still a short commute to work.

Tinley Park's wide variety of homes and beautiful neighborhood settings are a big draw for buyers. Along the winding, subdivision streets are a mix of detached, single-family houses and attached condos and lofts in every kind of style and size you could want. Most of Tinley Park's residential areas are not for lack of flourishing back yards, and even the grounds between lots are saturated with verdant vegetation and additional patches of lush lawn.

Home searchers will discover a good selection of one-story houses, raised ranches and split-levels with three bedrooms for affordable prices. The majority of these homes have attached garages and some boast remodeled interiors. Newer, more upmarket properties are also in large supply in Tinley Park. These residences offer buyers contemporary layouts, more modern finishes, and sprawling lots that provide privacy and ample outdoor area.

In Tinley Park, Illinois, the average sale price for a detached, single-family home is $265,000 for a house with three bedrooms, $345,000 for a four-bedroom place, and $408,000 for property with five or more bedrooms. The average sale price for two-bedroom condos and townhouses in Tinley Park is about $184,000 and three-bedroom units have an average sale price of $233,000.

Whatever your needs -- whether you're looking for more room and outside yard space, or you're taking the big step towards purchasing a starter home -- Tinley Park has the ideal home for you and your family.
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Tinley Park Residential Real Estate Info for Single-Family Detached Homes

Average Sale Price 2005-2006	Average # of Days on the Market	Number of Sales 2005-2006	One Year Price Change	Price Change Since 94
$296,550	66	370	11%	98%

Source: Multiple Listings Service of Northern Illinois

What's on the Menu?

This southwestern Chicago suburb may have German roots, but when it comes to European-inspired dining, Italian food is where most Tinley Park residents tend to gravitate. There are a handful of different places in town to get your fill of pasta and marinara, ranging from Italian steakhouses and more upscale eateries to comfort food establishments where spaghetti reigns supreme. One Tinley Park favorite that seems to be a cross between high-priced cuisine and run-of-the-mill fare is Gatto's Restaurant & Bar (8005 W 183rd St, 708-444-7400). Gatto's bills itself as a casual dining spot with your typical Italian specialties, but it's actually got one of the best menus in Tinley Park and an inviting, comfortable atmosphere that has won over the local clientele. Entrées include a nice blend of seafood, steak and veal dishes, along with your traditional pasta plates.

Pizza falls under the Italian food umbrella, and when you want a piece of the good stuff in Tinley Park Sanfratello's Pizza (17823 80th Ave, 708-444-0055) is top choice. Sanfratello's isn't your average hole-in-the-wall pizza joint, it's more like a nice Italian restaurant that happens to place an emphasis on their circular menu options. Sanfratello's originated in Glenwood in 1969, but it has since branched out to several of the suburbs, including Tinley Park. The Tinley Park location has enough seating for 250 people, which includes a banquet room and a bar area.

For a quality steak and a good glass of wine, Bogart's Charhouse (17344 Oak Park Ave, 708-532-5592) is where you want to go - but you'd be wise to call in advance, because this place is usually packed. As its name suggests, Bogart's is your typical steakhouse, where guests are served large, expertly-cooked cuts that won't break the bank. Be warned: Bogart's can be a bit corny for some tastes; the place is loosely themed with Casablanca references, Hollywood murals and servers wearing fez hats. For days when you're in the mood for some straight-up comfort food, Nick's Barbeque (16638 Oak Park Ave, 708-444-7427) is a good bet. The folks at Nick's take their ribs seriously, but that's not the only thing they offer - there are more than 30 different types of sandwiches listed on their menu, including chicken, fish, and one killer third-pound burger.

When dinner is over and you're in the mood for a little night cap - or just a place to continue your evening, Tinley Park's number one destination is the Old Tinley Pub and Eatery (17020 Oak Park Ave, 708-532-4409). The Old Tinley is a large bar that gets a lot of action from Tinley Park's younger set, seven days a week. Whether it's karaoke night or half-priced pizzas on Sundays, the Old Tinley never fails to pack 'em in. For a slightly more "divey" scene, check out the Cottage Bar and Grill (7865 159th St, 708-532-3113), which has a welcoming neighborhood tavern appeal and some great pub food to go with it. The Friday night fish fry (which is all-you-can-eat) typically pulls a big crowd and the outdoor beer garden is elbow-to-elbow once the warm weather months roll around.
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Best Shopping Stops

Another great feature of living in Tinley Park is that you don't need to go very far to fill all of your shopping needs. Most of the nation's largest retailers have stores right here in Tinley Park, often right next door to each other in one of the area's strip mall shopping centers.

When it comes to clothes, shoes accessories and more, T.J. Maxx (16025 Harlem Ave, 708-429-4660) is a one-stop shop where bargain shoppers are sure to find just about any item for men, women and kids. And the best part is, everything in T.J. Maxx is marked down from its original price. The discount department store carries brand-name and designer apparel you'd normally get at more expensive clothiers such as Nordstrom or Lord and Taylor, for sometimes up to 60% off the regular price. Famous Footwear (16003 Harlem Ave, 708-633-9751) is another of Tinley Park's more popular fashion outlets. The store is a nationwide shoe retailer that carries both athletic and formal styles in men's, women's and children's sizes.

These days, everyone has their preferred "big box" retailer, and for Tinley Park residents, the Kmart Supercenter (16300 Harlem Ave, 708-633-7300) is the biggest big box store in town. The originator of the familiar "blue light special" is a discount store in the truest sense of the word, offering up a wide variety of goods at extra low prices. Shoppers can save money on everyday items and much more at this mega market. In the same block as Kmart, there's a Sam's Club (16100 Harlem Ave, 708-532-1298). This coveted "warehouse club" has a mix of bulk groceries, clothes, electronics and appliances for sale inside their huge stockroom-style showroom. Tinley Park also has a Kohl's Department Store (7500 W 191st St, 815-464-3486), which is sort of a hybrid of a traditional department store and a mass merchandiser. For other shopping needs, Tinley Parkers flock to Radio Shack (16036 Harlem Ave, 708-429-0925) for stereo equipment and electronics; PetSmart (7340 191st St, 815-464-3041) for pet supplies and food; Staples (16189 Harlem Ave, 708-532-1611) for office resources; and Dick's Sporting Supplies (7370 191st St, 815-806-4932) for athletic gear and accessories.
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Mark Your Calendar

In recent years, Tinley Park residents get together for a weekend of partying, art appreciation, and wining and dining at the annual Autumn Fine Arts Festival, which the town has hosted since 2003. The festivities kick off with an evening gala at the Metra Train Station. The event includes drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and it gives participating artists an opportunity to show off their work. The following day, the autumn parade typically starts around noon at Central Middle School and makes its way north, ending at the festival site, situated in the Metra parking lot at Oak Park Avenue. The rest of the day is packed with art displays and vendor booths, in addition to activities and events for children, like "Picasso's Playground," which lets kids create some art of their own, and the "Entertainer's Rendezvous," which includes a number of musical performances.
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School's in Session

Bert H Fulton Elementary School - 6601 W 171st St (708) 614-4525
Central Middle School - 18146 S Oak Park Ave (708) 614-4510
Christa McAuliffe School - 8944 174th St (708) 429-4565
Helen Sandidge Elementary School - 1660 S 66th Ave (708) 6141-4540
Helen Keller Elementary School - 7846 163rd St (708) 532-2144
John Bannes Elementary School - 16835 Odell Ave (708) 532-2144
Kimberly Hights Elementary School 6141 - Kimberly Dr (708) 532-6434
Kirby Elementary School - 17300 Ozark Ave (708) 532-3956
Memorial Elementary School - 17839 S 84th Ave (708) 614-4535
Prairie View Middle School - 8500 W 175th St (708) 532-8540
Project Challenge School - 16531 Oak Park Ave (708) 444-1424
Tinley Park High School - 6111 175th St (708) 532-1900
Victor J Andrew High School - 9001 W 171st St (708) 342-5800
Virgil Grissom Middle School 1700 80t Ave (708) 429-3030
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Basic Needs

Dining

American Cuisine
Ashford House - 7959 159th St (708) 633-7600
Bogart's Charhouse - 17344 Oak Park Ave (708) 532-5592
Casto's Restaurant - 16846 Oak Park Ave (708) 429-1400
Nick's BBQ - 16638 Oak Park Ave (708) 444-7427
Tin Fish - 18201 Harlem Ave (708) 532-0200
Wheatfield Restaurant - 16914 Oak Park Ave (708) 429-0022

Italian Cuisine
Gatto's Restaurant & Bar - 8005 183rd St (708) 444-7400
Luby's Pub & Steak House - 6657 South St (708) 633-8240
Palermo's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria - 11255 W 143rd St (708) 364-6700
Rocco's Little Italy - 7907 W 159th St (708) 444-8259

Mexican Cuisine
Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant - 6911 159th St (708) 429-2300

Pizza
Aurelio’s Pizza 15901 Oak Park Ave (708) 429-4600
Ed & Joe’s Pizza 17332 Oak Park Ave (708) 532-3051
Little Joe’s 7976 167th St (708) 532-2240
Sabastiano’s Pizza & Pasta 9536 179th St (708) 444-7272
Sanfratello’s Pizza 17823 80th Ave (708) 444-0055

Bars/Nightlife

Banana’s Grille & Bar - 18501 Harlem Ave (708) 342-5454
Cottage Bar & Grill - 7865 W 159th St (708) 532-3113
Old Tinley Pub & Eatery - 17020 Oak Park Ave (708) 532-4409
Cuzin’s Tavern & Pizza - 17704 Oak Park Ave (708) 633-1144
Lavery’s Pub and Steakhouse - 6657 South St (708) 633-8240
Oliver’s Bar & Grill - 6150 159th St (708) 687-6500

Entertainment

First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre 19100 S Ridgeland Ave (708) 614-1616

Golf Courses

Graystone Golf Links - 7600 191st St (708) 720-6600
Odyssey Country Club - 19110 Ridgeland Ave (708) 429-7402
White Mountain Golf Course - 9901 179th St (708) 429-7402

Grocery Stores

Jewel-Osco 17117 Harlem Ave (708) 532-7414
Tinley Market 16721 80th Ave (708) 802-8919
Walts Food Centers 16039 S Harlem Ave (708) 672-3270

Gyms

Bally Total Fitness - 16040 Harlem Ave (708) 444-0484
Cardinal Fitness - 17200 S Oak Park Ave (708) 614-5000
Curves - 8005 183rd St (708) 329-9605
Women’s Workout World - 16015 Harlem Ave (708) 429-1144

Libraries

Tinley park Public Library - 7851 Timber Dr (708) 532-0160

Gyms

Bally Total Fitness - 16040 Harlem Ave (708) 444-0484
Cardinal Fitness - 17200 S Oak Park Ave (708) 614-5000
Curves - 8005 183rd St (708) 329-9605
Women’s Workout World - 16015 Harlem Ave (708) 429-1144

Pharmacies

Cub Pharmacy - 16000 Harlem Rd (708) 613-0667
Osco Drug - 17113 Harlem Ave (708) 532-7477
LaGrange Road Pharmacy - 17495 La Grange Rd (708) 226-7100
Walgreens - 16675 Oak Park Ave (708) 429-0880

Post Offices

US Post Office - 7230 171st St (708) 532-3131

Shopping

Amazing Fantasy Books & Comics - 15948 Harlem Ave
American Sale - 8401 185th St (708) 633-7287
Beads Galore & More - 17727 Oak Park Ave (708) 532-7160
Best Buy - 7330 191st St (815) 469-1306
Circuit City - 9231 159th St (708) 349-0346
Dick’s Sporting Goods - 7370 191st St (815) 806-4932
Dots Fashions - 15957 Harlem Ave (708) 614-9820
Famous Footwear - 16003 Harlem Ave (708) 633-9751
Fashion Bug - 9247 159th St (708) 349-9403
Furniture Box - 15010 Harlem Ave (708) 444-2244
Great Escape - 7787 W 159th St (708) 429-3140
Kmart Supercenter - 16300 Harlem Ave (708) 633-7300
Kohl’s Department Store - 7500 W 191st St (815) 464-3486
Norman Formal Wear - 17702 Oak Park Ave (708) 532-4312
OfficeMax - 9233 159th St (708) 349-4244
Payless Shoe Source - 7314 191st St (815) 469-1594
Pets Mart - 7340 191st St (815) 464-3041
Radio Shack - 16036 Harlem Ave (708) 429-0925
Sam’s Club - 16100 Harlem Ave (708) 532-1298
Staples - 16189 Harlem Ave (708) 532-1611
TJ Maxx - 16025 Harlem Ave (708) 429-4660
Threshold Music - 7901 W 159th St (708) 429-0220
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