OPDC in the Community

The Nicholas Awards are named in honor of Robert E. Nicholas, a pioneer commercial developer in the early 1900s in downtown Oak Park. In selecting winners, an OPDC committee considers the amount of each business investment, its innovative product or concept, the prestige the business brings to the community and the ripple effect created by a new or expanding business. Many awardees received support from OPDC.

Botanica – 115 N. Oak Park Ave.
Carefully selected artisan goods for the home, including table top linens, bed and bath linens, contemporary and antique botanical art, handcrafted pottery, gardening tools, and accessories for outdoor entertaining.

Burke Business Center – 102 S. Ridgeland
Much more than an Internet cafe, the Center is a full-service business resource offering a conference room, computer workstations, Internet access and coffee. BBC received assistance from OPDC.

Carriage Flower Shop – 124 N. Marion
New owner redesigned this popular business, including inventory, storefront and interior space, with assistance from OPDC.

Chameleon – 130 N. Oak Park Ave.
Co-owners gutted a former dry cleaners to create a hip, urban clothing boutique in the midst of Oak Park.

Fitness Formula Clubs – 1120 Lake St.
Boasting 400 pieces of strength and cardio equipment, a four-lane pool, four fitness suites with one available for community meetings, a spa, cafe and Kids Club, this is ninth location and the first in the suburbs.

mb financial – 6621 North Ave.
A new full-service branch opened with a multi-million dollar corporate investment, filling a long-vacant site – a welcome addition to North Avenue.

Maya del Sol – 144 S. Oak Park Ave.
An exciting mix of Mayan/Mexican/Californian cuisine; an extensive renovation helped open up the space, allowing more tables and a larger bar, party room and outside patio.

Moveable Gourmet – 118 N. Marion
Gourmet take out business, also offers an on-premise or in-home cooking school and catering services.

Olive & Well – 133 N. Oak Park Ave.
This unique store features olive oil and balsamic vinegar from the U.S. and abroad; selections are bottled on the spot.

The Sachem Company and Talaske Sound Thinking – 1033 South Blvd.
Two long-time Oak Park businesses blended their needs by buying a building and moving in together. The interior renovation involved local contractors and architects, an eye to historic preservation and an open floor plan.

TAKARA – 123 N. Marion
This boutique features eclectic one-of-a-kind Euro-designed clothing for women, including a line designed by owner Takara Beathea-Gudell.

Tan Travel – 964 S. Oak Park Ave.
This business, known for its personalized full-service approach to customer service, was purchased by a former employee and found a new location last year. The new space offers great visibility and easy access to transportation.

Ten Thousand Villages – 121 N. Marion
As a program of the Mennonite Central Committee, this enterprise sells fairly traded handicrafts from artisans in more than thirty developing countries. Along with assistance from OPDC and the Village of Oak Park, their board secured $150,000 in donations, and coordinated over 100 volunteers to remodel and stock the store.

Trattoria 225 – 225 Harrison
The owner, with a long history in the food industry, rehabbed two storefronts, turning them into Oak Park’s own taste of Italy, featuring exposed brick walls and a wood burning oven.

Within Your Reach – 6138-40 Roosevelt Rd.
With financial assistance from OPDC and the Village, a brother and sister team gutted a former print shop. The business offers home storage and organization products for every need, in a state-of-the-art showroom behind a restored glass facade.

Village Players – 1010 W. Madison
One of the Chicago area’s longest running community theaters, recent dramatic changes to the space include new storefront windows and a new marquee, a renovated lobby and box office, and additional fifty-seat black box theater.