The Lowdown on Downtown

AGING DISGRACEFULLY

While Downtown Oak Park labors to birth hundreds of condo and apartment dwellers, I try to figure out why some businesses do so well, some limp along for years and some never make it. So here’s a hit-and-miss review:

Probably the thing I liked best this summer were the huge planters overflowing with bright red begonias. Well done. Several restaurants along Lake Street really stepped it up with outdoor seating areas surrounded by plants and flowers, while others just put out a wrought-iron railing and some tables and chairs. I noticed.

The Lake Theatre is the best of the best. The tickets are reasonable, the popcorn’s great, the rest rooms are clean and there are seven theaters. During the summer, we oldsters have to put up with the scifi/vampire/teen romance genres, but at least we have somewhere to take our grandchildren. On the flip side, The Lake has increased “art” films, thanks to the First Tuesday Film Club [12 and 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month], which is a sea of gray hair. The Lake has also upped its bookings of movies that usually involve a trip into the city, like the recent Life Itself [a one-day showing] and Calvary. 

Two new-ish businesses that everyone seems to like are Careful Peach, which has doubled its space, and Lou Malnati’s. I love Lou Malnati’s vibe. There’s a family/outdoor space in front, and private booths, and tables large and small in the back. I love their personal pizza, but their chicken is tasteless.

I can only walk through Careful Peach and trot through Pier One because they perfume the air, which is deadly for people with asthma. I get sort of tired telling them why I won’t be staying, but they just smile and shrug.

Ten Thousand Villages has really nice stuff. They’ve dropped their required spiel about who they are and what they stand for, but still follow you around the store, almost forcing one to be rude.

I’m a huge fan of the Takara Boutique and its staff, but unfortunately I don’t buy as much as I used to because her stuff is timeless. I can’t figure out why her shoe store and home boutique folded. I loved both of them.

Speaking of clothing, I have T-shirts from Old Navy that have held up better than my Ralph Laurens. I also love their jean jackets and jeans, even though hip huggers are a thing of the past for me.

The new hat store certainly has a large inventory but desperately needs a window dresser. The heads look like they’re 50 years old, and the lighting inside is so dim it always looks like it’s closed. 

Mancini’s has a new owner and a new menu and the gelato continues to be magnificent. I wish they’d enlarge and brighten the space.

Can’t figure out why there are two sushi-type restaurants almost next door to each other. My grandchildren love the bento boxes, though. Some wag commented that kids of yuppies no longer want lunch boxes; they want bento boxes.

I can’t figure out how the Khyber Pass restaurant can afford that huge double space on Lake. It’s hardly ever full, and I always feel sorry for the handsome gloomy man staring out of the window.

The Book Store is a gem, but alas, I have a Kindle. 

The worst experience I had this year was with the new eyeglass store, Professional Eye Center. I had bought a pair of glasses from them when they had the small place on Lake and was thrilled for them when they moved to Marion. However, I needed a pair of glasses replaced. I couldn’t read with the first pair I received and was told to take them home for a week and use them so my eyes could adjust. Please. I’ve been wearing glasses for 50 years. In order to get a new pair, I had to see the doctor again, who admitted they were wrong and ordered a new pair. 

During the exam and a subsequent one, I noticed the equipment was dusty. I asked for a rush because I was going on vacation. It took more than a month to get the second pair. I asked for the doctor to call me, which never happened. I also asked for a discount because of the inconvenience but never heard back. I can’t read well with the final glasses — I use an old pair to read — but, again, I was told I had to get used to them. I’ve kept them because I love the frames and I can’t deal with that store again.