Breathing new life into an old building is a lot of work, but more manageable if it’s attached to a dream.
That’s why Oak Park residents Roberto and Nelida Quinones are looking forward to the rest of this summer and the fall as they renovate the building at 6136 Roosevelt Rd. to launch a new banquet hall venture called Q6 Events that will host private events like graduations, corporate parties and even quinceañeras. Activities like yoga and arts classes may also be in the offing.
The business – which is known as Q6 because the Quinones’ are a family of six – will feature a warming kitchen and seating for up to 150 people at round tables. Q6 Events will work with caterers for food because there will be no cooking on site. Alcohol will not be sold.
The Quinones’ received special use permit approval from the Oak Park village board in early June to commence the work, which will be managed by ZEB Development LLC, with work to be completed by Fix It Chicago, Inc. They own both firms.
“It’s something we always wanted to do,” Nelida Quinones said. “Sometimes homes aren’t big enough (for parties). It’s emotional for me. I’m excited.”
The building, which the Quinones’ bought two years ago, formerly housed a carburetor shop for cars, lawn mowers and the like, and before that, it was a furniture store.
“It was packed with carburetors,” Roberto Quinones said of what awaited him and his wife upon building purchase. “By the time we cleaned it out, we probably (removed) almost $20,000 worth of scrap.”
He credited Bob Bernhart, a village urban planner, for helping him and his wife marshal forward the special use permit process, which began in March.
Bernhart said he helped the couple prepare what they needed to present to the village zoning board of appeals.
“They did their homework,” Bernhart said. “One of the things from the staff review was parking. In response to that, they did their own parking analysis, what spaces were available in the Roosevelt corridor. They came prepared as best they could.”
Added Nelida Quinones: “I had to come every hour, mostly weekends. They were afraid people parking in the street would overwhelm the community. I took pictures every hour and (it) kind of shows we have at least 50 to 60 parking spaces only on Roosevelt and not the residential areas.”
She said the surrounding community has been supportive, in part because it will bring in business to the area.
“It’s definitely been a rollercoaster of emotions, from commencement of the project until now,” Roberto Quinones said. “I’m really excited about it, but at the same time, I’m keeping my emotions at bay, because what’s coming next needs a lot of finessing, for scheduling and finances.”
That includes addressing a roof that was in disrepair, along with adding fire safety apparatus, like sprinklers and fire alarms.
The Quinones’ also live in Oak Park, just a few blocks away from Q6 Events, so they ave a vested interest in ensuring the business is a success. With a new website coming in July, along with the Instagram profile @Q6Events, they are planning to start booking for October.
Bernhart thinks they are on the right path.
“They are still working on their permits,” he said. “I know they are eager to get going.”