W E D N E S D A Y
November 20, 2019 Vol. 39, No. 16 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Special section page 25
Oak Park approves Lake Street Holiday Inn
Trustees grant property owners a special-use permit By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
Downtown Oak Park is getting closer to having a hotel, as the village board, following recommendation by the Zoning Board of Appeals, granted a special-use permit, Nov. 18, authorizing the operation of a 98-room Holiday Inn Express and Suites hotel at 1140 Lake St. Salim Hemani, who co-owns the property with his brother Azim, spoke on behalf of the project to the zoning board on Nov. 6. “Being in this local market for the last 30 years around the Chicagoland area and being in the businesses, we have found the need for a hotel in this area,” he said. Hemani brought the project’s architect and a representative from Holiday Inn to the meeting. “We went to Holiday Inn for the franchise application and they’re very eager and wanted to put this project up,” said Hemani. According to Hemani, the current five-story structure is 40 percent vacant. Plans for the quick service hotel include constructing three additional floors on top of the building, extending its current height of 52 feet to 80 feet. The first floor will remain a commercial space with a small hotel greeting desk. See HOTEL on page 14
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
Opening night
Studio 8 owner Melody Kratz, left, accompanies artist Irving Newman on opening night of Newman’s show, Nov. 15. Story on page 12.
Val’s halla not closing after all River Forest resident swoops in to save record store, for now
By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
Music-loving hearts broke throughout Oak Park and the surrounding area earlier this month after the general manager of beloved record store Val’s halla, 239 Harrison St., announced its impending closure in a Facebook post.
“It breaks my heart to announce this but unfortunately Val’s halla will be closing its doors at the end of the month,” the post read on Nov. 2. A testament to the major impact Val’s had on the community, news outlets all over the metro area reported on the announcement. People lamented that, with the end of Val’s, came the end of an era.
But, those mourning Val’s can now rejoice, as the store will not be closing after all. General Manager Shayne Blakeley revealed the good news on Nov. 15 on Facebook, writing, “Rumors of our demise have been greatly exaggerated! Val’s halla is getting a new lease on life!” See VAL’S on page 14
January 2020 Classes In Teen/Adult & Kid Kid’s s
E.W.S. Fashion & Craft Academy 137 N. Oak Park Ave., Suite #105
ewsacademy.org
708 – 424 - 4397
Instructor, Eric W. Stiles Sr. is a Master Bespoke Tailor formerly with Brioni, Giorgio Armani & Polo