In the latest move to enhance the 31st Street business corridor, the La Grange Park Board of Trustees approved an economic incentive agreement with a new eatery.
Financed in part by 31st Street/Barnsdale Business District funds, the operators of Jimmy’s Bagels plan to redevelop the property at 716 E. 31st Street into a bagel shop and cafe.
“I’m really excited to be opening up in La Grange Park, the town that I live in,” said Jimmy Zars, the owner of Jimmy’s Bagels. “The farmer’s markets and everyone that I’ve interacted with so far over the last year or two has been really positive and I’m really excited to have this place.”
Zars has lived with his wife in La Grange Park since 2018 and has been selling bagels the last two years at various farmer’s markets, including one in La Grange.
But this will be his first brick and mortar establishment. It’s scheduled to open in November 2025.
“I’ve always been a fan of a good bagel, especially a New York-style bagel,” Zars said after the meeting. “I got started making them about two, two and one-half years ago, just for friends and family. I wanted to try it out and people really like them.”
Success with friends and family convinced Zars that there might be a career opportunity, so he began selling his bagels to the public, beginning with the farmer’s markets.
Part of his success has been due to his New York-style approach, which involves boiling the bagels before baking, resulting in a softer texture.
“I try to shape them so they work well with a sandwich,” he said.
Preparations for the new store will include interior improvements, installing new equipment such as a kitchen exhaust hood system, plumbing and electrical upgrades, structural work on walls, sinks and refrigeration units.
The total investment by Jimmy’s Bagels will be in excess of $82,750, of which $74,200 is eligible for the incentive agreement.
Trustees were positive about the addition of the business to La Grange Park.
“You’ve got a strong following and I hope you bring all your farmers market friends with you to La Grange Park,” Trustee Mike Sheehan told Zars. “I wish you nothing but the best of luck.”
His colleague Bob Lautner agreed, saying “it’s good to see, I’ll say home grown residents investing in the community. It’s much appreciated.”
As the Jimmy’s Bagels economic incentive agreement was on the July 8 agenda for discussion only, it will be an action item on the July 22 meeting agenda.
The 31st Street/Barnsdale Road business corridor was also the subject of two additional discussions July 8.
One was a Letter of Agreement for professional services for creating a 31st Street Corridor Transportation Plan.
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The area in question is 31st Street from La Grange Road to Maple Avenue and Barnsdale Road from 31st Street to just north of 26th Street.
After issuing requests for proposals, village staff chose Kimley-Horn for the work, being the most qualified and familiar with La Grange Park.
The agreement with Kimley-Horn calls for a fee of “not-to-exceed” $224,733, to be offset by a $180,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Statewide Planning and Research Grant Program.
The village is also amending the 31st Street/Barnsdale Business District to include the property at 1024 Newberry Ave.
The village approved purchase of the property in November of 2024 with the intention of demolishing the existing house and turning the property into a municipal parking lot.
Including the Newberry Avenue property in the Business District will legally allow it to benefit from special funding mechanisms such as the 31st Street/Barnsdale Road Business Development District.
Along with the economic incentives for Jimmy’s Bagels, the 31st Street corridor transportation plan and the amendment to include the Newberry property in the Business District will be action items on the July 24 meeting agenda.
The next La Grange Park Village Board meeting will be 7:30 p.m. July 22 in the Village Board Room, 447 N. Catherine Ave.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.