Robin Titus
143 S. Oak Park Avenue
To Robin Titus, owner of R Titus Designs, interior design is like a puzzle: many pieces come together to make the bigger picture—yet a single missing piece can make it come apart. With her 15 years of interior design experience, Robin works with her home interior design clients to help piece together that puzzle and bring out a home’s personality. “When you make design functional, pretty and very personalized, you get the happiest clients,” Robin says.
Robin has found much to love about the Hemingway District since moving her business to 143 S Oak Park Avenue a year ago. With ample parking, a train stop and great walkability, it’s easy to enjoy the many restaurants, businesses and services the district has to offer. “You can do your errands, spend the day getting pampered, have dinner—and come get your house designed!”
R Titus Designs
Anne and Kate Pezalla
109 N. Oak Park Avenue
When you enter Lively Athletics at 109 N. Oak Park Avenue, you feel the energy. What started as a women’s running store now offers gear for men as well as accessories, gifts and seasonal items.
Owned by sisters Anne (right) and Kate (left) Pezalla, the business is a family affair. Anne's daughter, a current student at OPRF, also works in the store. As lifelong residents of Oak Park, they grew up visiting Oak Park Avenue and take pride in now owning a business here. “We love the Hemingway District. It’s the heart of Oak Park,” Paige said.
Lively Athletics
Tony’s Shoe Repair
Tony Muñoz
115 Oak Park Avenue
Tony Muñoz is an Oak Park treasure. In December, he will celebrate 45 years in Oak Park, and in that time, most everyone in the community has been in to have Tony fix shoes, jackets, purses and even baseball mitts and hockey masks. The proprietor of Tony’s Shoe Repair says he retired seven years ago, yet he still comes to work six days a week because he loves it—and Oak Park. Along with his daughter, son and now his granddaughter, working from their basement shop at 115 N. Oak Park Avenue, Tony and the company restore people’s treasures—and do it the old-fashioned way with a hand-written ticket, reliable craftsmanship and the utmost care.
Frank Russo and Vito Tufano
116 N. Oak Park Avenue
For Vito Tufano and Frank Russo, life happens around a table. It’s where you eat, drink and share a laugh. It makes sense, then, that dining at their restaurant, il Vicolo, makes you feel like you’re at home—or maybe like you’re dining al fresco in Italy if you grab a seat on the patio.
On their first night 15 years ago, il Vicolo seated 350 guests for dinner and hasn’t looked back. The restaurant serves up family recipes with a Neopolitan influence at 116 N. Oak Park Avenue. At il Vicolo (which means “the alley” in Italian), you arrive as a customer, leave as a friend and are treated as family.
