A downtown adventure in Tinley Park is a great addition to the day before catching a concert at Credit Union 1 Amphitheater. Or if you are looking for a post-hike treat try out a dessert place on Oak Park Avenue. This car-friendly downtown is home to several local shops.
Transportation
From Chicago Via Public Transportation
Via Public Transportation
From Chicago, you can get to Tinley Park via the Rock Hopper Metra Route. If you are coming from Chicago, you take the LaSalle Street Station to Tinley Park. The Tinley Park Station has a beautiful building, however, the area past the train station quickly became not friendly for pedestrians.
Tinley Park Via Car
It hurts my heart to say this, but driving is going to be your best bet for this downtown. As it is not the most walk-friendly area. There is plenty of parking with each store or strip mall offering spaces. It is only a 35-minute drive from Chicago.
Shopping in Downtown
The Anglers Outlet: I do not fish. However, I have family members who do. It can be a challenge to shop for them, as the specific (or not so specific) items they seek are way out of my wheelhouse. I was so excited to find this local fishing store with staff members who were helpful and ready to help me find the perfect gift. This store offered a large selection of fishing poles, bait, and more.
Journey through Time Antique Emporium: This antique store was filled with lots of fun treasures from several dealers. I always enjoy looking for comic books and unique items, like fun hankies at these stores.
Closet Collectibles: From Pokemon cards to Hot Wheels and Funko Pop this store had lots of unique collectible toys. I enjoyed seeing toys from several different generations in one shop.
Activities in Tinley Park
Tinley Park Roller Rink: Is open for family skate nights on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Plus, there is a teen night on Fridays. Admission ranges from $5-8.
Catch a concert at Credit Union 1 Amphitheater. This large outdoor concert venue hosts well-known stadium artists. Keep an eye out for 20-dollar deals, or look into their lawn seating. I recommend eating before you get to the venue. As we found food and drink prices to be a bit spendy. This activity is not necessarily within the range of downtown, yet it is a venue I have been to and we have had a blast at concerts held there previously.
Dining, Treats & Drinks
The Dairy Palace is an outdoor ice cream stop with a walk-up order window. Choose from several ice cream flavors or try one of their malts!
Popus Gourmet Popcorn is a specialty popcorn store. They have several popcorn flavors including unique ones like caramel apple and banana. Small sizes start around $7.
Walkability in Tinley Park
To begin with, I thought there was going to be sidewalks. I did my research and on the map, it looked like there would be at least one side of sidewalks. We drove anyway, and it was a good thing we did.
Those sidewalks I thought I saw on the map were fake. I wish I was joking but I can’t make up a fake sidewalk. It was sidewalk material elevated with trees in the middle. Not at all meant for pedestrian use. Most of Tinley Park was not pedestrian-friendly. Downtown Tinley Park, past the 1st block of the train station, was a string of strip malls along Oak Park Ave.
Past the fake sidewalk, there were real sidewalks. However, those sidewalks just took you to neighboring stores within the strip. The strip malls did not easily connect via walking.
Know Before You Go
I, like many, know Tinley Park for its concert venue. Now, I know that people may not be drawn to Tinley Park for its downtown, but for those coming this way for a concert or to check out the nearby forest preserves, the downtown should be on your list to visit. Why not get some shopping in before jamming out at a concert? Why not grab a post-hike ice cream? The downtown is a great addition to any adventure especially if you enjoy supporting local shops!
At this point, I know I am sounding like a broken record, however, this is a vehicle-friendly area and does not have good walkability. Therefore, as someone who usually adores public transportation, I would highly suggest taking a car to this location.
I was so excited to visit this little town until you mentioned the sidewalk situation. Maybe the town will take heed! The shops you mention sound like fun!
Best get in my car and head over to Tinley Park for some fun shopping!