Tinley Park's beloved Irish watering hole, Teehan's Tavern, closed its doors for the last time on Sunday, signaling the end of an era for the fixture that's been a part of the community for 171 years. In an event that coincided with the 24th Tinley Park Irish Parade, old-timers and first-timers alike thronged the premises at 17329 S. Oak Park Ave. to pour one out for the ages according to a report by BNN Breaking. From the viewing point he's claimed for nearly a decade and a half, local Joe Orozco joined others in reminiscing and expressing both sadness and hope for the future, and his sentiments were echoed by Vern Hills couple Nicole Seibt and Jeff Schmidt, the latter of whom cherished the camaraderie among Teehan's regulars.
While the physical structure of the tavern will be replaced by a near-replica as part of the village's new Harmony Square Plaza development, the legacy of Teehan's is set to continue under the aegis of a new owner, Tom McAuliffe of Durbin's, despite Orozco's stated intention of getting his hands on a brick from the old building to commemorate his longtime ties to the spot, Teehan's Tavern closed with fanfare and fond farewells, hosting musical acts and what was billed as an Irish wake on Saturday, as reported by Chicago Tribune. Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz weighed in on the town's excitement for the new Teehan's, with an expected finish date set for February, a sentiment not uncommon among the crowd who had gathered to celebrate the life and times of the pub, even if Orozco joked but with a tinge of earnest, that if they tear this down, "I'm coming back and getting a brick. I'm not kidding, for 15 years, I've been standing at this spot, and I want a brick."
On parade day, the atmosphere was reportedly upbeat with thousands of attendees and more than 80 floats contributing to a festive vibe under sunny skies, albeit tempered with the wind; WGN-TV's Bronagh Tumulty had the honor of being the grand marshal. The celebration just outside the tavern's doors served as a backdrop to the ending chapter of Teehan's, a spot which most agreed was the heart of Tinley Park. As the Tribune detailed, Nicole Seibt sadly noted that while the new establishment might bear the same name, it wouldn’t quite be the same, but she hoped the name Teehan would endure for centuries to come, encapsulating a blend of reverence for the past and optimism for what lies ahead.
With the demolition of the original Teehan's Tavern looming, a new iteration will rise in its stead, a modern venue with plans for a rooftop feature; it's a development eyed by many locals with curiosity and cautious optimism as the social fabric of Tinley Park knits together a storied past and an emerging future. Orozco and others in the community are tentatively ready to welcome the new Teehan's, acknowledging change while holding onto the spirit of the establishment that has been so interwoven with the identity of the village, this transition period marks a balance of continuity and innovation, representing a delicate dance between preservation and progress in the heart of Tinley Park.
