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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING BARNARD’S SCHWINN FOR ITS 110 YEARS OF BUSINESS
WHEREAS, Barnard’s Schwinn, located at 6109 W. North Avenue, is the oldest family-owned business in Oak Park; and
WHEREAS, in 1911, Robert Barnard opened the store, originally located at 1148 Lake Street, and sold a variety of items in addition to bicycles; and
WHEREAS, after Barnard passed away, his two sons took over the shop and recruited their nephews when they were sophomores in high school; and
WHEREAS, today, Barnard’s is owned by Robert Barnard’s great-nephews, Jeff and Greg Hajduk, who live in Elmwood Park and run the store together with long-time employee Ed Blaszczyk; and
WHEREAS, in the 1960’s, Barnard’s switched to strictly selling bicycles and over the years has established itself for expert bicycle repair and restoration; and
WHEREAS, Barnard’s Schwinn contains new bikes along with vintage classics and is also known for its huge selection of locks and safety equipment; and
WHEREAS, Barnard’s Schwinn features a variety of brands besides Schwinn, but the store is particularly known for restoring vintage Schwinn bikes, especially the Schwinn Stingray; and
WHEREAS, Barnard’s Schwinn believes in old-fashioned word-of-mouth instead of selling via the Internet. The clientele comes from generations of clients and from all over the country; and
WHEREAS, with bike lanes and bike sharing giving bicycle riding another boost in popularity, Barnard’s Schwinn is primed to serve the community with quality bicycles and bike repair and restoration services; and
WHEREAS, for years to come, Barnard’s Schwinn hopes to fulfill its mission: to help you select the correct bicycle for your cycling needs-so that you can enjoy your life.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby honor Barnard’s Schwinn for its 110 years in business; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be tendered to owners Jeff and Greg Hajduk as a token of our appreciation for their contributions to the Oak Park community and beyond.
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