Downtown Oak Park: Lake and Harlem

There are several commercial areas in Oak Park but the one at the intersection of Lake St. and Harlem Ave. is generally considered to be "downtown".

It's where in the 20's Marshall Field's, Weiboldts, and Carson Prarie Scott had their suburban stores. Today it's home to numerous small boutiques, restaurants, offices, and homes.

The Green Line elevated train ("EL") terminates here and it's the first express stop of the Burlington Northern West line. Being so close to the City of Chicago and being tied to it through the rails makes Oak Park not quite urban and not quite suburban. Because of its proximity to Chicago, starting in the 1960s Oak Park deliberately chose to welcome all families from the city looking for a place in the suburbs.

Find a brief history of Oak Park here.