Duffy Signs Opens In Joliet's Downtown: No Job's Too Big Or Too Small

JOLIET, IL — Gina Duffy and her daughters have run the Jitters Coffeehouse in downtown Joliet for the past 19 years and now her son, Dan, has opened Duffy Signs right across the street, at 173 N. Chicago St.

Dan Duffy's business is taking over the building space previously used by Joliet Kreamers. Joliet Kreamers will remain an online retail outlet now that its founder, Tyrell Hundley, has joined the Joliet police force as a full-time officer.

Duffy Signs opened Oct. 1. Dan Duffy runs it along with his longtime friend, Christopher Taake, who grew up near St. Louis. The two men went to the University of Southern Illinois at Edwardsville. Dan Duffy graduated from Joliet Catholic Academy in 2009, where he played baseball and football.

"There's no job too big or too small for Duffy Signs," Dan Duffy remarked.

Duffy Signs has been handling a number of major sign and banner projects for the Will County Regional Superintendent of Schools, Tri State Landscaping, Joliet real estate agent Mark Koenig of The Koenig Group and The Internode Greenery & Home store also in downtown Joliet.

Dan Duffy said they're also making signs for Bill Dimitroulas and his group of several high-end Joliet restaurants as well as Ron Romero and his Illinois Rock & Roll Museum and gift shop on nearby Cass Street.

Dan Duffy said that signs are essential to the success of any business.

"It's always one of the last pieces, and it's the most important piece," he said. "I would like businesspeople to know we're their local go to sign shop in the Joliet area. We do car decals to banners to a storefront sign.

Dan Duffy said that his company also can produce sand-blasted, hand-painting signs. "That's one of the lost arts of signage, hand-painted signs," he remarked.

In addition to the commercial aspect of Duffy Signs, Dan Duffy said his downtown Joliet storefront will also appeal to Route 66 tourists and people visiting downtown Joliet to shop and walk around the downtown.

The retail storefront will feature custom T-shirts, custom hats, gift bags and more.

"It's not only going to be a sign shop, but we happen to contribute to the retail shopping experience of downtown," he said.

Amber Duffy, who works at Jitters across the street, also serves as a Realtor with Koenig Group.

"On behalf of my family, the downtown family, our business neighbors and the City Center Partnership, we all warmly welcome Duffy Signs to the neighborhood," she said.

Duffy Signs will be open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by special appointment on the weekends. "I will come in Saturday and Sunday," Dan Duffy remarked.

To learn more, visit the website for Duffy Signs. Duffy and Taake can also be reached by phone at 815-603-3722.