I Love Mokena: Meet Mokena Royalty, Long-time Business Owners

Welcome back.

We've previously discussed the premise of royalty in America, and more specifically, Mokena. Of course, there is no recognized monarchy in the United States, but if one existed, whom would be considered "Royals"?

In Mokena we've mentioned the Dina family, with our beautiful village's longest running family business, Dina's Barber Shop, which opened on Front Street in 1948.

And also our own Prince of Mokena, Berkot's very much-loved employee, young Daniel Potter.

Today I would like to introduce Mokena to the Bergmans. Dave and Charlene Bergman have lived in Mokena for over fifty-one years. They've owned and operated Dave's Auto on Front Street since 1975.

Dave started out as an employee of the Cooper and Hostert Ford Auto Dealership which operated on Front Street until 1975. Avalanche Jewelers now occupies that building. After the Ford dealership moved on, Dave and Charlene decided to start up Dave's Auto.

With Dave handling the wrenches and Charlene the administrative duties the Bergmans' dove head first into the Mokena business community.

Charlene was already a fixture at Village Hall. From 1963 to 1974 she worked as recording secretary and handled any and all tasks thrown her way, including the responsibility and honor of being Village Clerk for over a year after the former Clerk passed away. Thanks to that experience she had a very good idea of what was ahead for their planned business venture.

The newly opened Dave's Auto did a great job filling the gap left by Cooper & Hostert Ford.  Dave, Charlene and daughters Linda, Margaret and Barbara all pitched in to provide services needed by the community, which at that time was a quaint several thousand residents and didn't extend east of Schoolhouse Road. 

In addition to Dave's Auto the family also owns and operates Star Spangled Sales, which carries a large variety of patriotic decorations. As if Star Spangled Sales didn't keep them busy enough, the Bergman's also run the local U-Haul franchise. Wow!  Thankfully grand daughter Kayla is there to lend a hand. As residents, business owners and property owners the Bergmans' have certainly displayed their faith in our community.

Through the years the Bergmans' have been tireless promoters of Downtown Mokena. They are charter members of the Mokena Downtown Merchants Association and have donated many days and hours to events held on Front Street.

The Bergman family also plays a significant role in what I like to call "The Miracle on Front Street", also known as the Downtown Saturday Market. They were intricately involved in the original planning of the new market and daughter Barbara serves as Market Manager. The Mokena Downtown Saturday Market has become so popular in the Chicago area that Market Manager Barb regularly fields calls about the success and answers question after question about how they did it.

We all know the answer to that. It's quite obvious that the Bergman family really loves Mokena! 

P.S. With so many die hard baseball fans in Mokena, I want to share some information I recently came across. This passed weekend I watched a documentary chronicling Steve Bartman and the infamous 6th game of the 2003 National League Championship series between the Cubs and Marlins. The one hour and forty-eight minute tale, called "Catching Hell" gives a very detailed and fresh look at the events before, during and after that fateful October evening. In one scene, they digitally removed all of the fans except Bartman to give exact detail on what transpired between him and left fielder Moises Alou. In another, it's just Alou and the ball, so you can judge for yourself if he could've made the catch. If you're a sports fan you'll love it. I was able to watch it on Netflix and I'm sure it's available in a variety of video venues.