So Long, Freshline Foods, It Was Great

OAK LAWN, IL -- At 8 o’clock Wednesday evening, John Siakotos locked the doors and shut off the lights of Freshline Foods for the last time after 47 years on 95th Street, marking the end of an era in Oak Lawn. Siakotos, who is 84, announced in July that he would be retiring and selling the store that he ran with his wife, son and daughter since 1971.

As the rough-and-tumble grocery business evolved over the years from straightfoward meat-deli-produce supermarkets to “grocerants” offering craft wine and beer bars, dine-in restaurants and ready-to-eat prepared foods, Freshline prevailed. Shoppers felt at home in the cozy neighborhood grocery store where they were on a first name basis with Siakotos and his family. Siakotos credits the store’s success to “treating people right” as they shopped for the groceries that fed kids’ growing bodies and refueled fathers who earned their living on assembly lines or working in the trades. (SUBSCRIBE: Get Real-Time Alerts and a Daily Newsletter for Oak Lawn)

“Hard work, good meats, good deli and good produce,” Siakotos said, checking off his tenets of success.

Freshline opened at 5355 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn on July 1, 1971. The store originally started as a Certified Grocer, a cooperative of independently owned groceries serving the Midwest. When Certified folded, Freshline joined the Centralia cooperative, and after Centralia went out of business, Freshline operated under the Associated Wholesale Grocers banner.

The neighborhood store was a place where mothers sent their kids to pick up some forgotten item for the family supper and teens landed their first after-school job to help pay their tuition to Catholic high schools or college. Housewives carefully managed their household grocery budgets around the Freshline ad paper that came out every week like an old faithful friend. If you couldn’t find what you wanted at Freshline, you probably didn’t need it.

As the store’s loyal customer base grew older, Freshline kept seniors connected to the community and living independently in their own homes through its grocery deliveries. Freshline was also an exemplary business neighbor, giving generously and donating food over the years for various community events.

Now that he no longer has to be up at dawn to open his store, Siakotos, who’s been holding a “John’s Retirement Sale” for the past month selling off the store’s remaining inventory, says he plans to take it easy.

“It’s hard to believe,” he said, surveying the store's near-empty shelves. “It’s sad saying goodbye. I want to thank all my loyal customers in Oak Lawn.”

Enjoy your retirement, John, and thanks to your wonderful family. Oak Lawn was a better community for having Freshline Foods anchoring 95th Street these many decades. (Cue up Sinatra). You did it your way.

~ Photos by Patch Editor Lorraine Swanson