Ted's Greenhouse: Keeping Tinley Green Since 1957

Six white tents at 16930 S. 84th Ave. are filled with a vast variety of perennials, ferns, shrubs, herbs, fruits and vegetables. They are lined in perfect order. Some taller than others, some are growing more quickly than others. The smell entices you immediately when you enter the herb house.

This is Ted’s Greenhouse.

Inside, the tropicals show their colors. Owner Ted Biernacki, 81, can not only name each plant but is more than willing to give you a full history of their existence. He knows their function and how they are best used. 

“The flowers are like kids – everyone is different and everyone has their own special needs,” Biernacki said.

Paying special attention to each individual plant is how Biernacki runs his business. It’s how his family has run the business for more than 60 years.

The Hollywood Marines

The story of Ted’s Greenhouse started in Blue Island, Illinois in 1948. In a little house on 16 acres of land, the elder Ted Biernacki started a produce farm.

“We had a little green house. And we grew plants to plant in the field for produce that we took to south water market” Bierbacki recalled.

The younger Ted was drafted into the Marines in 1951.

“We were known as the Hollywood Marines,” Ted said, explaining the name came because they did basic training in San Diego.

After serving two years as a radio operator and winning several awards, Ted found his way back to the family business. In 1957, they received a good offer for the land.

“We sold it, bought 10 acres in Tinley Park and we’ve been plugging along ever since,” Biernacki said.

Growing Business

Ted’s Greenhouse has stayed in business because they’re grown with technology and have always found a way to meet their customer’s needs. Although, those needs have changed as well, Biernacki said.

“People today want instant gratification. It’s not unusual at all for a landscaper to come in here Friday morning for a job where someone is graduating and they want to fix the yard up for a party on Saturday.”

The seasons and growing methods have also changed with time.

“Take perennials for instance.” Biernacki said. “Most perennials have a short blooming period of three weeks. Annuals bloom from May to October. It’s a trade-off.”

“Back then, you got perennials on March 15th. They were in a bag. You planted them and that was the end of it. Today we sell more in September than we do in April because everything is containerized – we grow it in a container.” 

Ted’s Greenhouse was one of the original venders at the Oak Park Farmer’s market. Their work can be seen along Chicago’s Michigan Avenue as well as in Advocate Christ Hospital. 

Today, Ted’s son Dan and his wife Karen run the day-to-day operations of the greenhouse. It’s not uncommon to find Ted spending his days on the land. At 81, he still finds his work rewarding.

“You can’t have this as a career” Biernacki said “it has to be a passion.”