Finding food service for 80th Avenue Metra station a struggle

Online yelp.com dining reviews of the food service at the downtown Hinsdale Metra station offer echoes of what Tinley Park officials had hoped to hear when first discussing 80th Avenue Metra station amenities for commuters and residents.

Recent posts on the popular website include one from “Kristina B.,” who says the Hinsdale station’s casual dining area, which provides breakfast and lunch, has become “a regular lunch spot” for her. Another from “Jenn C.” states the service is great “for a quick coffee or breakfast … before you get on the train to go to work.” “Carol K.” particularly likes the location, noting, “Thundering Trains (are) just part of the charm of this sandwich shop.”

But the only echoes Tinley Park officials have been hearing are the footsteps of commuters passing through the 5,400-square-foot 80th Avenue Metra Station — and past its full-service kitchen and Internet cafe which have been empty since the station’s March opening.

Trustee Tom Staunton said he sees firsthand the mood of the un-caffeinated commuters traveling on the Metra’s Rock Island Line to Chicago since the station opened in March.

“Those people are already irate,” Staunton said during a joint meeting of the Finance and Economic Development Committee and Budget Audit and Administration Committee.

Trustee Greg Hannon told Village Marketing Director Donna Framke interim coffee service should be in place by Friday.

“It’s a must that a vendor go in there as quickly as possible,” Hannon said, noting the vendor should have a 90-day contract, as elected officials nervously joked about providing the service themselves.

Coffee, morning pastries and light lunches should already be available to commuters. Unfortunately, the owner of a Palos Heights-based firm tapped to provide the refreshments bowed out shortly after village officials accepted her proposal.

The push to establish food service in the 80th Avenue Metra station stems from a promise to west side residents and Rock Island Line commuters using the station that it would be equal to or better than the Oak Park Avenue train station. That, in elected officials minds, meant also making the interior available for receptions, showers and other events.

But while elected officials maintained their ideal of what the station could be, the residential development boom died and with it the interest of most area restaurants, caterers and coffee shops.

Budget Audit and Administration Committee Chairman Patricia Leoni said the village had had reservations about hiring the one-person firm, which was the only food-server to respond.

Using sports terminology, Leoni said, “We started with too small of a bench.”

Hannon called for expanding the bench — attracting more vendors — by modifying the latest 80th Avenue train station vendor request for proposal, which required specific services when it was released on Sept. 12.

“Let them build it. Let the vendors come to us,” Hannon said. “Let’s make this thing flexible.”

The RFP, revised last week now says would-be food-service vendors “are encouraged to make proposals which they believe will be in the best interest of Metra riders and the village of Tinley Park. Creative proposals envisioning a variety of cafe services that can be offered are also encouraged.”

It can be obtained at the following section of the village website: tinleypark.org/index.aspx?NID=618. The deadline for submission is Nov. 1.

Framke said five vendors have already expressed interest. “Each comes with a slightly different perspective,” she said.