Founded in 1836, Crete claims to be one of the oldest villages in the South Suburbs. It boasts a rural charm, where history has blended well with modern times, allowing the old and new to peacefully coexist in a close-knit community.
The historical Dixie Highway is its Main Street taking visitors to antique shops, restaurants and the iconic Balmoral Park — where the old racetrack has been given new life as an equestrian sports complex.
Whether you are driving the Dixie, or viewing the horse jumping competitions at the HITS (Horse Shows in the Sun) at Balmoral, or golfing at one of the many courses in the area, take time to pause and refresh in Crete, especially along its very walkable downtown area.
Morning
If you happen to visit on a Saturday morning before Oct. 7, it will be impossible to ignore Crete’s European Market at the corner of Main and Exchange streets, open 8 a.m.-1 p.m. It features locally grown fresh produce, flowers and specialty items, as well as the work of local artists.
Another great first stop is the Benton Street Bakery Cafe, (1375 Benton St., 708-672-7417, bentonstreetbakerycafe.com) a comfy, friendly place that opened earlier this year.
Owners/hosts Ken and Terry Mabs rehabbed the 1909 building with painstaking original details. They don’t skimp on ingredients either as they create such delicacies as turtle bismarcks, strawberry cream cheese croissants and Sriracha doughnuts. It’s open 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, serving breakfast all day, alongside lobster bisque, chicken-apple-gouda sausage, smoked duck breast and other tempting dishes including sandwiches.
The Mabs have lived in the Crete area for nearly 40 years and have ambitious plans for their cafe, that include wine, music and art shows because they say they “love being part of the community.”
“Crete used to be a haven for art and antique shops and that talent is still here,” said Terry Mabs, as she points out the work of local artists that adorns her dining room walls.
In the past year, she and other merchants believe, Crete has been experiencing a bit of a revival.
The new venue at Balmoral Park, which was bought out of bankruptcy by New York-based HITS, has given others confidence to invest in the community, Mabs said.
The revitalized Balmoral Park/HITS Inc., (26435 S. Dixie Highway, 708-304-2329; www.HitsShows.com) is a must on anyone’s list. Here, spectators can view the new horse jumping venue amid the old photos and memorabilia of the former racetrack.
Horse show jumping competitions are held May through September, Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free on weekdays, and $5 on Saturdays (kids 12 and under are free) with proceeds going to local non-profit groups.
The venue is very spectator-friendly, with walking paths around the nine competition rings, giving visitors an up close and personal look at the horses. There also is a 4,400 seat climate-controlled grandstand.
Afternoon
From there, take the family and head south to the Plum Creek Nature Center (27064 S. Dutton Road, Crete Township, 815-727-8700, www.reconnectwithnature.org) where the Forest Preserve District of Will County provides space for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, horseback riding and picnicking.
For the golfers in the group, there is Tuckaway Golf Club (27641 S. Stony Island, 708-946-2259, www.tuckawaygolfclub.com), Lincoln Oaks Golf Course, (395 E. Richton Road, 708-672-9401, www.lincolnoaksgolfcourse.com), or Longwood Golf Course, (3503 E. Steger Road, 708-758-1811,www.golflongwood.com).
Back in town, and time for lunch, there are many options. The Caraway Cafe (1403 Main Street, 708-304-2489, facebook.com/CarawayCafeInc/) serves breakfast and lunch until 2 p.m., offering egg dishes, burgers, sandwiches and salads.
Chuck’s Tavern (1358 Main, 708-672-9449, facebook.com/Chucks-Tavern-159555970746146/) is known for its Mexican fare and is open 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
The Edge Coffee House, (1366 Main St., 708-279-7211, facebook.com/The-Edge-Coffee-House-and-Roasting-Company-335583293278/) supports local churches and ministries while serving coffees, teas, smoothies, scones, muffins and paninis.
If you’re in the mood for a picnic, check out Crete Park (515 First St., 708-672-6969, cretepark.com/), a six-acre wooded area, also on Main Street, where there is a band shell built in 1913 by the Woman’s Club of Crete, a veterans memorial. playground areas for the kids, and picnic shelters.
If you forgot to pack a lunch, you can grab some supplies at the Crete Country Store (1390 Main St., 708-414-9000, facebook.com/cretecountrystore) another new shop to “offer something different,” said owner Judy Petrungaro, who bought the building known as the Old Towne Mall.
Her shop, which opened recently, has something for everyone, with an interesting blend of old candy favorites, specialty pastas and sauces, Dippin’ Dots ice cream, Ropp cheeses from Normal, wine and beer and country home decor items.
Petrungaro hopes to bring more retail into the empty spaces in the mall, including an art gallery.
She has personally invested in Crete’s downtown in recent years, as she also owns two of the three remaining antique shops, Antiques on Main (1346 Main St., 708-672-2089, facebook.com/Antiquesonmaincrete/) and Vintage Treasures (507 Exchange St., 708-672-7090, facebook.com/vintagetreasurescrete/).
It’s easy to spend a good part of an afternoon visiting these shops, which is like a trip back in time, into the homes of your mother and grandmother.
Market Place Antiques (550 Exchange St., 708-672-5556, facebook.com/pages/The-Market-Place/126380154082278) is located in a former church, built in 1853, and still retains some of the old stained glass windows. It too, has evolved over the years, and is now the place where about 18 different dealers sell everything from old photos and jewelry to antique furniture.
Evening
As it approaches the dinner hour, visitors again are faced with good choices.
Smokey Jo’s (475 W. Burrville Road, 708-672-9616, www.smokeyjos.com) has a variety of quality pub grub that includes build-your-own nachos and pretzel bites for starters, plus a selection of burgers and sandwiches, including a prime rib melt with gouda and provolone cheese, entrees of bourbon glazed salmon and herb brined chicken and of course pizza. Jo’s also offers musical entertainment every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and outdoor seating.
The Loft (1336 Main St., 708-414-9113, facebook.com/theloftcrete) is a new addition to an old building, offering pizza and sandwiches, open 3-10 p.m. It’s located above the Evil Horse Brewing (1338 Main Street, 708-304-2907, www.evilhorsebrewing.com), Crete’s only brewery.
This two-story building was built in 1911 by William Seggebruch, as his grain and feed business. Over the years, it was used as a movie theater, auto repair shop and bowling alley. The Crete bowling alley’s neon sign still hangs prominently on the brewery’s wall, providing a colorful reminder of the past as old evolves into new.
Both establishments are spacious, and literally feed off each other, since the brewery sells no food of its own, just great beer.
Evil Horse offers at least a dozen of its own brews, in a variety of styles and alcoholic content, and donates some of its profits to local churches, according to bartender Rasi Flores.
“It’s not just a bar. It’s a place to meet friends,” he said.
It’s a fine way to end One Fine Day in Crete.
Twitter @SusanLaff
