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The Changes Story
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The Story of Changes: A Dream Come True
PARK FOREST, ILL. — Changes Coffeehouse, Bookstore & Tea Room, the first full-service espresso bar / coffeehouse to locate in Chicagoland's far south suburbs, draws its existence from a family vacation that owners Jackie & John Ostenburg made to southern California back in 1983.
While in San Diego, the pair and their four children visited a bookstore on the wharf where one could indulge in a cup of coffee while browsing the books. A longtime bibliophile and coffee-lover, John immediately was taken by the concept and vowed someday to open a like establishment.
A few years passed and the family experienced some ups and downs with the illness and passing of loved ones. Because of a family member who had suffered from a drug addiction, Jackie had become deeply involved in working with parents of recovering alcoholic and drug addicted teenagers and had taken a position as the parent coordinator for the Legacy Drug Abuse Program, an out-patient treatment center for young people located in Glenwood. Legacy occupied three storefront offices in a strip mall that also housed an employee assistance program, the offices of two counselors who specialized in addiction treatment, and a meeting hall for a chapter of Narcotics Anonymous.
One night in late November 1991, John had a dream that the couple had opened a bookstore in one of the vacant spaces of the strip mall. The store specialized in books about addiction, self-help, men's issues, women's issues, family issues, spirituality, philosophy, and related topics. Customers to the store could also purchase a cup of coffee to sip on while they browsed the books.
John immediately went to work to convert the dream to a reality. He rented a one-room storefront, bought wood and began to construct bookshelves, contacted publishers and began placing orders for books. He and Jackie shopped around for a small coffeemaker and a hotpot for heating water for tea. They surveyed the marketplace for spots where they could purchase coffee in bulk and decided that they would offer a different coffee, both caffeinated and decaffeinated, to customers each day.
As word spread of what they were doing, the couple found that friends who worked in the trades were anxious to offer their assistance in setting up the store. All was in place for a January 1992 grand opening.
By mid-summer of that year, the decision of the mall's landlord to increase rent costs resulted in the various other tenants deserting the Glenwood shopping center. Jackie and John decided they had to do the same and they began looking for another location. Because they lived in Park Forest, they decided on a spot at The Centre of Park Forest shopping complex.
Thanks to the same tradesmen friends who had helped them at the Glenwood site, the Ostenburgs were able to convert a drab and dilapidated storefront at 206 Centre into an attractive cafe. Heating and air conditioning repairs, complete electrical re-wiring, installation of new plumbing, and massive carpentry work meant that a lot more had to be invested in the location than originally anticipated.
New equipment and an improved menu also became necessary in order to accommodate larger numbers of customers. A Bunn institutional coffeemaker was purchased, as were two small one-unit semi-automatic espresso makers. Muffins, cookies, and biscotti were added to the menu, as was a full selection of espresso drinks and juices. [Cakes, bagels, hot chocolate, sparkling waters, and many other items also are on the menu today.] The new store opened for business at 4 p.m. on Labor Day, 1992.
In January 1993, entertainment was added to the store's bill of fare. At first it was one folksinger performing once each month. Soon it became a folksinger performing every Friday evening, and not too long after musical programs on each Friday and Saturday, with a different entertainer each evening. Occasional open stage nights, poetry readings, and lectures by authors have been added at different times.
“Big Red,” the Brasilia espresso maker that's painted Ferrari Red and has been called “the Cadillac of espresso machines” by one member of the Italian machinery industry, was added in April 1993 and now is the centerpiece of the store's beverage-preparation equipment.
As a bookstore, Changes continues to offer books of the same fare as originally graced its shelves. Some political biography, some poetry, some fiction titles, and picks of television's “Oprah's Book Club” also may be found. In addition, owing to John's deep interest and study of Thomas Merton, one of the best selections in all of Chicagoland by and about the 20th Century monk and spiritual writer can be found at Changes. Merton also is a frequent topic for the annual Advent and Lenten series that John conducts at the bookstore/coffeehouse. Recently, a selection of used books also has been added.
Changes Coffeehouse, Bookstore & Tea Room has become a regular meeting place for persons seeking a comfortable environment for the exchange of stimulating ideas or for the discussion of matters even more personal. A chapter of Al-Anon meets at the store weekly, and political discussion is a given at almost any time of the day or evening.
Regular store hours are noon to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, noon to 10 p.m. on Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays (until 11 p.m. on Fridays or Saturdays when entertainment is provided). The store is closed on Sundays.
For the Ostenburgs, serving you at Changes is a “dream come true!”
Thank you for reading our history.
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