Heights Couple Prove 'CarmelCorn' and Sandwiches Are Recession-Proof
The CarmelCorn Shop and Enzo's Restaurant have become staples of the Heights over the years, and so have the married owners.
Juanita "Nita" Tribo arranges a display at The CarmelCorn Shop.
Aracely Hernandez
Photos (11)
Photos
When you walk into The CarmelCorn Shop, you see rainbow-colored popcorn balls on display next to a manual scale and large apothecary jars filled with pumpkin seeds, jelly fruit slices, gummy bears and licorice whips.
A large Dixie Dairy clock, gifted from a long gone vendor, hangs on the wall behind the ice cream freezer. The popcorn and caramel corn is behind the counter in airtight containers.
The shop at 1712 Chicago Road has been on that same block since 1931. The name has changed, as it started out as part of the Karmelkorn Shoppe franchise, but became The CarmelCorn Shop in the mid-1990s.
Juanita Tribo, who calls herself Mrs. CarmelCorn, said they chose their own name and have not changed the original recipe she’s been using since they took over the shop in 1971.
“We believe if it ain’t broken don’t fix it,” Tribo said.
The same amount of butter and sugar was used as when the sweets were sold inside the Lincoln-Dixie Theater which was just north of the current site and
is now a closed car wash.
“We still do it the old-fashioned way in copper pots, which conducts heat more quickly,” she said. “It’s cooked in pots and tossed by hand.”
A large copper pot held a syrupy concoction as she mixed it with a large wooden spoon. Although it’s made with the simplest technology, a lot of the sweets are sold online.
Juanita Tribo said they bag up the fresh made, preservative-free popcorn and sell them at local gift shops and at Country Squire Foods in Olympia Plaza. Shoppers who stop at the store sometimes say they are surprised to see it is still in business.
“Yes, we’re still open,” she said with a smile.
Juanita Tribo was visibly emotional when talking about people appreciating her business.
“One time someone came in and said, ‘Thanks for still being here,’” she said.
The recipe didn’t change, but the area did
Though her product hasn’t changed the area around her shop has changed a lot.
Juanita and her husband of 49 years Enzo Tribo, owner of Enzo's Restaurant, looked out the window of the small shop to an empty parking lot. Next door is an empty strip mall. City Economic Development Director Joe Kudra said a real estate agency is working to find a tenant for the vacant area.
“This used to be an industrial town,” Enzo said. “People were making money. Business was booming.”
But things started changing. Enzo’s Restaurant was originally on Illinois Street, the center of the city. He bought that business then known as the EZ Snack shop in 1968 and moved it to its current location in 1972, just before the city began to demolish some of the downtown area to make room for the parking lot.
“The town was right there,” he said pointing.
The Tribos are optimistic. They like seeing The Heights Fresh grocery store across
the street and hope to see new business neighbors soon.
Kudra said in recent years the city created a plan which is contingent on the Southeast Metra service, which could include a downtown stop. The city also has established a TIF district that encompasses the downtown area to spur future development and also is acquiring delinquent property to help control what will be developed.
Juanita said they like having their business in Chicago Heights.
“It’s not bad. It’s just different,” she said referring to the area, which now has a police camera on the block.
“A lot of people are afraid because they say it’s a bad neighborhood, but it’s not,” Enzo said, adding that they have no plans to leave the area. “I stay because we were so busy and people know we are here.”
Beef? Sausage? Both?
Enzo said his name is known for the beef and sausage sandwiches sold at his shop.
His face lights up with pride when he talks about old time Chicago Heights residents coming to his shop for sandwiches.
“It feels great,” he said smiling. “I’ve had people come over here and ask me, ‘Are you Enzo? Can I get an autograph?’”
The store cooks up to 300 pounds of roast beef a week and they use
Chicago Heights’ Marconi Bread. The sausage at Enzo’s is made in the store and cooked over charcoal in a brick grill Enzo Tribo helped build in the store. He said the sausage is his favorite.
Enzo’s employees Viola and Orlando Gonzalez, who are cooks, cashiers and anything else they need to be at the store, said they always hear customers say they have the best beef in town.
Viola, Orlando’s aunt, said her favorite is the combo, which is sausage and beef. Orlando Gonzalez said he likes it too, but with barbecue sauce.
“It’s good. It’s from Enzo’s” Orlando Gonzalez smiled, repeating the phrase on the store’s advertisement.
Bryant Hart, a service technician who travels through out the area, recently stopped for sausage sandwich for lunch. The Hazel Crest resident said driving past without stopping is difficult.
“I stop here specifically for the sausage,” he said. “It’s the best in the world. I’ve tried a lot of others.”
Enzo said there's no secret to his business.
“You have to buy the best,” he said. “It’s quality.”
You can visit The CarmelCorn Shop and Enzo’s Restaurant at 1712 Chicago Road. The CarmelCorn Shop is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m, and Enzo's is open Monday though Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m, and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
Have you visited the CarmelCorn Shop or Enzo's Restaurant?
Tell us in the comments.
Renee Gough
10:49 am on Friday, January 21, 2011
What a wonderful, well written article on this Chicago Heights landmark! When can you say that you ate sausage that has been freshly ground, stuffed and charcoal grilled on the premises? The beef is great too! I like mine juicy with sweet peppers and hot sauce . YUM! I feel a trip to the South Suburbs coming on!
Myra Eder
10:52 am on Friday, January 21, 2011
Wow. I cannot believe I worked at the newspapers on Otto Boulevard for 15 years and never heard of either the popcorn or sandwich shop. Now I will need to go back to the old stomping grounds and try out the carmel corn and beef or sausage, or maybe both, sandwiches. Great article!
Karen Chadra
11:31 am on Friday, January 21, 2011
What a great little "slice of life" profile of a hard-working couple carrying on a well-loved tradition! I will definitely have to check these wonderful places out.
Lee Malizia
6:16 pm on Friday, January 21, 2011
Enzo and Nita are terrific people. Nita is a kindred spirit and Enzo is so genuine. A true italian!
And, the beef, sausage, carmelcorn, etc is to die for. I brought a good friend from New York into the shop last year, and after picking her up at the airport, and she said she had a taste for a beef sandwich. I promptly took her to Enzo's and she was charmed with the atmosphere and the lady behind the counter with her "babuska" (head scarf). It reminded her of the old days. And she ate her entire beef sandwich with gusto!
Lee Malizia
P.S. I sent some carmelcorn and popcorn to friends in Florida at Christmas time a few years ago and they loved getting a taste of their beloved Chicago Heights.
Lisa Hallberg
11:00 am on Saturday, January 22, 2011
We dream of the Enzo’s sandwiches. We've been eating these sandwiches all my life and actually dream of them. I am torn between the beef & sausage myself, but I think my favorite is a beef dipped with sweet peppers & giardiniera. The rest of my family loves the combo (beef & sausage), as my son says 'best of both worlds'. My daughter is in college and called me to say she's homesick & needs some combos. My husband has to have the combo with provolone cheese, red sauce, & sweet peppers. When he bites into the combo, he closes his eyes and says mmmmmmmmmm - like he’s in a trance!
Debby Gunter Zander
5:27 pm on Saturday, January 22, 2011
Enzo's is the best I have known of them for years way back !!! Karmelcorn next door there is the best I love the cheese popcorn , who has not heard of them ?? If not you need to go and check out the sandwiches and that good cheese popcorn !!!
Cindy D.
2:42 pm on Thursday, January 27, 2011
Oh My Gosh!!! I must really be old!! I have been going to the Karmelcorn since the theather was next door! Who remembers that!!?? ( I am not really that old). The smell is still the same. The popcorn is still the same! It's great having a business around for so long!! Enzo's sandwiches are the best,ever!! PLease don't ever leave!!!
Pamela Williams
5:18 pm on Thursday, February 3, 2011
Such great memories! Enzos and the CarmelCorn Shoppe - they're famous! My friends and family have been eating there all my life. There is no better combo sandwich in all of Chicagoland. I hope they never leave. Remember when "uptown" had a Walgreens, Carsons and JC Penny? This was a thriving community! What happened?????
joe sanfratello
10:37 am on Monday, March 28, 2011
and klines.
Sandy
12:15 pm on Monday, March 28, 2011
Also Woolworths. We used to go in there all the time!!
Sandy
10:00 am on Monday, March 28, 2011
We love Enzo's.... I am 45 yrs old. I grew up eating Enzo's dipped beef with sweet peppers. I remember waking up late at nite when my parents would go out with there friends and they would stop to pick up beef sandwiches on the way home. They would always have an extra one for me. The smell would wake me up out of a sound sleep. Every time I eat one of there beefs the taste brings back such happy childhood memories!!!!!!!!
rosa m. avila
9:04 pm on Monday, March 28, 2011
every year that we go on vacation to texas we always have to buy 4 to 6 enso's sandwiches and they have to be combos .a friend of ours that lived at the trailer court on linclon hwy and rt.30 in the 1970s and now lives in texas say, dont you come to texas and dont bring us some enso's because you will not be welcome.
Dee
12:19 am on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
I'm the senior, older than dirt!! I was born & raised in The Heights & I sure do remember the KarmelKorn, as it was known as then. I was born in 1943, so when I say I'm old, believe it! I spent many wonderful hours at the movie theater. I also went to the Schultz's drug store, the Illinois Grill, Nick's restaurant, the Kresge's, Woolworth's, Kline's. How many of you remember RAU's dept. store? My folks spent time at Ted & Tom's tavern, where I played shuffleboard in the back room. There was another little cafe called Laura's, I think. I lived on School Street, & we bought groceries at the Jewel, candy, & other treats at the little Corner Store at the end of the block, the corner of Hickory St. Sorry to hear it's all gone. We live in Wisconsin now, but one of these days I hope we can stop in at the current CarmelCorn & get some goodies.....& some memories. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for still being there. We'll try some of Enzo's sandwiches too!
Roger Fox
12:31 am on Saturday, January 21, 2012
I was born in 1942 and live in Phoenix AZ. In the early 40's I lived in an an apartment behind the Lincoln Dixie Theater so I spent a lot of my time in the Karmelkorn Shop. The chocolate malted soft serve ice cream was the best thing they had besides the carmelcorn.I worked at Klines when I was in Bloom High School and my grandmother worked at Kresges. So I have a lot of memories of my days in Chicago Heights.
LmCzyz
6:41 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
I loved hearing about CarmelCorn Shop! My father use to take me there all the time! Wonderful childhood memories! I am happy to know that it is still open! I graduated from Bloom in 1968!