MACHESNEY PARK, Ill. — Tap 251, a neighborhood bar located on North Second Street in Machesney Park, celebrated its official ribbon-cutting ceremony after operating for approximately eight months.
Owners Johnny Shemshedini and Tara Meyers were joined by members of the Parks Chamber of Commerce and local community members to mark the milestone.
Duncan Geddes, executive director of the Parks Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the event as a celebration of local commerce. “This is one of our most enjoyable parts of being chamber of commerce for new businesses, innovation experiences. So we’ll see what the growth of the business community in the system, for the most part, is all about,” Geddes said.
Co-owner Shemshedini reflected on the overwhelming support received from the surrounding neighborhood since opening. “This park community just in general, this neighborhood behind us, where the bar at bar is, that has been nothing but amazing in the last eight months. With the support they’ve shown us every day they show up, we’ve been it feels like we’ve been open a couple of years and been open, like I said, seven, eight months.”
Shemshedini explained that operational demands delayed the ceremonial ribbon cutting until now. “We’ve been open almost about eight months. We just haven’t got to the point to do our ribbon cutting with the park’s chamber of commerce. But, we finally just got it done now,” Shemshedini expressed. Addressing the attendees during the ceremony, he added, “I just want to thank everybody for coming out here today. I want to thank the chamber here and everybody for supporting us through all that we’ve been going through. It’s been a great last eight months that we’ve been open. It’s been overwhelming in a good way.”
Amid broader economic shifts and national chain closures, Shemshedini emphasized the significance of supporting local business owners. “It’s unfortunate that Starbucks are closing down, but from what I’ve heard and seen in this community with local, local bars and even local coffee shops, those are the ones that we should be supporting and supporting local, because those are the ones that are always going to support local back,” Shemshedini explained.
Describing the interior atmosphere, Shemshedini highlighted the venue’s intimate layout. “We’re just a little neighborhood bar. You walk in and everyone’s conversations kind of gets put together. You’re in a little horseshoe, everyone’s conversating and everyone feels like family. It’s. It’s a good time,” Shemshedini noted…