Berwyn Development Corporation to honor award winners

BERWYN – Vesecky's Bakery and John Aranza, owner of Autre Monde Café & Spirits and Horrorbles, are winners of the Berwyn Development Corporation's 2017 Ashby and Piper awards, respectively.

Awards will be presented at Berwyn Above and Beyond at 6 p.m. March 25 at Paisan’s Pizzeria and Bar, 6226 Ogden Ave. Tickets cost $65 and are available from the BDC.

Now in its seventh year, the George W. Ashby Award for Business Excellence is given to a business. The Charles E. Piper Award, which is in its 32nd year, is given to an individual for business achievements, said Amy Crowther, BDC director of chamber services.

Vesecky’s and Aranza “both follow the guidelines of the spirit of the award,” she said.

The Czech bakery was founded in 1905 by Bohemil and Anna Vesecky in Chicago. Their son, James, and his wife, Alice, took over the business 30 years later and moved it to 6234 Cermak Road in Berwyn. The business moved in the 1960s to its current location at 6634 Cermak Road.

In 1995, it was owned by the fourth generation of Veseckys – Dave and his wife, Nancy, and Randy and his late wife, Diane.

Nancy Vesecky said she believes the business received the Ashby Award because of its many years in the community, reputation and products.

She is “ecstatic” about the award, saying it recognizes “the hard work and effort we put in.”

“Berwyn always has been wonderful to us,” Vesecky said. “We’ve been loyal to Berwyn and Berwyn to us.”

The bakery sells baked goods through mail orders and at Tischler’s food store in Brookfield. Vesecky’s also has added guava items and Mexican cookies to accommodate the growing Latino population.

Vesecky said she has been working at the bakery since she was 16 years old and married into the business. Her husband, Dave, is the main baker, and co-owner Randy also works there.

A fifth generation of Veseckys may not be ready to step in, but Nancy Vesecky is optimistic.

“We plan to be here for quite a few more years," she said.

Aranza said he is excited to receive the Piper Award.

“Since starting the businesses, I have continually become more involved in different organizations and events. I have always considered being an employer and citizen a responsibility that through personal contribution, one can affect change and good will that attracts like attitudes," Aranza said. "It’s nice to think these ideals are at the core of why I was chosen.”

He credited his mentors for helping him to become the person he is today.

"To be able to share this with my father and mother gives me great pride for them to see me recognized for those ideals they instilled in me," Aranza said.

Horrorbles, a horror and collectibles store, started 12 years ago in the 6700 block of Roosevelt Road and moved to its current location of 6729 Stanley Ave. It attracts Hollywood actors for visits and signings and is the official rubber-chicken supplier for the “Svengoolie” show.

Autre Monde, 6727 Roosevelt Road, won best new restaurant from the Chicago Tribune during its opening year, has been praised by Michelin Bib Gourmand, Time-Out Chicago and Chicago Magazine, and was recognized by Wine & Spirits and Wine Spectator for its wine program.

Aranza operates the restaurant with his wife, Christine Tully Aranza, and former colleagues and chefs Dan Pancake and Beth Partridge. Autre Monde was the 2013 winner of the BDC’s Ashby Award. Last year’s Ashby winner was Big Guys Sausage Stand.

Aranza has contributed to community events including the Berwyn Route 66 Car Show, Oktoberfest, The Moving Wall, Green Mile Pub Crawl and Zombie Walk & Pub Crawl. Through Community Tuesdays, local nonprofits receive part of the restaurant’s proceeds. The restaurant also donated a greenhouse to the Berwyn Park District.

Aranza also served on the BDC’s board for six years, recently retiring, and he has been a business member of the BDC for 11 years and has contributed to the Why Berwyn? marketing campaign.

---

If you go

What: Berwyn Above and Beyond
When: 6 to 9 p.m. March 25
Where: Paisans Pizzeria & Bar, 6226 W. Ogden Ave., Berwyn
Cost: $65
Info: 708-788-8100; berwyn.net