Jennifur Condon, Executive Director of the Highwood Chamber of Commerce, decided that there is a great story in the number of long-term businesses in that city.
She initially thought about highlighting the Del Rio Restaurant, which has been in business in Highwood for 100 years. “Then, I thought, they’re not the only business that has been here long,” Condon recalled thinking, noting that there are a number of Highwood businesses that have been around for 45 years or longer.
To tell the story of those businesses, Condon commissioned Emmy award-winning filmmaker Mike Leonard to create a film about Highwood. The project was funded by sponsorships.
“I’m a huge fan of Mike Leonard’s,” Condon explained. “When I used to watch the ‘Today’ show the highlight of each viewing was when there was a story by Mike Leonard on there. I just love his storytelling capability and his way of showcasing people who you might pass on the street and think nothing of them and there’s this wonderful story behind them.”
The 18-minute film, which Condon is calling, “Generations of Greatness,” will be shown for the first time on Feb. 3 at the Highwood Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner + Business Celebration at the Highwood Bocce Club. The event is sold out.
Condon noted that the filmmaker “has broadened the story to include the transformation of Highwood and these new businesses coming in.”
Leonard, who retired from NBC in 2012, did a number of documentaries for WTTW after retirement. He admitted that his initial reaction when he was approached by Condon to create the film was, “Boy, that’s going to be a lot of time,” he said. But he couldn’t resist the opportunity.
“I love telling stories,” Leonard explained. “When I was at NBC, I did so many stories about American communities which I would pick at random.”
Sometimes he just chose his subject towns because of their names, Leonard noted, mentioning Nobob, Kentucky, and Waterproof, Louisiana. “Every place does have a story,” he said.
Leonard said he always enjoyed Highwood because his daughter, son-in-law, and their children lived there for a while. In addition, Leonard’s producing partner, Mary Kay Wall, lives in Fort Sheridan.
“I like the fact that Highwood’s a bit of an underdog — a small place and not as wealthy as a lot of the other suburbs are on the North Shore,” Leonard said.
Filming in Highwood turned out to be a positive experience for Leonard and Wall. “We had zero resistance,” Leonard reported. “The more time I spent, the more I enjoyed getting to know the characters there who are trying to make a living and bring some free spirit into that city.”
The filmmaker said that the only direction that Condon gave him was that “We want to honor the traditions of Highwood as well as point out the improvements and things that are changing,” he said. “I like the fact that we were trusted to tell the story.”
Some of the long-time establishments Leonard visited included Del Rio, Pastificio, Buffo’s, and Poeta’s Italian Food Market.
They also interviewed the owner of a newer business, Ami Jerusalem Street Food. “He talked about how helpful the people were in Highwood, helping him do what he needed to do to get up and running,” Leonard said.
Leonard said that he’s happy about the way the film turned out. “It’s a cool American story of people working together to make life better,” he said.
The filmmaker is planning to attend the screening of the film, something he wouldn’t normally do. “After doing this story, I feel pretty close to a lot of those people,” he explained. “They trusted Mary Kay and me, and we honored their trust.”
Condon reported that after the initial screening on Feb. 3, the film will be on both the Highwood Chamber of Commerce and the City of Highwood websites. The Highwood Historical Society will also have a copy. In addition, the businesses featured in the film will have access to it.
Condon concluded that the film “really is a love story to Highwood.”
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
