A social media group started early during the COVID-19 pandemic to rally support from the La Grange area community for local restaurants has evolved and is now marking its fifth anniversary with 10,600 members.
The La Grange Social & Around Town group began March 16, 2020 as the La Grange Area Restaurant Take-out & Delivery Group, with the name change coming in 2022 when Kristina Joseph took over as the group’s administrator.
“The original founder was stepping away, and requested a renaming,” she said. “I was more than happy to take on that responsibility.”
Joseph, a La Grange Park resident, said she has chosen to continue the group because it became a vital hub for supporting local businesses.
“Its popularity and active engagement made it clear that it was an essential resource for the community, providing valuable information and connection,” she said. “I recognize the crucial role social media plays, especially for small businesses. Most importantly, I was committed to supporting our community.”
Despite not being the original founder of the group, within five months of its start, Joseph became a moderator, and shortly thereafter, an administrator.
“Running a local community group, especially during a pandemic, is challenging with varied emotions and opinions,” she said. “Yet, overall, the response was quite positive.”
While the initial idea of the group was to create a platform for residents to share their delivery and carryout experiences in the effort to support local restaurants during the pandemic, Joseph quickly saw something bigger as a goal.
My initial reaction was that the page had great potential, but I felt it could benefit from more positivity and engagement beyond just posts,” she said. “It needed to offer more to its members, creating a reciprocal relationship.”
That relationship is done by providing meaningful value to the members, she said, while also encouraging their active participation, so the group thrives through shared contributions and engagement.
“To foster this positivity and engagement, it might mean adding elements like interactive discussions, personal shoutouts for member achievements, or collaborative projects that draw on the talents and interests of the members,” she said. “This approach can make members feel connected and invested, rather than just being an audience.”
While the core goal stayed the same when she took over the group, Joseph said she wanted to expand the group’s focus beyond just dining.
“The vision was to create a hub for all things local, including community events, police and fire updates, school events, lost pets, etc.,” she said. “I envisioned the page as a platform for everything our town has to offer, to create a space where we could discuss everything and anything related to our town.”
The page is focused on the La Grange area, but Joseph said she also accepts posts from surrounding communities, “within a mile or two, maybe up to three,” but anything beyond won’t be approved.
“Keeping it local allows us to focus on what’s happening right here,” she said.
Sharon Sims, of La Grange Park, said she has been a member of the group since its inception.
“I love this group,” she said emphatically. “It started during COVID. At the time, I was looking for ways to help, and the group provided many opportunities and suggestions to help local restaurants and small businesses. It gave me comfort to help at a time when things were so uncertain.”
Sims said she enjoys the upbeat nature of the postings in the group.
“The best thing I like about the group is its positive message,” Sims said. “I like (Joseph’s) approach. There are other sites to voice complaints; her page is to offer support.
“I have also used the page to find local services. The group is welcoming, and I enjoy the camaraderie that is part of the group.”
La Grange resident Beth Myburgh also found the group’s Facebook page early on and gave Joseph major kudos for her efforts.
“Kristina was very focused on supporting local small business and especially restaurants in downtown La Grange,” Myburgh said. “She was very good at engaging the community and encouraged restaurants to post specials and open/close times, and she tried to be very positive during a very dark time.”
Myburgh said she and her husband referred many neighbors to the page during the pandemic because it seemed Joseph was single-handedly saving business in downtown La Grange. And Myburgh said she continues to appreciate the efforts now being made by Joseph.
“She just recently helped keep the lights up on the trees in downtown when I mentioned to her how pretty they looked and wished they could stay up longer,” Myburgh said. “There was a lot of positive feedback on that. I have never met Kristina personally, but it’s obvious she cares about her town.”
John Janowski, owner of Milk Money Brewing, 75 La Grange Road, also expressed appreciation, saying the La Grange Social & Around Town Facebook group has been “amazing” since the beginning.
Janowski’s businesses opened early in December 2020 amid the pandemic, which created major challenges.
“We started our business as restaurants/bars were completely shut down, forcing us to innovate, pivot, flex and do anything else we could to survive,” Janowski said.
And the Facebook page helped considerably, he said.
“During the pandemic, The Facebook page continually reminded residents of the challenges businesses like ours faced and how carryout/delivery was the only life line,” he said. “The page understood the continued struggle and saved businesses through very difficult years.”
And now, Janowski believes the page still understands the challenge faced by local restaurants due to increased goods and labor costs.
“It continues to focus on bringing customers to our doors by giving them a virtual taste of La Grange, which is so awesome, and we are grateful,” he said.
Five years into the ever-growing Facebook group/page, Joseph has had no trouble maintaining her passion for it.
“I spend a lot of time on this, almost like it’s a full-time job,” she said. “I continue because I’m passionate and believe in the group’s crucial role for our community, including those considering a visit.
“I’ve been told my group is the go-to page for anything and everything in La Grange. People turn to us for the who and what of everything happening in town.”
Joseph said she is thrilled that the group has grown to 10,600 members and sees an evolving future for it.
“The future of my community group is to expand beyond showcasing local businesses and restaurants to becoming a widely-recognized, classy and positive platform for the entire community,” she said. “I aim to maintain its reputation, while creating engaging content, live updates, and frequent giveaways, committing fully to the growth and vibrancy of our online presence.”
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
