The stoop is no longer there.
That was the only mild complaint Mike Maus, of Tinley Park, had.
For the last 10 years or so, Maus and his wife, Cindi, would watch the Tinley Park Irish parade at the top of a stoop at Teehan’s tavern. It was a family tradition.
But last year, the 171-year-old building that housed the popular bar was torn down weeks after the 2024 running of the parade. They were there for the final day at Teehan’s and felt sadness.
But swiftly a new Teehan’s was built just in time for this year’s parade at 17329 Oak Park Ave. The Maus couple set up shop on the sidewalk where the stoop used to be.
They also enjoyed a pre-parade celebration inside Teehan’s and both were impressed with the place.
“This place is beautiful — isn’t it sharp?” Mike Maus said. “The new floor, the new ceiling, the new walls … yeah, this is great.”
The 25th running of the parade had 88 entrants and officials were hoping for 40,000 people on a sunny day that was north of 50 degrees. Last year, under cooler conditions, it drew an estimated 33,000 people.
Last year, people were mourning the demise of the old Teehan’s. This year people were celebrating the new place, which was open Sunday but will have an official grand opening at 5:30 p.m. on March 17.
Many enjoyed the soft opening the day of the parade, including the Maus family. The idea was to give the new place a similar atmosphere as the old bar and it appeared to have succeeded.
“The old place had so much character and so many memories,” Mike Maus said. “It was so nostalgic. Anybody who would come to Tinley Park was familiar with Teehan’s.
“With the new place, it’s time for a new chapter in town and making new memories in town. I think people are going to make memories here.”
Cindi gave a verbal thumbs up on the new Teehan’s.
“I absolutely love this place,” she said. “Teehan’s has been a staple in Tinley Park forever. But times change and things change. We’re very happy for what is happening in Tinley Park and in the downtown area.”
Erin Kissane, or Orland Park, also made Teehan’s her home for the Irish Parade for the last 10 years.
“I like how authentic it is,” she said of the new digs. “They kept the tradition and the character of the Irish Teehan’s. They kept everything alive.”
She called the former Teehan’s “vintage” and appreciates that the same people who worked at the old Teehan’s are also at the new tavern.
Teehan’s is a part of Harmony Square and village officials hope to open the rest of it in June. It’s going to be a multi-use plaza that will host concerts and other events.
The parade had a slight change, with the starting point formerly at Central Middle School moved north a few blocks to 179 Street and Oak Park Avenue.
Kassie Kopach, of Willow Springs, has worked as a teacher at Memorial School and Fulton Elementary School for the past 13 years but had never been to the parade prior to Sunday.
She brought her family including her son, Cassius, who turned 2 Sunday.
She was smart of enough to get there early thanks to the advice of her friend, Jaclyn Crescent of Mokena. But she was also lucky to get a spot near the new starting point because she didn’t know about the change.
Crescent, a 13-year teacher at Memorial, said she has been coming to the parade for five years.
“I love all the candy,” she said with a smile. “I also love all of the floats. It’s fun to see all of the families enjoying the day.”
She said she also goes to the South Side Irish Parade next weekend in Chicago and the Fourth of July parade in Mokena.
The Irish Parade offers unpredictability in the weather.
“Today is great,” Crescent said. “Last year wasn’t bad, either. But there have been times I wore a winter coat and was freezing.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
