Cicero Avenue Car Dealership, Auto Body Shop To Merge Into One

OAK FOREST, IL — A trio of car and truck lots will combine into one through a new permit that passed Oak Forest City Council last month.

Sergio's Body Shop and El Morijah Auto Sales are set to take over the old Tri-County Truck Tops location to form one business which conducts car sales and repairs, the city's planning and zoning committee recommended in January.

Currently, the area on South Cicero Avenue is home to one empty lot, one "cramped" car dealership and an auto body shop, village officials said. By passing the special use permit, the new owner of the property will be able to operate two separate services under one business and one lot.

Changes to the area will include new landscaping, reconfigured parking arrangements and tearing down the Tri-County Truck Tops canopy so the business can utilize the space as a parking lot to show vehicles for sale.

In addition, consistent lighting and new fencing will be placed around the property. According to aldermen, the primary concern is that the area becomes less cluttered and fits an auto dealership aesthetic as opposed to a junkyard.

Oak Forest Mayor Henry Kuspa said a small portion of the property which belongs to the city will be fixed up as well to reflect the work put into the revamped area.

"I would really appreciate that corner of 154th Street and Cicero Avenue across from Blarney Stone to be as attractive as possible," Kuspa said. "We have this new business owner who's going to be putting a lot of money into this corner to clean it up. We want to know what makes this corner most attractive to highlight his new business and bring more attention to the positive aspects of Oak Forest."

Suhaib Odeh, the new owner of the Cicero Avenue property, did not give an estimated completion for the project. City officials said they will be working closely with Odeh to approve new landscaping and signage throughout the process.