Is Frankfort becoming more racially diverse?

[urza216]

Originally Posted by deechee

Even if it does become more racially "diverse," so what?

Diversity means different kinds of people feel welcomed and included.

[lifelongchicagoland]

I used to think that Frankfort, Tinley Park, and Orland Park all hard large black populations based on my limited experiances shopping and dining out with friends. It wasn't until I joined Citydata that I discovered that there isn't a significant black population residing in any of these towns. So why do I see so many at Buffalo Wild Wings in Tinley Park & Frankfort, and the upscale Coopers Hawk Winery in Orland Park?

The answer is simple, they LOVE to hang out and shop out there. They come from all over the south suburbs and even Chicago! Seriously, I work with 2 black women from the south side and they drive all the way from 39th and King (Bronzeville), ignore downtown Chicago due to lack of free parking, pass Evergreen Plaza and Chicago Ridge, just to shop at Orland Square! Now don't get me wrong, it's an ok mall. But compared to downtown and other malls up north, it's a pathetic joke! No Nordstrom, no Cole Haan, not even a Louis Vuitton. Just "anywhere USA" type of stores like Banana Republic, Apple and Macys. Point is that the Chicago Southland is so underserved that Frankfort/Orland/Tinley are like magnets attracting blacks from all over the south side of Chicago and South Suburbs. I've even heard north side blacks talking about a baby shower that they were attending at Aurelios in Frankfort!

What a lot of folks wont easily admit is that even if there are two identical chain stores (same square footage, size etc), the store in the black area tends to be more run down and have poorer service and selection. Here's an example. Go to the Carson's at Lincoln Mall, then go to Orland. I PROMISE that Orland will have better service, selection and nicer people. Try Applebees. Same thing. It's not about black people being racist against themselves. It's about service, atmosphere and selection. No higher class person, black or white, wants to deal with the loud teenage girls and rude thuggish men that congregate in the Matteson area. So, the blacks that don't want to deal with it just drive 15 min west to Frankfort. Anyone agree with me?

[urza216]

Originally Posted by lifelongchicagoland

I used to think that Frankfort, Tinley Park, and Orland Park all hard large black populations based on my limited experiances shopping and dining out with friends. It wasn't until I joined Citydata that I discovered that there isn't a significant black population residing in any of these towns. So why do I see so many at Buffalo Wild Wings in Tinley Park & Frankfort, and the upscale Coopers Hawk Winery in Orland Park?

The answer is simple, they LOVE to hang out and shop out there. They come from all over the south suburbs and even Chicago! Seriously, I work with 2 black women from the south side and they drive all the way from 39th and King (Bronzeville), ignore downtown Chicago due to lack of free parking, pass Evergreen Plaza and Chicago Ridge, just to shop at Orland Square! Now don't get me wrong, it's an ok mall. But compared to downtown and other malls up north, it's a pathetic joke! No Nordstrom, no Cole Haan, not even a Louis Vuitton. Just "anywhere USA" type of stores like Banana Republic, Apple and Macys. Point is that the Chicago Southland is so underserved that Frankfort/Orland/Tinley are like magnets attracting blacks from all over the south side of Chicago and South Suburbs. I've even heard north side blacks talking about a baby shower that they were attending at Aurelios in Frankfort!

What a lot of folks wont easily admit is that even if there are two identical chain stores (same square footage, size etc), the store in the black area tends to be more run down and have poorer service and selection. Here's an example. Go to the Carson's at Lincoln Mall, then go to Orland. I PROMISE that Orland will have better service, selection and nicer people. Try Applebees. Same thing. It's not about black people being racist against themselves. It's about service, atmosphere and selection. No higher class person, black or white, wants to deal with the loud teenage girls and rude thuggish men that congregate in the Matteson area. So, the blacks that don't want to deal with it just drive 15 min west to Frankfort. Anyone agree with me?

I somewhat agree with you.