News & Events

Improving Access Adds Profits
 

July 25, 2007

By Robyn Monaghan Special to the Herald News

JOLIET -- It was just a little wedge of concrete.

But to restaurateur Louis Polimenakos, the little piece of pavement linking the parking lot to the doorstep of Louie's Family Restaurant -- making it accessible to disabled patrons -- was better than any advertising he could buy.

"People aren't that easily fooled. Everybody knows when you buy ads in the newspaper or a magazine or on TV, you say whatever you want people to hear," Polimenakos said.

Polimenakos didn't know about U.S. Department of Labor statistics showing people with disabilities fork out upward of $35 million in restaurants each year. He's just got good business instincts.

"If I make my customers happy and comfortable, they're going to go out and tell a friend -- and people are going to believe what they say. That's the best advertising you can get."

Polimenakos is among a growing number of local business owners coming to capitalize on a market with twice the buying power of the coveted teen market, 17 times the buying clout of tweens (8- to 12-year-olds), and more dollar domination than any single ethnic, racial or cultural group in the country, according to numbers on the Americans with Disabilities Web site.

And access isn't just for the categorically disabled anymore. Almost one in five are customers for businesses that are accessible, Americans With Disabilities Act information shows.

It might be your mom, using a walker after chemotherapy. It might be a young mother trying to get a baby stroller into a real estate office.

"Don't pity us. Profit from us," says Pam Heavens, executive director for the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living.

Since the Accessible Cities Alliance two years ago kicked off its campaign to bring business and area officials together in a communitywide access effort, more than 300 businesses have earned listings on the Joliet Accessible Business Directory. Alliance leaders soon plan to begin posting accessible stickers in the windows of barrier-free businesses, said Chris Book, alliance community relations director.

Barrier breaking Putting out the welcome mat to folks with physical challenges was a big part of the blueprint when the University of St. Francis bought and set about remodeling the 1870s Mother House which was first occupied when the Franciscan Sisters came to Joliet. Now housing the College of Nursing, a business conference center and dorm rooms, the Mother House is a telling example of how modern features such as ramps and elevators can be designed to blend in with old-time architecture, said Nancy Pohlman, USF spokeswoman.

"It's a big part of our mission to be a welcoming community," she said. "We can't be hospitable and invite people in if we can't get people in."

Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias offers programs to help -- Employ Illinois, Opportunity Returns and Illinoisans with Disabilities -- with reduced-interest loans for business and individuals to offset costs of access updates.

The alliance will be working with the state and the county treasurer's office to get information about the loans to people who can use them. Michael Smith, who works on business programs and community development, Patrick Conlon, who runs the consumer programs, and possibly Giannoulias himself will be at the Will-Grundy County Center for Independent Living open house Thursday.

"We see great potential in these type of win-win partnerships," Book said.

Mind over money But it doesn't always take a lot of money to break down barriers. Sometimes, it just takes a little ingenuity and good timing.

When Kin-Ko Ace Hardware was resurfacing its parking lot on Essington Road last summer, owners were looking for a way to double the handicapped parking spots. By simply moving an outside seasonal display space showcasing greenhouses, sidewalk sales and Christmas trees, Ace managers made more space for handicapped patrons without spending a dime.

"The painters just painted in the stripes and it didn't cost any money at all," said store manager Paul Brandwein. "A lot of our customers are senior citizens and it's to their convenience and our profit if they know they can park close to the store."

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