On April 11, Shanahan’s closed on Madison Street in Forest Park, marking the end of 36 years of business in the village for the Creole restaurant and bar.
In the same building, which was sold days later, La Maison de Bonbon also closed April 11. The chocolate and candy store will move operations online in August, with the goal to relocate the brick-and-mortar business.
“It was great working in Forest Park — the community, the local government, the Chamber of Commerce, and especially the people I got to work with,” Tim Shanahan told the Review in an email. “I will mostly miss the interactions with the customers, employees and especially working with Esthela Gonzalez.”
Today, Shanahan’s and La Maison de Bonbon are owned by Wexford Inc., and Shanahan said he’s not officially retiring, just moving to different work and a new lifestyle.
“I look forward to the holiday season, making French cremes and other confections, continuing to serve Forest Park, as its second largest candy company,” Shanahan said.
Shanahan’s started 50 years ago in New Orleans, Louisiana. A River Forest native, Shanahan moved back to the Midwest in 1990 and opened his Forest Park bar and restaurant at 7353 Madison St.
The building used to be an ice cream parlor that made candy in the basement. Though Shanahan previously told the Review that it wasn’t necessarily in his plan to keep the candy store running, people from around the world kept calling asking for sweets. So Shanahan’s wife, Radana started running La Maison de Bonbon. Today, the candy shop uses the same recipes and ingredients as when the operation started in 1921.