A Cermak Road Revival

Berwyn Main Street is a state-sponsored not-for-profit community organization created by local citizens and 
business owners to preserve, restore, and revitalize the Cermak Road corridor. The organization’s mission is 
to strengthen Cermak Road’s position as the primary economic, cultural and entertainment corridor for the 
City of Berwyn—a source of pride for local residents, and a destination for visitors. 

As is the case for so many historic main streets, the Cermak Road corridor has been vulnerable to physical 
and economic decline by changing national trends in consumer spending and retail development. While Cermak has 
managed to remain an active and vibrant shopping destination, the district has lost many historic buildings 
and much of the inviting pedestrian-oriented streetscape important to Berwyn’s cultural and historic identity.   

Berwyn Main Street seeks to reverse these trends by undertaking activities designed to preserve Cermak’s role 
as a diverse, attractive and economically vital center of commerce and social activity. The organization also 
intends to promote the preservation, rehabilitation and reuse of the corridor’s historic buildings by following 
a comprehensive strategy that has proven successful in nearby Main Street communities such as Forest Park and 
LaGrange.
 
The Main Street Approach is a unique, nationally-recognized program that relies on community stakeholders that 
serve on committees, sponsor special events, and become contributing members of the organization. Local volunteers 
for Berwyn Main Street are being recruited now, and will implement the organization’s work in four distinct 
areas: design, economic restructuring, promotions and organization. 

Committees will begin meeting in early April, so please consider joining up now and be part of this historic 
effort from the start!  For more information please contact the Berwyn Main Street Office: (708) 484-8000, 
michael@berwynmainstreet.org.