Shopkeeping No ‘Sweat’ for Local Businessman

At 81 years of age, Harry Spataro of Downers Grove is showing no signs of slowing down.

These days, the former teacher and retired Delta Airlines pilot can be found running Harry’s Sweat Shop, a sports apparel store, with his wife, Pat, or swinging clubs on the golf course.

Last summer, the latter earned him bragging rights when he won a tournament held at Village Greens Golf Course in Woodridge.

“The guy I beat was 52 years younger than me,” Spataro said proudly.

But running , in Darien, has also brought it’s share of notoriety.

The Spataros not only do custom screen printing and embroidery of pro sports apparel, but also supply many of the area schools and sports teams with their uniforms and letterman jackets.

“I know most of the junior high and high school coaches in area,” Spataro said.

Another perk of the job? Spataro has been able to attend many sporting goods trade shows over the years and hobnob with the likes of sports heroes Mohammad Ali and George Foreman, among others, and a few presidents, including George H. W. Bush.

After hearing President Bush was going to be the keynote speaker at a trade show Spataro attended years ago, he made a shirt for him that said, ‘Don’t blame me. I voted for George.’

Spataro got a chuckle from the president after giving it to him.

“He asked me, ‘Did you sell many of these?’” Spataro recalled. “I told him, ‘They’re a best-seller.”

Spataro asked Bush if he would send an autographed picture they could hang in Harry`s Sweat Shop. Three days later, an envelope arrived in the mail with a thank-you note, tie tack and picture of the president in front of the Grand Canyon.

Spataro himself became a politician when he spent two terms as a Downers Grove City Council member in the 1970s. During his tenure he helped pass one of the city’s first anti-smoking ordinances.

Born and raised in Slippery Rock, PA, Spataro has lived in Downers Grove since 1960. He spent 33 years as a Delta airlines pilot.

When the Spataros first began Harry’s Sweat Shop more than two decades ago, they didn't plan to stay in business that long.

“We thought we’d be in for just a couple of years,” Harry Spataro said. “Now here we are almost 25 years later. We’ve been at this a long time.”

The business has since become a family affair.

Pat Spataro does all the shop’s embroidery work, and the Spataro’s daughter, Carol Hendrich, helped out at the shop for many years before becoming full-time five years ago.

When customers come in, they’ll also likely see Molly, the Spataros’ bichon-poodle mix, wandering around or curled up in a chair behind the counter.

Harry Spataro enjoys the camaraderie with customers.

“I’ve met many people over the years,” he said. “I think in my career I’ve enjoyed that the most. Even now at my age I still enjoy being around the people.”

Though business has slowed down in recent years, the Spataros have not. They hope to eventually sell the store so they can spend more time on leisure activities.

For Pat Spataro, that means more time to ride her two horses.

It’ should come as no surprise what Harry Spataro plans to do once he retires.

“I’d like more time to play golf,” he said.