Pop’s Italian Beef In Tinley Park, An Autism Friendly Business

Pop’s Italian Beef & Sausage restaurant had a lot going on last month this March, celebrating their 42nd business anniversary. But on my trip to the Tinley Park Pop’s location for an influencer marketing assignment from Deerfield based PR firm All Points Public Relations, I learned about what else Pop’s does well on top of preparing scrumptious eats.

How Pop’s Italian Beef Is Changing Perceptions Around Autism

What better time to share this information with you than April, a.k.a Autism Awareness Month.

Pop’s Tinley Park owner Burke Matyas said that about 2 years ago his restaurant partnered with the Chicago South Suburban iCanDream Center, which is also located in Tinley. iCanDream provides special education services and different programs that give people on the spectrum real world experience that is often denied them.

Autism-friendly restaurants like Pop’s give individuals like Cam and Joe chances to learn and practice how to better process and react in social situations, and so much more that many of us take for granted. Aswell as prepare them like all of us do at our first job. Matyas hopes businesses and retailers will seize the opportunity to make a real difference for autistic people. And working with iCanDream, a little awareness can go a long way to making the case for those on the autism spectrum.

The arrangement with Pop’s in Tinley is thus: Cam, who is a minor, gets dropped off by iCanDream staff and only works a couple hours a couple days a week based on his academic schedule. Joe who is an adult has a different schedule and can work more hours than Cam. And at the end of their shifts the Pop’s crew buys them a nice meal to take home.

“Customers get a kick out of seeing them because many people with disabilities don’t get a chance,” said Matyas. And the beauty is how everyone is learning from each other, both the Pop’s crew and the Pop’s customers.

Fun Fact: When you visit, you’ll see a photo of Joe on the wall as employee of the month!

For example, some with autism are incredible at remembering names and some on the other side of the spectrum find it challenging. So with Joe, regulars are impressed by how Joe remembers their names and calls their order by them when it’s time to call their order number. Some regulars try to confuse him Matyas said, but it’s in fun and Joe is in on it and goofs right back, “because he feels comfortable.” Essentially folks, for Joe and Cam, they are included in the Cheer’s feel of the Tinley Pop’s. There are cultural and emotional things that Joe and Cam are getting out their time at Pop’s that nourishes your mind and heart in ways food can only come close to. They are part of an inside family at the restaurant Matyas described. “Everyone takes care of each other,” just like a family and of course there’s a group text stream. And Joe’s mom loves to make things for the crew too! Like this quote t-shirt that she printed “Don’t worry. Beef happy!”

Matyas and the crew have had to protect and defend Joe and Cam on a few occassions. For instance “most don’t know Joe is disabled,” said Matyas, so it’s important that he and the Pop’s crew watch out for Joe and Cam. A scary story was intimated to me about a customer who tried to get one of the young men’s phone number, but that was shut down quick!
Joe has blossomed over the last 5 years at Pop’s and the same is happening with Cam who is a student.

Both men are developing more than just good worth ethic, endurance, and other on-the-job related skills at Pop’s—they are building their confidence and their comfort with people, goofing around with regulars and feeling what it’s like to be a part of a team—what it’s like to feel respected and treated as an equal.

For Further Reading:

About National Autism Awareness Month

How To Observe #AUTISMAWARENESSMONTH

This article originally appeared on the Tinley Park Mom blog. To read more local news and broaden your knowledge of Chicago Suburbs, but also various subjects—from silly to deep, both helpful and insightful—subscribe to the Tinley Park Mom newsletter or follow Stephanie on social media.