Business & Tech

Lemont Businesses Rally Around 'The Vault' in Retelling of Robbery

The Lemont business community embraces a newcomer and helps promote the lesser-known addition to the downtown community with a video project.

Lemont business owners Rachel and Jeff Owen enjoy dining at The Vault in Lemont. But this summer they noticed that each time they visited, there seemed to be something missing. A relatively "newbie" on the Lemont business scene, The Vault Cafe and Bar appeared relatively empty, an undiscovered gem many locals.

Located on Canal Street in the former home of the Lemont National Bank, the spot is rich in local history and was reincarnated into a restaurant that opened in 2012. The Owens, of the more-established ImageIcon Photography in downtown Lemont, decided to help spread the word about the newcomer. 

Lemont businesses Whitney Cinema1 Happy Girl Boutique and White Lotus Weddings, dreamt up a video recreation of a 1929 robbery in which two bandits ransacked the bank, making off with $9,000 in cash. The video—entirely centered around The Vault—spotlights the collaborative work of businesses located on Canal street in downtown Lemont, including hair and makeup, costumes and styling, photography and videography, and food and libations. 

"The brothers who own the bar have done so much work on it, and invested a ton of money and really want to grow the business in the difficult downtown Lemont area," Jeff Owen told Patch. 

Owen and the team conceptualized the video from start to fruition, storyboarding the scenes and designing the costumes, setting and lighting to reflect the era and day of the robbery. It wasn't tough when it came to location. Brothers and co-owners Jack, Bach and Al Sulemani still use the original vault from the bank behind the bar, as well as wall furnishings and ceiling decorations from the start of the 20th century.

"They really tried to keep the theme of the bank," said Rachel Owen. 

The businesses' joint effort to promote another stemmed from a common understanding of battle to bring business to the downtown area. 

"It's quite a difficult area to keep a business successful," Jeff said. "In general, they're struggling to get people through the door." 

"With the high turnover (in the area), it's going to take something special and different to make it work," agreed Rachel. 

The couple thinks the effort could be replicated across other downtown businesses needing a little extra promotional push.

"The video is helping all businesses involved, while raising awareness of The Vault," Jeff said. 

"It really is for a good cause."

Check out the video! And read the entire blog entry, which includes a reprint of the original news article detailing the daring daylight robbery.


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