The long-standing Dairy Palace in Tinley Park has recently gained attention after being featured as a filming location for the movie “Trash Mountain.” This 73-year-old ice cream shop marked a milestone when the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last month.
Kevin Hoffmeister, owner of the Dairy Palace, remarked on the enjoyable experience of hosting a movie set. He expressed surprise at the absence of any Hollywood pretensions, noting the professionalism and kindness of everyone involved.
The film, directed by Kris Rey, stars Caleb Hearon, Zooey Deschanel, Jaboukie Young-White, Kyle Marvin, and Jacki Weaver. It tells the story of a Chicago man, played by Hearon, who travels to his hometown in Missouri to address his late father’s hoarded possessions.
The Chicago International Film Festival will feature “Trash Mountain” in two local screenings. They are scheduled for 5:15 p.m. on October 23 at AMC NEWCITY 14 in Lincoln Park and 3 p.m. on October 24 at the Chicago History Museum.
The film crew arrived for filming at the very end of Dairy Palace’s summer season last October. At the end of filming, Hearon treated the entire crew, over a hundred people, to Dairy Palace ice cream, picking up the tab himself.
Currently, the movie awaits a wide theatrical release date. Post-Toronto premiere, it boasted a 100% fresh rating from 15 critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Hoffmeister commented on the memorable experience, stating everyone seemed to enjoy the process.
When the movie has a full release, Hoffmeister plans to take his employees to a screening. He shared that Dairy Palace was chosen out of about ten potential locations, capturing the director’s favor at the last moment.
Hoffmeister mentioned this was the first movie filmed in Tinley Park, highlighting the unique opportunity for the town. Initially, there were concerns about the permitting process, which Tinley Park was able to expedite.
The Dairy Palace continues to serve customers daily from 2 to 10 p.m. during its operating season. Hoffmeister noted the business will stay open until the weather turns colder, guided by a simple signal: if the yellow lights are on, they are open for business.
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