Paul Munoz spent 32 years working for the Chicago Police Department. He retired as a sergeant and now has time to devote to something else he loves. Two years after his retirement, he purchased the car of his dreams: a 1965 Ford Mustang.
“I always wanted a Ford Mustang,” said Munoz, of Garfield Ridge. “It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid.”
Bill Hayes also saw retirement as an opportunity to purchase his own classic beauty: a 1971 Camaro RS-SS.
“I had a 1973 Z28 when I was in trade school,” said Hayes, of Chicago. “When I retired, I got another.”
Archer Avenue was packed Friday night as hundreds of people, including Munoz and Hayes, turned out for the 10th annual Archer Avenue Car Show, which closed the street between Narragansett and Oak Park avenues.
With traffic blocked, visitors wandered freely along the avenue, weaving between vintage vehicles, custom cars, and muscle machines. Food trucks lined the curbs, offering everything from tacos to funnel cakes, while live music pulsed from a stage near Archer Heights Credit Union.
Jim Soltis proudly showed off a 1966 Buick Riviera that has been in his family for decades and has only 28,000 miles.
“This car was on my dad’s block when he was a kid — eventually he bought it, and now it’s mine,” said Soltis, of Chicago.
The evening’s entertainment was headlined by a high-energy performance by the Dueling Pianos, who played crowd favorites and took song requests in the parking lot shared by the credit union and Lindy’s.
The event was co-sponsored by the Midway Chamber of Commerce and the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch.
Nearby, the Chamber’s BizHub at 6422 W. Archer Ave. stayed open late to host the “Shop Local Pit Stop,” a vendor showcase featuring local businesses and artisans.
Volunteers helped direct crowds and assist with logistics. Organizers are already encouraging more community members to get involved next year.
