Galewood’s Johnnie’s Beef-inspired Halloween yard wins decorating contest

A Galewood front yard has become a miniature Italian beef stand for Halloween, complete with skeleton workers, pretend sandwiches and a chimney that sends out smoke. Susie Jendro and Mike Colesworthy’s creation on the 1900 block of North Oak Park Avenue won first place in the 2026 Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ Halloween house decorating contest.

The display takes its inspiration from Johnnie’s Beef in Elmwood Park, but the couple built their version at their Chicago home. Their illuminated storefront carries the playful name “Jaw-Knee’s Char-Ghoul Broiled.” Skeleton customers join the employees, while a skeletal bird appears ready to snatch a sandwich. Pieces of pool noodle provide the bread for the imitation Italian beefs.

The project reflects a Halloween tradition the couple encountered when they moved into their Galewood Georgian in summer 2017. A neighbor encouraged them to start preparing for the holiday right away. They embraced the suggestion and have expanded their decorating efforts over the years. Their previous display turned a local farmers market into a Halloween scene called “Ghoulwood Femurs Market.”

Jendro, who works in software, and Colesworthy, an arcade-games maker, started gathering supplies for this year’s project in July. According to Jendro, about half the materials were obtained free. Neighborhood discards included a large piece of clear plexiglass that they transformed into a replica of the restaurant’s steamed-up front window.

By bringing back skeletons from earlier years and using salvaged supplies, the couple kept the display’s total cost to about $350. That spending included lumber, paint and fabric for the skeleton workers’ outfits. The result offers fellow decorators a practical example of how reused materials can support an elaborate seasonal project.

The restaurant connection extends beyond the yard. Jendro told the Sun-Times that Johnnie’s owners learned about the tribute and donated food for the couple’s upcoming Halloween party. She described the restaurant as a neighborhood favorite and said her own preferred beef order includes dipping, hot peppers and sweet peppers.

For neighbors considering a bigger display, Jendro recommends choosing a subject they genuinely enjoy, since building it takes time and it will remain part of the yard for weeks. Her household is not alone in its enthusiasm: she also described a nearby Halloween circus display with a working Ferris wheel. Together, those efforts help explain why this corner of Chicago makes such an occasion of the holiday.