Berwyn station. Credit: Jeremy Bressman

Recently, this was the view anyone entering or exiting the Berwyn Red Line station was exposed to, as the man who is frequently selling incense ‘set up shop’ to sell books, VHS tapes and other random goods on makeshift tables made out of cardboard boxes and milk crates.  We posted this to the Edgeville Buzz Facebook page, which sparked much debate about whether this was a nuisance or just a local man trying to get by.  Personally, my biggest qualm was the unsightly look it gave to the neighborhood/station and the fact that it was blocking the bike racks and sidewalk. Others argued that the individual was harmless, and in fact a very nice man and there are bigger fish to fry.

“I like him, he’s a sweet guy. The incense is annoying, sure, but I prefer him setting up shop there to the people begging change every time I run to Jewel or the bank,” said one Facebook follower.  “I own a business on Berwyn and pass the station at least 4 times throughout my day. Seeing a fellow entrepreneurial spirit at work does not bother me one bit, it adds a little character to our strip.”

On the other end of the spectrum one man wrote:  ”I love a diverse neighborhood just as much as the next guy…..But…. what is so diverse about junk and selling junk illegally without any type of license? I’m a true native of Chicago and a business owner. I’ve paid for many a permit in my day to be able to get to the point of selling things on the sidewalk. There are health codes put into place for reasons. There are fire codes as well. lets say one goes to “mr. junk sale” to purchase an amazingly inexpensive electrical chord and the next day the purchasers house catches fire because of a faulty plug. I break the rules once in a while too but not daily nor willingly. If mr. junk sale would like to be diverse and a part of the community he should also pay his dues to said community. That is not an opinion …its pretty much a law.”

Recently, the gentleman had moved his operation from the Berwyn station sidewalk to the alley just to the west, no longer as much of a nuisance in my opinion as he was no longer in the public way and blocking bike racks and newspaper boxes.  However, as the market continued throughout the week, readers had witnesses loiterers, who didn’t appear to be purchasing any goods ”hanging out” around the store and one reader even wrote in that they had witnessed multiple shouting matches occurring in the alley.

One reason for concern with this type of activity (nothing against this particular individual, per se) is that it grants others that are not up to any good a free pass.  If one person is allowed to loiter and sell goods, illegally without a permit, what is to stop others from opening up shop as they do in Uptown - or even, say prostitutes, pan handlers, or drug dealers.  It is said that often people will mask their drug deal transactions by selling other goods such as socks or soaps.

Yesterday, it looks like the Chicago Police took issue with the situation, as a reader sent us this photo and wrote: “the incense and book sale guy and a companion or partner, who earlier I saw yelling in the alley, are being ticketed (I think) by police on bikes.  For what, I am not sure.”

Bike police confront the Berwyn station vendor. Credit: anonymous EVB reader.