Tinley Park Ice Cream Shop Gains Fame Through Film

The Dairy Palace in Tinley Park experienced a surge in popularity when “Trash Mountain,” a film shot at the 73-year-old ice cream establishment, debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival. Owner Kevin Hoffmeister expressed his enjoyment at seeing his shop transformed into a movie set, saying, “It was fun. It was a lot of fun.” The film will have two screenings in the Chicago area as part of the Chicago International Film Festival. These 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.

“Trash Mountain,” directed by Kris Rey, stars Caleb Hearon, Zooey Deschanel, Jaboukie Young-White, Kyle Marvin, and Jacki Weaver. The storyline follows Hearon’s character, a Chicago man returning to Missouri to handle his deceased hoarder father’s possessions. Reflecting on the filming experience, Hoffmeister praised the crew, stating, “People were great. Couldn’t have been nicer.” His expectations of Hollywood attitudes were dispelled, and the team showed genuine friendliness.

Filming occurred last October at the end of Dairy Palace’s summer season. Hoffmeister fondly remembers Hearon’s generosity when he bought ice cream for the entire crew, comprising over a hundred individuals. “Everybody got what they wanted, and he picked up the tab for it,” Hoffmeister recalled.

A wide theatrical release date for “Trash Mountain” has not yet been announced. The film received a 100% fresh rating from 15 critics on Rotten Tomatoes upon its premiere in Toronto. “Everybody had a good time, I think,” Hoffmeister remarked, “We certainly did.” Pictures from Melinda Moore show the production crew unloading equipment at Dairy Palace on October 31, 2025.

Hoffmeister expressed his desire to take Dairy Palace employees to see the film once it is widely released. “We’re gonna take them, when the movie comes out, make a day of it and pay for everybody to go,” he shared.

The Dairy Palace was chosen as the backdrop after being narrowed down from a list of candidates. “I guess it was like 10 of them,” Hoffmeister explained, “and they narrowed it down to us at the last minute. The director liked our place the best.” This was the first time a movie had been filmed in Tinley Park, and Hoffmeister used this fact to expedite the permitting process.

The Dairy Palace, situated at 16760 Oak Park Ave., is open daily from 2 to 10 p.m. The shop typically closes for the winter towards the end of October, dependent on weather conditions. Hoffmeister noted, “If it stays nice, we stay open. If you see the yellow lights on, we’re there.”