Ribbers unhappy with geography of Ribfest

Ribfest is experiencing growing pains.

Well, truth be told, it's apparently the ribbers at the Naperville Exchange Club's annual Fourth of July weekend festival that are experiencing the pain.

Reconfiguration of the festival grounds this year at Knoch Park near downtown split the ribbers into two sections. There are eight rib vendors on the north side and eight to the south. None are where they've usually been for more than a decade.

Some vendors on the north side complain that the south-side ribbers are in a better position because the musical entertainment is better on that side of the park. But south-side ribbers believe the other guys are in better shape because crowds always have gotten their ribs on that side of the park.

In addition, south-side rib vendors say they have to deal with a row of portable toilets that were installed in front of their tents Friday morning.

"I'm blocked by everything from a beer truck to now these Port-a-Johns," said Paul Mackay, owner of Aussom Aussie's. "I'm also down 82 percent from Thursday last year."

South-side ribbers were working with Ribfest organizers to add a new entrance near their stands and also to see if they could get rid of the portable toilets. It looks, however, like they're going to stay put for the remainder of the festival.

"It grosses me out a little, but it's also nice because I have to go a lot," said Lauren Hackleman of Chicago who had hunted through the grounds to find Uncle Bub's on the south side.

The health department and police department ordered the row of toilets moved because they were too close to another group of food vendors. The middle of the pathway to the ribbers was the only space available.

"This is the first year we've done it like this and we try every year to make it perfect, but there's always something," said Julie Lichter, Ribfest chairwoman.

Organizers determined which side of the grounds the ribbers would go by lottery. For the most part, ribbers have taken the changes in stride and say they are hopeful organizers will take their concerns into consideration when designing the layout next year.

"They've talked to me and said they're trying to help," said Kevin Gift of Pigfoot. "This is new to them too."

Uncle Bub's proprietor Mark Link said crowds were steadier Friday than on Thursday when he experienced a 42 percent drop in sales from last year.

"Look, we've got excellent weather, there's no wait to get into this side of the park and we have to remember we're doing this for the kids," Link said.

Profits from the four-day festival go to area charities that deal with child abuse prevention.

All of the ribbers except one are veterans of the event. The new kid on the block is Camp 31 out of Alabama. Paul Murphy runs the tent with his dad Larry and brother Ben. He said the biggest problem with the layout is that the ribbers are separated, but other than that he's happy with how things are going so far.

"We had a pretty good day Thursday," Paul Murphy said. "It was definitely worth being here."