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I have more than 40 years in the news business and have successfully evolved into an electronic journalist. Comings & Goings and Southland Savvy track news about businesses in Chicago's Southland.

Mokena loses Colosseum Complex

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy staff

Mokena's Colosseum Complex, 19081 Old LaGrange Road, has closed its doors and those of The Pearl Room, Maximus and Capone's Restaurant.

The nightspot closed at the end of business Aug. 29. The company's Web site attributed the closing to the retirement of owners Mark and Jeanne. Village officials and nearby business owners were quoted in the Mokena Messenger as being caught offguard by the sudden closing.

The Colosseum Web site has a listing of new locations for a series of band appearances that had been scheduled through this month and into October.

Vito & Nick's II closes in Mokena
Vito & Nick's II closed its location at Wolf Road and U.S. 30 last weekend. Owners are planning to concentrate on the company's many franchises, which remain open, and its frozen pizza business.

Beggars Pizza opens in Orland Park
Southland pizza chain Beggars has opened a new full-service restaurant at 11329 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park. The new eatery has a banquet room and offers the chain's popular buffet. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. The phone number is 708-364-1500.

The chain also plans to soon open new locations at 547 W. Jackson Blvd., across from Union Station, and at 81st Street and Stony Island Avenue on Chicago's Southeast Side.

Kia returns to Matteson
Hawkinson Kia has opened inside the Matteson Auto Mall at Interstate 57 and U.S. 30 in Matteson. Owners Bob and Jim Hawkinson, of Frankfort, also own the Hawkinson Nissan dealership in the same mall. The opening marks the return of the Kia brand to the auto mall. A Kia dealership closed there in 2007. Plans are in the works for a grand opening in October.

Cappas new owner of Johnny's Wee-Nee Wagon
Former Southland cocaine kingpin John Cappas, 43, is the new owner of Johnny's Wee-Nee Wagon, 15743 S. Crawford Ave. in Markham, which was the original Willie's Wee-Nee Wagon. Cappas was released in 2004 after serving 15 years for drug dealing. The phone number is 708-333-8584.

Oak Forest's InBank fails

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy staff

Oak Forest-based InBank, which used to advertise on its message boards that online customers could do their banking in their underwear, lost its corporate shirt Friday when Illinois bank regulators closed the bank and branches in Chicago and Tinley Park.

The FDIC later announced MB Financial had acquired the assets on InBank and would reopen the three branches Saturday morning as MB Financial branches. InBank customers will become MB Financial customers at that time.

According to the FDIC, as of Aug. 3, 2009, InBank had total assets of $212 million and total deposits of approximately $199 million.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-640-2607. The phone number will be operational Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., and thereafter from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Interested parties can also visit the FDIC's Web site.