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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.

Catering business leads to BBQ restaurant



By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Kathy Connolly started in the food business as a waitress and bartender at Die Bier Stube in Frankfort.

About 11 years ago, she started doing occasional parties and weddings at the New Lenox VFW Hall.

“I’d step in if the regular caterer wasn’t available,” she says. Thus was born Connolly’s Catering, which Connolly ran from her home in Manhattan.

She rented restaurant space about 18 months ago at 280 E. Haven Ave. in New Lenox.

“People kept asking if we were open for lunch, which got me thinking,” she says.

On July 1, the Bourgeois Pig BBQ opened in the same space she uses for preparing her catering jobs.

“I figured that since we were already here, we might as well be open if someone wanted a sandwich.”

The menu is limited, but that suits Connolly just fine. “We don’t offer a lot but what we do make is great,” she says.

The secret to her popular BBQ is the sauce, she says. “We started out with a barbecue sauce from the Double D Barbecue Pit that we have perfected over the years.”

The Pig, as Connolly loving refers to the restaurant, is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call 815-485-1744 or 815-478-3395, or visit her at http://www.bourgeoispigbbq.com/ or http://www.connollyscatering.net/.

Weber’s Taco Stop now open
A new Mexican restaurant with the unlikely name of Weber’s Taco Stop opened last month at 1500 State St. in Lockport. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 815-524-4444 or visit them on Facebook.

Big Tuna opens second location

Big Tuna Sushi is now open in Frankfort.


By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Big Tuna Sushi has opened its second restaurant at 19951 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort. The Japanese cuisine restaurant had been operating for a couple of years at 131st Street and LaGrange in Orland Park.

Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Sunday from 1-9 p.m.

For more information and to check out its menu, visit http://www.bigtunasushi.com/ or call 815-469-5189.

Hawk replaces Rizza in Bridgeview
Tony Rizza Chevrolet, which had been selling cars at 8200 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview since 1982, was sold recently and in August was renamed Hawk Chevy. The dealership is now part of the group that owns Hawk Ford in Oak Lawn. For more information, visit http://www.hawkchevy.com/ or call 708-594-6400.

Jersey Mike’s coming to Tinley
A New Jersey-based submarine sandwich chain called Jersey Mike’s is planning to open soon in the former Great Wraps location at 16205 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park. The company started in 1956 in Point Pleasant, N.J., and has already opened 11 stores in Illinois. I’ll have more as it becomes available.

Long Run adds staffer
Frankfort-based Long Run Financial Ltd. has added Becky Connery to its team. Connery hails from Downers Grove, where she recently worked as a financial planner and chief compliance officer for a fee-only financial planning firm. She has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and an MBA from Carnegie-Mellon University. For more information, visit http://www.longrunfinancial.com/ or call (815) 464-9275.

My Sisters boutique moves into new quarters in downtown Frankfort

 By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

My Sisters & Me Boutique has moved into its new digs at 1 White St. in downtown Frankfort in the former Fox Lumber building the village acquired when the company announced it was closing its Frankfort location. In addition to bigger surroundings, My Sisters is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Fall hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 815-464-8373 or visit http://www.mysistersandmeboutique.com/.

Now open
Yoga For You has opened in its new location at 14 S. Hickory St. in downtown Frankfort. The fitness center is offering free unlimited yoga classes all next week as part of its grand opening celebration. For more information, call 815-354-5552 or visit http://www.yogaforyoustudio.com/.

Sharing the space is Life Changes Personal Training. For more information, call 708-516-5076 or visit http://www.lifechangespersonaltraining.com/.

Grand reopening

L.A. Café, a Mexican chain based in New Lenox since 1990, has reopened its Richton Park location at 22325 Governors Highway. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 708-747-4440 or visit http://www.lacafe.biz/.

Target opens Tinley clinic
Target opened an in-store health clinic last week at its Super Target store at 7300 W. 191st St. in Tinley Park. The store is one of five Chicago-area locations where a nurse practitioner will now be on duty to treat minor illnesses and injuries and to administer immunizations from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The nurse practitioner will see patients 18 months and older, and there’s no need for an appointment. For more information, call 877-798-2743 or visit www.target.com/clinic.

Free trust seminar
Marquette Bank is hosting a free trust seminar at its Oak Forest branch, 5700 W. 159th St., at 10 a.m. Sept. 16. Topics of this seminar will be "How to Secure Long Term Care and Pay for it Without Going Broke" and "Estate Planning Legislative Updates." Register by calling 708-342-8404.


New Lenox Chamber open houseThe New Lenox Chamber of Commerce is holding an open house from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday at its offices at 1 Veterans Parkway, Room 104, in New Lenox. Chamber staffers will be on hand. Refreshments will be served and there also will be a raffle. For more information, call 815-485-4241 or visit http://www.newlenoxchamber.com/.

Zembar grand opening
Zembar Jewelers is having its grand opening and ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at 1269 N. Cedar Road in New Lenox. For more information, call 815-485-7280, visit http://www.zembarjewelers.com/ or check out their Facebook page.

Meijer shopping spree
Meijer customers at the Orland Park store, 15701 S. 71st Court, can enter a contest for a chance to win a shopping spree. The contest will continue until Sept. 15. One grand prize winner will receive $1,000 in Meijer gift cards. The five first prize winners will receive $100 in Meijer gift cards.

Firestone update
Firestone Complete Auto Care will have its grand opening and ribbon cutting at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 17 at 9627 W. 191st Street in Mokena.

Bears deal of the weekendTribes Alehouse at 11220 W. Lincoln Highway in Mokena is serving up a free halftime buffet (with beverage purchase) during Bears games this season, which starts at noon Sunday vs. the Detroit Lions. For more information, call 815-464-0248 or visit http://www.tribesalehouse.com/.

If you know of a Southland establishment offering a food or drink deal during Bears games (or any games, really), let me know and I’ll include them in a future column.

New hair salon opens in Tinley Park



By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Tinley Park’s Katie Theis was facing a dilemma familiar to many new business owners: What to call her new hair salon?

“I didn’t want it to be something trendy that I wouldn’t like in 10 years,” says the mother of two. “So, I named it with the middle names of my son and daughter.”

That’s how Anthony Marie Hair Design, 17605 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park, got its name. How it succeeds is up to Theis.

Theis is only 30 and she took a couple years off when her kids were born, but she still has a lengthy resume as a stylist.

“I started right out of high school,” says Theis. “I have more than 10 years experience. Now I’m back to work, and it’s a challenge balancing work and the kids.”

Theis has the advantage of a supportive husband. “He’s the one who encouraged me to do this.”

It also helps when he’s a carpenter. “My husband built this place,” she says.

Anthony Marie opened on Aug. 19. The salon has four stylists, who only do hair. “We’re not into nails yet.”

In addition to styling, the salon offers coloring, texturizing and waxing.

Theis has an eye on catering to brides and their bridal parties. “I’d like to specialize in bridal parties. We’d have mimosas and a fruit spread. Brides need to be pampered on their special day.”

Anthony Marie is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The salon is closed on Sunday and Monday.

For more information, call Theis at 708-444-0101.

Now open
Another Middle Eastern restaurant opened recently in Orland Park. Pita Oven at 9328 W. 159th St. is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The eatery has wait service, carryout and also delivers. The phone number is 708-349-7482 and you can check out their menu at their Facebook page.

Disney crew visits Meijer

The Radio Disney Road Crew will be at the new Meijer location in Orland Park at 15701 S. 71st Court from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday to demonstrate how families can stay active and healthy.

Sox to visit Bettenhausen dealerships
Chicago White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez will be signing autographs and meeting fans at Bettenhausen Dodge, 17514 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park, from 9-11 a.m. Sept. 11, while pitcher John Danks will be signing autographs and meeting fans at Bettenhausen Chrysler Jeep, 15941 S. 94th Ave. in Orland Park, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

BlueStone shuts down in New Lenox

BlueStone website photo


By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

BlueStone Bar and Grill closed abruptly this week at 2387 E. Joliet Highway in New Lenox.

I’ve been told employees showed up for work on Wednesday and were all sent home after being told everyone was fired.

Tarps were covering the bar’s windows from the inside on Wednesday while restaurant equipment was being carted out of the business.

Calls to the bar went unanswered, but the bar’s website stated, “We are sorry to tell everyone that we have closed our restaurant and bar. Thank you for your support and patronage.”

BlueStone has had an uneasy relationship with the village and its neighbors over the years with nearby residents often complaining about noise from bands and DJs as well as motorcycle riders frequenting the bar.