Battery Giant opens in Orland Park

Brian Nolen II stands in his new Battery Giant store in Orland Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A new business that promises to help power up your lives is now open in Orland Park.

Battery Giant, which carries everything from car batteries to hearing aid batteries, held its grand opening on June 22 at 15006 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park in the Orland Greens shopping center.

The franchise is located in an 810-square-foot shop co-owned by father and son, Brian Nolen Sr. and Brian Nolen II.

“We carry batteries for everything,” said the younger Nolen, who lives in Hazel Crest. “We also can rebuild battery packs for power tools, lanterns and laptops. That is very handy if you have an older model of a device. Some of them they don’t make battery packs for anymore. We can fix those.”

The Nolens can also order key fobs that have batteries sealed inside of them, such as for a car.

Battery Giant is a smaller player in the battery marketplace, admitted Nolen. Their chief rival is Batteries Plus, which has been around for much longer than Battery Giant.

“Battery Giant has been around for less than 10 years,” said Nolen. “My comparison is we’re Burger King to their being McDonald’s.”

The Nolens have the company’s 16^th store and the first in the Chicago Southland. There are two other stores in the north suburbs.

“For sure, we’re looking for another location in the south suburbs or northwest Indiana,” Nolen said. “But not until we get this one going good.”

Nolen said he and his father are equal partners and share all of the duties.

The store is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

For information, call the store at 708-460-4664.

Pepe’s reopens in Hickory Hills

A new Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant reopened recently at 8128 W. 95^th St. in Hickory Hills under new ownership.

The restaurant has a full bar with televisions and is open for lunch with a buffet served from Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Specials include half-price margaritas on Tuesday and Thursday, all you can eat tacos on Monday and kids eat free on Sunday.

For information, call 708-430-0700.

Giordano’s hosts Orland Business After Hours

Giordano’s of Orland Park is hosting a Business After Hours event for the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday at 14325 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

Giordano’s is sampling its new menu.

This will be the chamber’s last Business After Hours until September.

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.

You can also follow business happenings at Comings & Goings