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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.

Vito & Nick's changes name in Tinley Park

Vito & Nick's II in Tinley Park changed its name a few weeks ago to Rich's Pizza Joint.
By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The only thing that has changed at Vito & Nick's II in Tinley Park is the name, according to co-owner Colleen Loftus.

The restaurant at 7020 W. 183rd St. dropped its franchise agreement with Vito & Nick's about six weeks ago, Loftus said. She said the matter was in litigation and left it at that.

She said the new name is Rich's Pizza Joint after her co-owner Rich Chearo. 

Why not Colleen's?

"People ask me that all the time and I have different answers," she said with a laugh. "Rich deserved it."

She said the restaurant has the same menu and specials and is now free of franchise constraints.

"We're the same people, only its better," she said of the name change.

Since the change, she said the restaurant has expanded its indoor seating as well as added a small outdoor eating area in the front of the dining room.

"We expanding onward and upward," she said of the eatery that has been open since April 2008.

She Rich's also offers carry outs, catering and delivery to an area from U.S. 30 to 159th Street and from LaGrange Road to Oak Forest.

"We'll deliver to about a five-mile radius," Loftus said.

Restaurant hours remain 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

For information, call 708-532-8486, visit Rich's Pizza Joint or check out their Facebook page.

Family Hearth opens in Frankfort

The Family Hearth General Store, the retail storefront ministry of Forming Faithful Families, which is a nonprofit public charity, moved into bigger digs a couple of weeks ago at 119 Kansas St. in downtown Frankfort and celebrated its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Thursday.

The store is operated by Frankfort residents Kathleen and Jim Littleton and offers vintage gifts, jewelry, old time candy, bottles of pop, gourmet coffee and ice cream. The storefront offers a reading room and Wi-Fi.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.


Taste of Heaven now open in Summit

A new restaurant that also includes a massive banquet hall opened earlier this summer at 6254 S. Archer Road in Summit after an extensive and expensive remodeling of a former glass works building.

Co-owners Marco Valladolid and his son Adrian, said they wanted to create a restaurant that would bring the neighborhood closer together. 

They said they accomplished that by offering a nice friendly, sit down family experience with a menu  that is based on comfort food with great taste and superior quality.

The restaurant has a number of televisions to help guests cheer on their favorite sports teams.

Taste of Heaven also offers a spacious banquet hall that sits more than 300 people. 

Restaurant hours are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, while banquet hours are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with walk-ins welcome.

For information, call 708-701-2134 or 708-701-2135.

Spencer's Gifts opens in Chicago Ridge

Spencer's Gifts, which specializes in edgy novelties and collectibles, has opened a new store at Chicago Ridge Mall. The store is next to Charlotte Russe between Sears and Kohl's.

MB Financial closes deal for Cole Taylor

MB Financial Inc. last week completed its acquisition of Cole Taylor Bank’s parent company in a deal valued at $680 million.

The merger of MB Financial Bank and Cole Taylor Bank, which was first announced a year ago, creates a middle-market bank with about $15 billion in assets.

Cole Taylor locations include a branch at 5501 W. 79th St. in Burbank.

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 catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.com