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| Little Joe's is now open at its new location in Frankfort. |
Southland Savvy
Little Joe's Famous Italian Ristorante, which closed its
location in the Crown Centre shopping center in Frankfort in January, is
finally open again in its new digs a few blocks away at 20805 S. LaGrange Road
in the Walt's Foods plaza in Frankfort.
The restaurant chain, which also has locations in Tinley
Park and New Lenox, had been open since September 2012. But its owners decided
they needed more spacious digs and found them in the former Mary Todd's cafe
location, which also had short-lived incarnations as Entree Alehouse and Tasty
Buffet.
The decision to move was made in part because the Crown
Centre location was much smaller than the Tinley and New Lenox locations.
While construction took a lot longer than anticipated, the
new owners finally were able to have a soft opening earlier this month with a
limited pre-grand opening menu.
A grand opening is in the works.
The new Little Joe's features a bar, banquet room and
outdoor patio. It also features gluten-free pizza and other specialties. The
Frankfort location will also be offering a free pizza buffet at halftime of
Bears football games.
Gerardo Vazquez remains as general manager of the new
location. He is the son of co-owner Sue Vazquez.
Hours for the soft opening are weekdays from 11 a.m. to 9
p.m.
For information, call 815-534-5084 or visit their Facebook
page or website at www.littlejoesfamouspizza.com.
350 Brewing opens in
Tinley Park
Tinley Park got its second craft brewer when 350 Brewing Co.
opened its tap room earlier this month at 7144 W. 183rd St.
The brewery, which is owned by Todd Randall and Erik Pizer,
had hoped to open several months ago in downtown Tinley Park on Oak Park
Avenue, but those plans were delayed and the location eventually moved.
350 Brewing has nine beers on tap daily and the tap room is
open from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and from noon to midnight on
Friday and Saturday. Unlike many of the new small tap rooms opening in the
south suburbs, 350 Brewing said it will offer a small food menu consisting of
appetizers and snacks.
The brewer also has set up a growler's club for customers to
take home any of its brews in jugs for home consumption.
The company did not respond to requests for an interview,
but information on the brewery can be found on the company's website at www.350brewing.com.
Starbucks opens in
Orland
A new Starbucks has opened in the former Baby's at 15833 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park. The new location replaces one across the street that closed last year.
The new Starbucks features a drive-through lane.
