Buck’s Farmstand opens for season on Monday

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

Buck’s Farmstand, a south suburban tradition for half-a-century, will open for the summer season on Monday, June 17, at its longtime home at 4250 W. 123^rd St. in Alsip.

Here’s a Facebook sneak peek of what’s fresh and new this 2024 season:

Fresh Produce: Locally grown fruits and vegetables, picked at the peak of ripeness.

Specialty Items: Each week, something special like local honey, homemade applesauce, and fresh eggs, plus more!

Hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For information, call 708-942-0876 or visit www.bucksfarmstand.com

Runnings holds grand opening in Homer Glen

The former R.P. Home and Harvest in Homer Glen is now a Runnings store.

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

The big-box store at 15830 S. Bell Road in Homer Glen has certainly had a storied past.

Once upon a time, it was part of the Kmart chain. That ended years ago.

Since then, it has been a Big R, a Stock + Field, and an R.P. Home and Harvest.

Last June, it changed hands again when the R.P. Home and Harvest chain was acquired by Runnings, a top home, farm and outdoor store that dates back 75 years. The Homer Glen location was one of 22 stores and a distribution warehouse acquired in the deal.

Now that remodeling and the conversion to Runnings is complete, the store is holding a grand opening from today to Saturday.

As part of the grand opening, the first 100 customers each day will receive free Runnings gift cards valued between $10 and $250.

On Friday in Homer Glen, a Milwaukee representative will be doing live product demos and offering in-store promotions.

Dennis Reed, Bill Joens and Kerry Running purchased Runnings Supply in 1988 from the Runnings family. In 2004, Dennis and Adele Reed took over as sole owners of the company, and continue to own the company today.

Runnings is a family-owned general merchandise retailer with over 75 years' experience and has grown to 80 stores in 12 states.

Hours at the store are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

For information, call 708-942-6888.

Chicago Ridge Mall has new owner

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Chicago Ridge Mall opened in 1981 on the former site of the Starlite Drive-In Theater, which had closed in 1979 after a three-decade run. It was expanded in 1986.

It has had several owners over the years including the Lenhdorff Group, which bought the mall in 1986 and turned around and sold it to JMB Realty a year later. It was owned by the Westfield Group from 2004 to 2012 before it was acquired by Starwood Capital Group.

Last week, the mall was sold again, this time to Florida-based Second Horizon Capital.  Financial terms were not disclosed.

The sale came after Miami-based Starwood Capital Group missed a $76 million debt payment on the property last year, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.

Tenants at the 592,000-square-foot property include Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohl’s, ALDI, and AMC theaters. It is about 80 percent leased.

“Chicago Ridge Mall is already a valued amenity for its community and the surrounding area, which presents an exciting opportunity for our company,” Howard Levine, co-founder and managing partner of Second Horizon Capital, said in a release. “Our objective is to enhance Chicago Ridge Mall as a go-to retail destination and inclusive economic driver for the region.”

Based in Boca Raton, Second Horizon plans to provide "significant incremental investment" to the mall, according to the release. It also noted the company has engaged JLL for ongoing property management and leasing services at facility.

Starwood’s difficulties with Chicago area retail extend beyond Chicago Ridge Mall. It surrendered the Louis Joliet Mall via deed-in-lieu of foreclosure in 2020.

For Second Horizon, Chicago Ridge Mall is the firm’s fourth acquisition, since its founding in 2021, and its first in the Chicago area.