South Suburban Memorials consolidates new offices in South Holland

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Brian Tennis said his decision to move his monument businesses into South Holland could not have worked out better.

Tennis, 53, moved South Suburban Memorials, a retail outlet for cemetery monuments, grave markers and plaques, and DOH Services, a memorial production company, into a single operation at 16525 Van Dam Road at the end of last year.

“We have the store on the lower level and the production facility on the upper level,” Tennis said.

A stonecutter since 1974, Tennis started DOH Services in Blue Island in 1995. He acquired South Suburban Memorials in Glenwood in 1999.

Tennis, who lives in Blue Island, said he tried for two years to find a suitable location in that city but was eventually told by officials they could not help him.

That’s a far cry from the reception he said he received from South Holland officials.

“Everyone in the village hierarchy welcomed us with open arms,” Tennis said. “We bought an eyesore in October 2008 and converted it into a beautiful showroom and production facility.”

Though now open, Tennis said there are a few unfinished items. “We still have to put in the landscaping,” he said.

Tennis has 17 employees at the two companies that make and sell everything you find in a cemetery. He said he makes monuments for all faiths including Christian, Muslim and Jewish. He said his customer base reaches as far as Iowa and Indiana.

The South Suburban Memorials showroom is open to the public. For more information, call 708-331-4450 or visit their Web site, http://www.southsuburbanmemorialsinc.net/

Cafe Closed
Cafe on Cedar has closed after being open just over a year at 398 N. Cedar Road in New Lenox.

Get your culture on
The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and guest conductor Victor Yampolsky are presenting Mozart Light and Dark at the Lincoln-Way North Performing Arts Center on Saturday. Tickets are $30, $40 and $50
for adults; $15 for students (18 and under. Tickets available at (708) 481-7774, and  http://www.ipomusic.org/
 
Calumet College Job Fair
 
Calumet College of St. Joseph is hosting its Spring 2010 Career Fair from 3 to 6 p.m. March 18 on the second floor of the main campus, 2400 New York Ave. in Whiting. Students, alumni and the public are invited to attend and admission is free. Parking is available in the rear of the building.

There will be recruiters in the areas of education, human services, health care, business, management, sales and marketing, accounting and finance, computer science and information technology, and law enforcement. Employer profiles and contact information will be available on the college Web site after March 10.

Job seekers should bring resumes and wear business attire. http://www.ccsj.edu/.
 
Deal of the Week
 
It's March Madness at Piazza's Pizza, 19608 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena, which is offering a half-price pizzas every Monday in March. For more information, call 708-479-9400. http://www.piazzaspizza.com/.