Sonic Opens in Calumet City

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy


Sonic Drive-In fans in the Southeast Suburbs and Northwest Indiana no longer have to travel to Country Club Hills to get their fill of the chain’s hot dogs, burgers and frozen concoctions now that a restaurant has opened at 1299 Torrence Ave. in Calumet City.

The restaurant in the River Oaks Mall parking lot a couple of blocks south of 159th Street is the chain’s third in the Southland – joining Sonic eateries in Country Club Hills and Lockport. Its hours are 6 a.m. to midnight daily.

For information, visit Sonic Drive-In Calumet City.

Stateline Bakery closes
Paul and Joan Steffens have pulled the plug on their Stateline Bakery in Calumet City after decades of making some of the best atomic cakes, pastries and paczki in the Southland. The couple tried for years to sell the business but had no takers so they called it quits as of last June 26. Paul has indicated he will keep busy baking special orders such as wedding cakes but had enough of the daily grind.
Joan said the decision was “bittersweet” after so many years but she’s looking forward to spending more time with her grandchildren.

Sephora opens in Orland
A Sephora beauty salon opened recently inside the J.C. Penney store in Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. The salon is open during store hours, Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ashley Stewart relocates at Ford City
The Ashley Stewart women’s fashion store has moved into its new digs near Carsons at Ford City Mall in Chicago. Mall hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sarku Japan at Chicago Ridge Mall
Sarku Japan, a quick service teriyaki and sushi restaurant, opened recently in the Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall food court.

Ultimate Exposure closes in Tinley
The Ultimate Exposure tanning salon closed recently at 16650 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park. But a new Ultimate Exposure took over the salon at 17821 S. 80th Avenue in the Tinley Corners shopping center.

Deal of the month: Speedway
Speedway is rolling back gas prices at gas stations it acquired recently from Gas City for holders of the chain’s Speedy Rewards card. Members can save 5 cents per gallon on regular and plus fuels and 10 cents per gallon on premium fuel from July 1-31. Stations include those in Tinley Park, Frankfort, Mokena and New Lenox. For a complete list of stations, visit Speedway July Gas Deal.