Breakfast Nook Now Open in Mokena

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Daniel Luna recently decided the time was right to stop cooking for other restaurant owners and took the plunge to open his own eatery.

The result is The Breakfast Nook, which opened three weeks ago today at 19140 S. 80th Avenue in Mokena. The location has been home to at least two other restaurants, Dragon Palace 2 and Sicilian Joe’s.

Its name is appropriate, too. The space is small but cozy with a handful of booths and tables.

Luna, 34, was the chef at Mary Todd’s in Frankfort and Egg Cetera Café in Mokena and has brought his culinary skills with him to The Breakfast Nook, which has an extensive menu ranging from skillets and omelets for breakfast to wraps and burgers for lunch. Tea drinkers take note, the teapots are enormous.

While Luna lords over the kitchen, Christina Billings – who worked with Luna at Egg Cetera – runs the dining room with one other waitress, who knew Luna from their days at Mary Todd’s.

“We were leaving Egg Cetera about the same time and he asked me if I wanted to come with him,” she said.

As for business?

“So far, so good,” Billings said, noting they haven’t even done much advertising yet.

The Breakfast Nook is open for breakfast and lunch from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day. The phone number is 708-478-0908.

Five Below to Open Friday in Tinley Park
Five Below, a retailer that caters to the teen and tween market with everything priced from $1 to $5, will open Friday morning in Tinley Park’s Brookside Marketplace at 191st Street and Harlem Avenue.

The chain carries an assortment of merchandise including sporting goods, games, fashion accessories, jewelry, candy and snacks, books, DVDs, room décor and school supplies.

The chain was founded in 2002 by David Schlessinger, who also founded Encore Books and Zany Brainy.

Bayberry Pantry to Reopen Soon
Bayberry Pantry, 8004 W. 171st St. in Tinley Park, looks to be reopening soon under new ownership. The convenience store closed some time ago in the Bayberry Plaza at 171st and 80th Avenue.

CJ Frank Grand Reopening
CJ Frank & Son, a tax and accounting firm, is celebrating its reopening on Friday, Aug. 19, with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. at 18610 Burnham Ave. Suite A in Lansing. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday.