Berkot's Eyes Orland Park Location

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Orland Park looks like it will be getting a new grocery store to replace Green Food and Produce, which closed earlier this year at 11333 W. 159th St. in the Wolf Crossing plaza at 159th and Wolf Road.

Mokena-based Berkot’s Super Foods has applied for building permits and the village is reviewing plans, Karie Friling, director of development services, told me recently.

“It’s no secret,” she said.

Indeed not, I have received emails from a couple of readers asking me when Berkot’s was going to open.

For its part, Berkot’s is staying mum. I received an email recently from Luke Kotara at Berkot’s who said he would contact me when he could confirm the plan.

Berkot’s has a nice history of taking former supermarkets and breathing new life into them. They did it most recently this past summer in Lockport when they converted a former Sterk’s and Fairway Foods into the company’s 13th location.

Season of the Witch

Remember when Halloween was all about candy and carving pumpkins? Those days are long gone and Halloween is now the second biggest retail season behind Christmas and several seasonal shops have opened in the Southland in advance of next week’s holiday.

Spirit Halloween is now open in the former Borders store in Ravinia Plaza in Orland Park, in the former Borders Express in Chicago Ridge Mall, at 14726 S. Cicero Ave. in the former Walgreens at Mid-Oak Plaza and at the Long Run Marketplace, 13462 Archer Ave. in Lemont.

Halloween City has set up shop at 15852 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park, at 4824 Lincoln Highway in Matteson, and 19816 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena.

Halloween Express is open at 7260 W. 159th St. in the Home Depot Plaza in Orland Park and at 6101 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn in a former Men’s Wearhouse.

Chick-fil-A Celebrates Anniversary

Chick-fil-A will celebrate its first anniversary at 15605 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park by giving away free chicken sandwiches from 6-10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 29. The eatery is also offering free kitchen tours from 2-4 p.m. sign up at http://cfarestaurant.com/orlandpark

Happy Halloween at Orland Square Mall

Simon Kidgets Club is hosting a free Halloween party for kids 3-8 at Orland Square Mall on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The event, presented by Dole, will include activities and games, crafts, a costume contest, and trick-or-treating through the mall. Dole will be handing out Real Fruit Bites sample. Free Trick-or-Treat Bags will also be distributed while supplies last.

Orland Park Bakery Announces New Home

Orland Park Bakery, which is losing its longtime home at Orland Plaza, has finally announced it will be moving into new and larger digs at 14850 S. LaGrange Road next to Dania furniture.

“We’re very excited about moving there,” Dan Major told Orland Park Patch last week about the bakery’s new location. There’s plenty of parking there, and it’s easy to access both from LaGrange and Ravinia.”

Café Gaston Ribbon Cutting
Café Gaston is unveiling its new look and menu to the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce at a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 14438 John Humphrey Drive in Orland Park.
RSVP to the chamber at http://www.orlandparkchamber.org/calresp.asp?id=14807

Downtown Tinley Halloween Kiddie Parade

The Oak Park Avenue Mainstreet Association is holding its 13th annual Halloween Kiddie Parade and Party on Sunday, Oct. 30, from noon to 3 p.m. outside its office at 170th Street and Oak Park Avenue in downtown Tinley Park.

There will be a walking parade, trick-or-treating at local businesses, games, prizes, snacks and refreshments. Prizes will be awarded in “Best of” categories.
Businesses are invited to set up a table and pass out treats to the kids along with a coupon or promotional item to the parents. In past years, there have been 450-500 children, not including their parents, grandparents and pets. Go to http://www.opama.org/ to download an entry form.

Ford to Add Jobs at Local Plants

Ford Motor Co. plans to invest up to $200 million to expand its Chicago Assembly Plant and Chicago Heights Stamping Plant and add upwards of 1,200 jobs between the two plants.

Gov. Pat Quinn last week said the automaker will add a third shift at the Assembly Plant in Chicago’s Hegewisch community, which makes the Taurus, Lincoln MKS and Explorer. The investment will allow the plant to produce new sedan and SUV police interceptors.

Ford will invest $117 million at the Assembly Plant and $86 million to upgrade the stamping plant, which makes body panels.

Crematorium OK’d for Homewood

Homewood has approved a special-use permit that will allow the Cremation Society of Illinois to build a crematorium at 17859 Bretz Drive. The society operates two other crematoriums in Romeoville and Rockford.

Annual Legislative Breakfast


 The Southland Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Legislative Breakfast on Friday, Oct. 28, from 8-10 a.m. at The Horton Group, 10320 Orland Parkway in Orland Park. For information, call 708-957-6950 or visit their website at http://www.chicagosouthland.com/.