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| An OTB is proposed for the former Hertz dealership at 9201 W. 159th St. in Orland Hills. |
By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy
The Illinois Racing Board is expected to approve next week a license for Arlington Park to open an off-track betting parlor at 9201 W. 159th St. in Orland Hills.
“The site totally fits the parameters for an OTB license by the Illinois Racing Board,” said Orland Hills Village Administrator John Daly. “I don’t see how the license couldn’t be approved.”
Orland Hills has been talking about placing an OTB in the village for the past decade.
“We have long embraced the opportunity for an OTB to offset the need to increase property taxes,” said Daly.
If approved, the Trackside OTB would be located in the former Hertz lot on 159th Street. The building would be remodeled into a pub and grill operated by Sam LaRocco, who operates an Arlington Park Trackside OTB inside his Fat Sam’s location in Lockport.
“We plan to keep it similar to Lockport,” LaRocco said. “We’ll have a few more TVs for the horses.”
The Orland Hills location would be slightly smaller than the Lockport Fat Sam’s.
As for the Orland Park Fat Sam’s, which is only a few blocks west of the 159th Street site?
“The Orland Park Fat Sam’s isn’t going anywhere,” LaRocco said. “The new place will have a kitchen and draw an older crowd than Fat Sam’s with its dancing and beer garden.”
LaRocco said he’s thinking of calling the new venture Triple Crown, a horseracing term that refers to the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
LaRocco said once the license is approved he will hit the ground running to get the establishment open.
“I’d like to be open for the Super Bowl, but I don’t think we could get it done that fast,” he said. The Super Bowl will be played the first week of February next year.
The closest OTB to Orland Hills is one operated by Inter-Track Partners – owned by the Hawthorne, Maywood and Balmoral horse tracks – at Stoney Point Grille in Mokena. Inter-Track also operates an OTB in Crestwood.
An OTB in Tinley Park left town a couple of years ago when Bud’s sports bar pulled up stakes and relocated to a western suburb.
The Illinois Racing Board will consider Arlington’s application on Dec. 20. Daly said he would attend the meeting.
Fudgi Island Cookies Crumbles
The Fudgi Island Cookie Co. closed recently at 17133 S. 88th Avenue in Tinley Park. The sweet shop opened in October 2009 and sold ice cream as well as its unique Fudgi Island cookies. The phone number has been disconnected and its website has been taken down.
In fact, the Chase Commons Retail Center where Fudgi Island was located is completely empty, a rarity even in these tough times.
Sears Outlet to Open Friday
The new Sears Outlet store is expected to open at 9 a.m. Friday at 16040 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park. The 24,000 square foot store is in the former Bally Fitness center. The store will carry its usual line of discontinued, used, scratched and dented merchandise as well as new merchandise.
Hours will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
The phone number is 708-429-9428.
Marquette Bank Names Manager
Barbara Langnes has recently been named manager of Marquette Bank’s two Orland Park locations, 9612 W. 143rd St. and 9533 W. 143rd St.
Tinley Chamber, Mainstreet Association Holiday PartyThe Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce and Oak Park Avenue Mainstreet Association are co-hosting a holiday party on Thursday, Dec. 15, from 6-11 p.m. at VFW Post 2791, 17147 S. Oak Park Ave.
Cost is $30 per person for a five-hour open bar, dinner buffet and entertainment.
RSVP by today to info@tinleychamber.org or 708-532-5700.
Call One Grand OpeningCall One will celebrate the opening of its new office at 11524 W. 183rd St. in Orland Park with a ribbon cutting at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14.
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