Potsy's Pizza, Ruby Tuesday Close

Potsy's Pizza in Tinley Park closed last week.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Tinley Park pizza lovers have one less place to choose from with the closing last week of Potsy’s Pizza at 16661 S. 80th Avenue.

Calls to Potsy’s are being forwarded to Salina’s over on 175th Street, which bought the rights to the phone number. Owner Neal Hummitsch said Salina's is now making "cheese nugget pizza" that Potsy's Pizza promoted. It's a kind of pan pizza with garlic butter and mozzarella.

Ruby Tuesday Closes in Orland
Orland Square Mall Christmas shoppers hoping for something to eat or drink at Ruby Tuesday will be disappointed now that the restaurant has closed abruptly.

According to a message on the mall’s Facebook page, Ruby Tuesday closed Dec. 9 without advance notice.

Meredith Hammond, a spokeswoman for Ruby Tuesday, said the restaurant closed Dec. 8 because the franchisee was not renewing the lease. She did not know the franchisee’s name.

In 2009, the franchisee was Peoria-based R.T. Midwest Holdings LLC, which appears to have gone out of business. That same year, Simon Property Group, which owns Orland Square Mall, sued Ruby Tuesday for $69,000 in back rent.

The closest Ruby Tuesday to Orland Park is now in Bourbonnais, according to the company’s website.

Gas Stations Rebranded
The deal for Circle K to acquire the Jewel Express gas stations and convenience stores in the Chicago-area has closed and the stations on 159th Street and Wolf Road in Orland Park are now sporting Shell gas signs and the stores have been rebranded as Circle K.

Synergy Salon Closes
Synergy Hair Design has apparently closed at 11310 Southwest Highway in Orland Park. Its website is still up but the phone number has been disconnected.

Main Street Relocations
Orland Park trustees this month approved more than $400,000 in relocation payments for three businesses related to the upcoming closing of Orland Plaza at 143rd Street and LaGrange Road.

Orland Park Bakery, which is moving in January to the Dania plaza at 14250 S. Ravinia Ave., will receive $196,519. Frontier Construction, which is moving to Willowbrook, will receive $63,345. Lang Lee II, a Chinese restaurant that closed that may not reopen, will receive $219,739.

The biggest loss will be if Lang Lee II doesn’t reopen. My wife loved their chicken wings.

Charter Fitness 5th Annual Toy Drive
Charter Fitness centers in the Southland are accepting new and unwrapped toys through Tuesday that will be distributed through local charities including Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army and Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn.

"Anybody is encouraged to drop off toys at a Charter Fitness near them. There are a lot of children in need in our communities. We want to help them have the best holiday possible," said Dan Collins, Director of Sales.

Marquette Bank Donates Winter Coats
Marquette Bank recently held its Neighborhood Coat and Clothing Drive, an employee-driven effort to collect coats and clothing to give to local organizations.

Throughout September and October, employees donated more than 120 new or gently used coats and other clothing items. Employee volunteers then sorted all of the donated clothing and distributed them to five neighborhood organizations including: Englewood Cares in Chicago, Metropolitan Family Services in Chicago, Southwest PADS in Chicago, Supportive Services Development Corporation in Chicago and Together We Cope in Tinley Park.

Prior to distribution, all of the coats were dry-cleaned free of charge by Norman’s Cleaners.