Oak Lawn Kmart to Close

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

The Kmart at 11000 S. Cicero Ave. in Oak Lawn has been added to the list of stores being closed by Sears Holdings Corp. No closing date was announced. Kmart also operates a store at 4101 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn.

It is the first store in the Southland to be designated for closing since Sears Holdings announced last year that it would close between 100 and 120 underperforming stores.

Sears Holdings, which posted a $2.4 billion fourth quarter loss on Thursday, also said it would sell off its Outlet store division – including a store that recently opened in Tinley Park and a store in Bridgeview – and certain hardware stores. There are standalone Sears Hardware stores in Orland Park and Alsip.

Corn Product Wants New Name

Corn Products International, which operates a factory in Bedford Park with a distinctive smell of burning corn, will ask its shareholders in May to change the company’s name to Ingredion. Smellion might be a better name considering the odors that come out of that plant.

Southgate Pharmacy Closes in Homewood

Southgate Pharmacy filled its last prescription on Valentine’s Day as the longtime store in Homewood shut down. The store was one of three opened in 1956 by the Skoniecke family. It was the last one to close.

Tinley Park Tobacco Closes

Tinley Park Tobacco at 7921 W. 171st St. in Tinley Park closed recently.

Free Pancakes at IHOP

Celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP next Tuesday with a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. The chain asks that you consider leaving a donation for charity. In the Southland, IHOP restaurants can be found in Orland Park, Matteson, Crestwood, Lansing, Ford City Mall, Bridgeview, Bolingbrook and Bourbonnais. For information, visit http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/.