Frank Thomas to Promote Big Hurt Beer at Durbin's, Beer and Vine Fest

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Former White Sox slugger Frank Thomas will be visiting Durbin’s locations this week and the Tinley Park Beer and Vine Fest on Saturday to promote his Big Hurt Beer.

Thomas, who was known as the Big Hurt while a player, will be at the Tinley Park location tonight at 6:30 p.m. and at the Midlothian Durbin’s at 8 p.m., the Palos Hills Durbin’s at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the Evergreen Park Durbin’s at 6:30 p.m. Friday and the Burbank location at 8 p.m. Friday, and the Frankfort Durbin’s at 7 p.m. Saturday. He’ll be at the Beer and Vine Fest in Tinley Park from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday.

Tenant Found for Tinley Distribution Center

Bedford Park-based M. Block & Sons, which is the leading distributor of consumer products to retailers throughout the United States, according to its website, will be moving in to the Tinley Park Corporate Center at Oak Park Avenue and Prosperi Drive in Tinley Park.

The 915,000 square foot distribution center has never been occupied since it was built back in 2008.

The deal was announced last week by commercial real estate firm CBRE Group.

Tinley Economic Development Director Ivan Baker said some tenant build out would be required because the building was never finished in 2008.

As part of the deal, Tinley Park is going to prohibit parking on Prosperi Drive east of Oak Park Avenue so trucks using the warehouse will not have to negotiate parked cars.

CBRE said M. Block & Sons would be moving in sometime in June.

M. Block said its vendor partners include Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and their Keurig single serve coffee division, Proctor & Gamble, Kraft, Sensio, Tristar Products Inc., Applica Inc., Jarden Consumer Solutions, Blue Avocado, and Arc International. Major retail accounts include Bed Bath and Beyond, Walmart, Target, JC Penney, Macy's, Costco, Kohl's and other leading home retailers. M. Block manages distribution centers in Redlands, Calif., and Bedford Park.

Cicero Avenue Construction Projects

The Illinois Department of Transportation has started resurfacing Cicero Avenue from 95th Street to 127th Street and from 147th Street to 175th Street.

Milling and resurfacing work began Monday and is scheduled to end on Sept. 7. There will be intermittent lane closures in Oak Lawn, Alsip, Midlothian, Oak Forest and Country Club Hills.

Cicero already is reduced to one lane in each direction for bridge work at the Cal-Sag Channel just south of 127th Street. That project is expected to last through August.

There will be additional lane closures when work begins later this spring on the CSX Railroad overpass just south of 115th Street. That project is expected to last until mid-July.

IDOT reminds motorists to anticipate delays and allow extra time for trips through these areas.

Dunkin’ is Hiring in Indiana

Dunkin’ Donuts is holding a Career Fair tomorrow from 1-4 p.m. at its Merrillville, Ind., location at 2050 W. 81st Avenue.

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at http://www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com/.