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| The annual Country Market returns on Sunday to downtown Frankfort. |
Southland Savvy
Fans of farmer’s markets can get an early start on the season this weekend when Mokena and Frankfort bring back their respective outdoor marketplaces.
First up on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be the new Mokena Downtown Farmer’s Market, which is replacing the old French Market.
The new Downtown Farmer’s Market is the brainchild of Tony Dina, Charlene Bergman and Barbara Bergman who wanted something new that might help the merchants on Front Street.
The new market has moved out of the Metra parking lot and instead will fill Front Street from Chase Bank east to Mokena Bank, said Dina.
“Hopefully, we will encourage some foot traffic for the businesses on Front Street,” he said. “The French Market didn’t do anything for the merchants. People would park in the lot, visit the market and leave.”
Dina said the idea for the new market came together very quickly and with the village’s blessing, and is being done on a shoestring budget.
Response, so far, has been good, he said.
“We will have more than 15 vendors,” he said Friday. “We’ve had some call up today that want to be here tomorrow.”
“We’ll have two musical entertainment areas, and hope to offer entertainment every weekend,” he said. “Later on, we’ll have demonstrations, like the Fire Department showing how to do CPR.”
He said the Farmer’s Market would set aside space for civic groups such as the Boy Scouts to showcase their group or promote a special event.
Dina sees the market growing, too.
“I know we’ll have some vendors in the crowd checking us out to see if they want to become part of the market,” he said.
Dina said there will be a ribbon-cutting grand opening of the new market in the next couple of weeks with Mayor Joe Werner.
For information on the market, call Dina at 708-525-0733, Charlene Bergman at 708-479-2706 or Barbara Bergman at 708-479-6182. You can also visit the Facebook page for the new Mokena Downtown Merchants Association.
Next up on Sunday will be the return of the Frankfort Country Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Frankfort.
This year’s market has its traditional site in the Breidert Green parking lot as well as additional space for vendors around the corner in a renovated Fra-Milco Cabinet Co. Parking lot. There are also new vendors coming this season.
For a map of the new layout and a list of new vendors, check out this story by Joe Vince, editor at the Frankfort Patch.
Smokin’ in Orland Park
Smokehouse, a restaurant that features burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and like fare, opened three weeks ago at 15020 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.
Owned by Brian and Mary Yates, Smokehouse also will feature smoked chicken and ribs once some equipment issues have been fixed.
“I think we’ll have smoked chicken and ribs back on the menu by next week,” he said Friday.
Hours for Smokehouse are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The eatery is closed on Sunday.
“I need a day off once in a while,” Yates said with a laugh.
He decided to open the restaurant after retiring from the Evergreen Park Police Department.
Why Orland Park?
“I kinda like it out here,” he said. “The area has a little bit of everything.”
For information, call 708-403-9500.
Tom’s Closing in Homewood
This is the last weekend to enjoy a meal at Tom’s Restaurant at 1944 Ridge Road in Homewood. Longtime owner Tom Kataras is retiring after 65 years in the restaurant business and the eatery will close for the last time at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 1.
I’d expect long lines as fans of the popular restaurant make a final visit between now and Tuesday.
Bloomin' Again
Every Bloomin’ Thing has reopened at 7648 W. 159th St. in Orland Park after its winter break.
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 www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.
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