Applebee’s closing Southland locations

Applebee's is expected to close at least eight restaurants next month including this one on LaGrange Road in Mokena.

By Bob Bong
 Southland Savvy

Applebee’s restaurants in Homewood, Mokena and Tinley Park are among eight expected to close next month as part of a bankruptcy involving their franchise owner.

The casual-dining chain has 33 locations in the Chicago area and all are owned and operated by AppleIllinois LLC, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month in the Eastern District of Kentucky.

In court filings, AppleIllinois said it expects to sell 15 of the restaurants for $2.4 million to RMH Illinois LLC as part of an auction supervised by the U.S. bankruptcy court. No specific locations were mentioned in court documents.

The eight slated for closure are among 18 that are expected to go on the auction block no later than June 10. No buyer has been identified for the 18 locations but the franchisee indicated there was interest in at least some of them.

A spokesman for AppleIllinois told the Tribune that additional locations may close after the auction.   

Applebee’s has 2,000 U.S. restaurants, of which all but two dozen are owned by independent business owners.

Also expected to close are restaurants in Geneva, Palatine, Romeoville, Schaumburg and Streamwood.

Because of the uncertainty, AppleIllinois has informed the state of potential layoffs totaling more than 1,700 in Cook, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, DuPage, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.

“They notified employees at all 33 restaurants,” AppleIllinois spokesman Dan Smith told the Tribune.

Layoffs will begin June 22 and be completed by July 6, according to court documents.

The chain also has Southland locations in Matteson, Country Club Hills, Crestwood, Calumet City, Evergreen Park, Hodgkins, Chicago and Joliet.

Locations in northwest Indiana are not affected by the bankruptcy.

Sherwin-Williams opens in New Lenox

A new Sherwin-Williams paint store opened last week at 1060 E. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox.

Hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The store is managed by Megan Campbell.

For information, call 815-463-8990 or visit Sherwin-Williamsonline.

Siam Marina closes this week

Unless they get another extension on their lease, Siam Marina will be closing its Calumet City location in River Oaks Mall on Wednesday.

The popular Asian fusion seafood restaurant will be moving into new digs at 16846 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park sometime this summer. It has already had its lease in Cal City extended a couple of times.

The restaurant combines Thai, Vietnamese and other Asian cuisines together with a seafood theme.

Owners are executive chef Tammy Pham, who grew up in Saigon, and her husband Sapion Chung, who was born in the United States and who manages the restaurant.

They also own Asparagus, an Asian fusion and vegetarian restaurant, in Merrillville, Ind.

Evergreen Menards kicks off grand opening

The Evergreen Park Menards grand opening celebration will run through May 19 at 9100 S. Western Ave. Scheduled events and appearances include:

• John Cage, chainsaw carver, daily demonstrations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 11 through May 14.
• Dan Hampton, legendary Chicago Bears player, from 6-8 p.m. May 13.
• Otis Wilson, legendary Chicago Bears player, from 6-8 p.m. May 15.
• Jack McDowall, 1993 Cy Young winner for the Chicago White Sox, from 6-8 p.m. May 16.
• Paul Menard’s 2011 Indy Brickyard No. 27 car and Matt Crafton’s No. 88 truck, from noon to 8 p.m., May 13-15
• Matt Crafton, NASCAR truck series driver, Menards-sponsored Toyota Tundra No. 88, 5-7 p.m. May 14.
• Mr. Clean from noon to 5 p.m. May 18.

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.com.