Sears closing 47-year-old River Oaks store in Calumet City

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Sears will be the second anchor store to abandon River Oaks Mall in Calumet City when the retailer closes its store at the mall in June. Carsons pulled out of the mall earlier this year.

Sears was one of the original anchor stores when the mall opened in 1966 as an open-air mall. It put a roof on the plaza several years ago.

The retailer has slowly been pulling out of the Southland over the past several years. A store was shuttered years ago in Park Forest and the store at Lincoln Mall in Matteson was closed last year.

When it shuts its door for the last time next month, the retailer will have only its stores at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park, Chicago Ridge Mall in Chicago Ridge and Louis Joliet Mall in Joliet operating in the Southland.

The retailer also operates auto centers, hardware stores and outlet stores in several south suburbs including Tinley Park and Orland Park.

The River Oaks store is holding a liquidation sale.

UGN to expand Tinley headquarters

UGN, an international automotive parts supplier, has received incentives worth more than $50,000 from Tinley Park to expand its headquarters in the village.

The $300,000 expansion will be completed this fall and bring 104 jobs to Tinley Park.

The village is giving the company a property tax abatement, waiver of permit fees and a grant worth a total of $54,700.

The company has six plants in the United States, including a facility in Chicago Heights. It manufactures acoustic, interior trim and thermal management products for the auto industry.

Celtic Cottage closes

The Celtic Cottage, a gift shop with an Irish theme, closed at the end of April at 12244 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights.

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 follow business happenings at Comings & Goings.

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