Sno Daze Tropical Sno to open Saturday

Sno Daze Tropical Snow opens Saturday. All customers will get a free 8-ounce serving.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy


A new business that will help its customers beat the heat is expected to open on Saturday at 7777 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview.

Sno Daze Tropical Sno is owned by Ed and Danielle Reinhart, both of Bridgeview, and features Hawaiian shaved ice that comes in 40 regular flavors, such as apple, watermelon and cantaloupe, and another 40 that can be concocted by mixing flavors.

“One of the most popular mixed flavors is Tiger’s Blood,” said Danielle Reinhart describing a combination of strawberry and coconut.

Reinhart said opening a Tropical Sno franchise had been a dream of her husband’s since 2007 and the opportunity finally presented itself.

She said the shop will be open for carry-outs only and will be open from Saturday through the early fall.

“I anticipate we’ll be open through Columbus Day,” she said.

She said all customers on opening day will receive a free 8-ounce serving.

The seasonal business will be open from 2-10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, from 2-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 2-9 p.m. on Sunday.

Sports Clips opens Friday

Sports Clips will celebrate its grand opening at noon Friday, May 31, at 13133 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

The barber shop features a sports theme and caters to men and boys. The shop is owned by Susan Dust and is located across the street from Sandburg High School.

The shop is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

For information, call 708-448-1600 or visit Sports Clips.

Cloud Tobacco opens in Orland Park

A new tobacco shop called Cloud Tobacco opened its doors recently at 14478 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

The 1,200-square-foot shop sells a long line of tobacco products ranging from cigarettes to hookah pipes, said Mousa Jaber, a sales associate at the store and a member of the Orland Park family that owns the business.

“We have hookah pipes and hookah tobacco,” said Jaber. “Our cigars are kept in a walk-in humidor, and we have loose tobacco and rolling papers.”

Jaber said accessories sold at the shop include lighters and e-cigarettes, which emit a nicotine vapor instead of smoke.

Jaber said the shop is not a smoking lounge so smoking is not permitted inside the store.

Jaber said the shop is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

For information, call the shop at 708-403-8814 or check out their Facebook page.

Brookfield farmers market starts June 1

The Brookfield farmers market kicks off Saturday, June 1, and will continue from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays through Oct. 26.

The market features fresh roasted coffee, pastries, organic veggies, meats and cheeses.

The market sets up on the west side of the Brookfield Village Hall at 8820 Brookfield Ave.

Another area farmers market is held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays until Oct. 24 in the parking lot behind the LaGrange Village Hall at 53 S. LaGrange Road.

The market features fresh fruits, veggies, and other treats from local farmers and vendors.

Suburban home sales surge in April

Sales of single-family, detached homes in suburban Chicago increased 33.2 percent in April 2013 compared with the same period a year ago, according to statistics released by the Mainstree Organization of Realtors.  

Mainstreet’s region – which includes about 200 communities in DuPage, Lake and suburban Cook counties – experienced notable sales gains last month, as reflected in information provided by Midwest Real Estate Data LLC. 

"Word about the activity in the market is getting around," said Tonya Corder, president of Mainstreet and managing broker of Keller Williams Preferred Realty in Orland Park. "I think people who had been sitting on the sidelines are starting to realize that the market is accelerating. With today's low interest rates and affordable home prices, if you are a buyer, your opportunity is now."

The momentum is expected to continue as the number of detached homes under contract in April grew by 45 percent in those same communities.

The median sale price for detached homes also increased 5.5 percent from the previous April.

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