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| Dotty's has signed leases in 13 communities including Oak Forest. |
Southland Savvy
A Naperville-based chain of cafes has big plans for video gaming in Illinois.
Dotty’s, which got its start in 1992 in Nevada, has a unique
approach to video gaming.
Dotty’s CEO Dan Fischer plans to open at least 150 “warm,
cozy and inviting cafes” equipped with video gaming machines as opposed to dark
bars that are the usual location for machines in Illinois.
“We cater to women,” he said. “They like to play at Dotty’s
because of the atmosphere. It’s nothing like a regular bar.
“Our locations are small, about 1,500 square feet,” he said.
“They will have liquor licenses but our emphasis will be more grandma’s kitchen
than tavern.”
Fischer, who hails from Minnesota, last year moved his base
of operations to Naperville from Las Vegas.
“I’m a Midwesterner,” he said.
So far, Dotty’s has 13 leases signed, including locations in
Lemont, Crestwood, Midlothian, Worth, Oak Forest, Matteson, Alsip, Country Club
Hills, Blue Island, Joliet, Dolton, Romeoville and Lyons.
“We’re negotiating another 75-80 leases,” he said. “I come
in and tell the town fathers, ‘We don’t compete with any businesses in your
town. We’re a new niche’.”
The first Dotty’s will open this summer, he said. “I’m
guessing Lemont will be the first one to go live.”
Two towns that you won’t see on Dotty’s list are Orland Park
and Tinley Park, which have both voted to keep out the gaming machines.
But that doesn’t deter Fischer.
“I believe that every town in Illinois will eventually break
down and allow the machines,” he said. “When they do, I’ll be ready.”
Illness forces
closing of Frankfort Meats
A recent stroke suffered by owner Tom Fetherling has led to
the closing of Frankfort Meats and Deli in downtown Frankfort’s Trolley Barn.
The store, which has been providing meats for more than
three decades, will close for the last time on Sunday.
"Thank you for all of your business & years of
friendship," is part of the closing message written on a sign in front of
the store. The sign also encourages customers to come in and leave contact
information.
For information, call the store at 815-469-1145.
Sweet Annie’s reopens in
Flossmoor
After some initial indecision on whether to move from Flossmoor to
Homewood, Sweet Annie’s bakery stayed in town but moved into new and bigger
quarters at 1050 Sterling Ave.
The bakery opened its door on June 11 less than two weeks after closing
its original location that owner Anne Aboushouna opened five years ago.
The bakery now shares space with Drew’s Coffee, a coffee shop modeled
on a French café.
Hours at the new location are from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through
Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Texas steakhouse opens in Oak
Lawn
Texas Corral, a small steakhouse chain based in northwest Indiana and
modeled on the honky tonk Western theme of the highly successful Texas Roadhouse
chain of restaurants right down to the peanuts on the floor, held its soft
opening this week in the former Leona’s restaurant at 6616 W. 95th St.
in Oak Lawn.
The Oak Lawn location is the ninth for the chain and its first in
Illinois. There are six in Indiana, including its flagship location in Highland,
and two in Michigan.
The steakhouse is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday
and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
This is the second go-round as a steakhouse for this location. The
building was the home to Regency Steak House years ago.
For information, call 708-459-8761.
You can also follow business happenings at Comings & Going.
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