Andy's Frozen Custard adds two locations

Andy's Frozen Custard is constructing its third location in the Southland in Burbank.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Although it has taken much longer than originally expected, Andy's Frozen Custard expects to open on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 5745 S. LaGrange Road in Countryside.

Village officials said all that remains are final touches on the project that includes light poles installations and small interior finishes. 

The Missouri-based company had hoped to be open by May.

Andy's also just broke ground on another location near 79th Street and Harlem Avenue in Burbank. The company had hoped to break ground on that site in April.

“The South Side works for us,” company President Andy Kuntz said earlier this year when announcing the new locations. “These two locations will help our brand awareness.”

The company entered the south suburban market three years ago when it opened a location near 95th Street on Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn that has been hugely successful.

Each location will employ about 25 people and feature a giant ice cream cone that rotates outside of the store.

The new sites will be the company’s fourth and fifth in Illinois. A location at Block 37 in downtown Chicago closed last year.

Andy's Frozen Custard started in Osage Beach, Mo., in 1986 and later expanded throughout the state of Missouri. 

Andy's then expanded into Arkansas, Texas, and now Illinois. 

Ralph's Italian Eatery shuts down in Orland Park

The restaurant inside the Riviera Country Club at 8801 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park, which in September changed its name from Pompei Little Italy to Davino's and then quickly changed it again to Ralph's, closed after New Year's.

An employee at Riviera said she knew it closed but didn't know of any reason.

"They weren't affiliated with us, they rented the restaurant space," she said.

A manager at the restaurant chain's main location, Pompei Taylor Street in Chicago, said he didn't know the Orland Park location had closed.

"I'm the last one to know anything," he said. "(Owner Ralph Davino) must have just decided to close that location."

The restaurant closed for a couple of weeks in September to tweak its menu and do a little remodeling, supervisor Kelly Voris said at the time. After reopening, it was open only for dinner from 4-10 p.m. and closed Monday and Tuesday.

Voris said a new Pompei Little Italy would be opening soon in Westmont.

Turk's Beef closes in Orland Park

Turk's Italian Beef & Sausage closed at the end of November after 18 years at 14600 S. LaGrange Road. 

The owners said on the restaurant's Facebook page that they closed because of the coming LaGrange widening project that started this summer and is expected to continue for another two or three years.

Fans of the family-owned fast-food restaurant are in luck, however, because Turk has moved his beef operation to Sam's Triple Crown restaurant and off-track betting parlor at 9201 W. 159th St. in Orland Hills. 

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.