Grand Appliance opens store in Southland

Grand Appliance & TV has moved into the former Grant's Appliance store in Orland Park. It is the chain's first store in the southern suburbs. (Photo by Bob Bong)

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy 

It didn't take long for northwest suburban Grand Appliance & TV to pounce once Grant's Appliance finished its liquidation sale earlier this year.

The Zion-based chain quickly moved to take over the space at 14740 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

"The company had been thinking about opening in Orland Park for a while and had had discussions with the plaza owner," said store manager Jeff Serr. "Orland was always Grant's top location. The traffic counts on LaGrange are off the charts."

As soon as Grant's was done for good, Grand swooped in and began renovating the space in February.

The 11,000-square-foot was gutted and renovated and held a soft opening last week under its Grand Appliance banner.

"We took everything down to the concrete," said Serr. "It was a tremendous investment."

It didn't take long for people to notice.

"We had seven people walk in today," said Serr. "We were thrilled."

Serr said the company was not concerned about ongoing construction on LaGrange.

"There is still plenty of traffic," he said. "The construction was not a deterrent."

There will be a grand opening later for the store, which is the chain's 18th location but its first in the southern suburbs. It has eight stores in Illinois, but the majority of stores is in Wisconsin.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Grand was founded in 1930 under the name Service Electric and while it sold appliances its main business was electrical supplies and light fixtures. 

After World War II, the company concentrated on home appliances because of the Baby Boom.

In 1966, then owner, Fred Reckling, moved the store to a bigger, more visible location on Grand Avenue in Waukegan. He also changed the name to Grand Appliance to signify the move and change in company focus.

The store in Waukegan remained Grand’s sole location until 1992 when current owner, Mark Reckling, convinced his father, Fred, to open a second location in Kenosha. 

For information, visit Grand Appliance & TV. 

LA Fitness opens in New Lenox

A new LA Fitness center opened recently in New Lenox as part of a six-acre retail center across the street from the Target and Lowe stores at U.S. 30 and Vancina Lane.

The 35,000-square-foot fitness center was the first of three planned buildings in the development. 

Also planned are two additional free-standing retail buildings. A 15,000-square-foot building is set to be built next to the LA Fitness and a 6,450-square-foot building in planned for an outlot parcel.

According to Carolyn Kostelny, InSite Managing Director, two other free-standing retail buildings are currently planned for the site — a 15,000-square-foot building adjacent to LA Fitness and a 6,450 SF two-tenant building on an outlot parcel. 

“This location is ideal for serving the high-growth communities of New Lenox, Mokena and Frankfort,” Carolyn Kostelny, managing director for the developer, InSite Real Estate LLC, said in a release. InSite also has plans to develop an adjacent 10-acre retail site. 

“Our central location and excellent access make New Lenox a natural location for regional shopping, entertainment and hospitality,” Robin Ellis, assistant administrator and community development director for the Village of New Lenox, said in a release.

Cooper's Hawk opens in Oak Lawn

Countryside-based Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant opened its eighth Illinois location last month at 4830 W. 111th St. in Oak Lawn's Stony Creek Promenade shopping center.

The chain opened the 11,000-square-foot Oak Lawn location in the shopping center at 111th and Cicero Avenue.

The new restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, and a large private dining room that can accommodate up to 275 guests.

Signature dishes at Cooper's Hawk include Ahi Tuna Tacos, Red Wine Braised Short Ribs, Shrimp Campanelle and Ooey Gooey Butter Cake.

It is the chain's 19th location nationwide. It opened its first location in Orland Park in 2005 and has since expanded to Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.

 “I’m thrilled to be opening our 19th location in Oak Lawn and feel privileged for the opportunity to extend the Cooper’s Hawk community in an area so close to where I grew up,” founder Tim McEnery, a south suburban native, said in a release.

Hours at the Oak Lawn location are from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to  10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

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.