Starbucks opens in Lansing

Starbucks is now open in Lansing. (Photo by Bob Bong)

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

Starbucks opened its newest standalone store in the south suburbs last month in Lansing.

The new store is at 18007 Torrence Avenue, at the intersection with Thornton-Lansing Road. The site was the former home of Artlynn Photography. That building and a few others to the north including Rosemoor Funeral Home were torn down and the land cleared for development.

The developer is Glazier Corporation, which developed a similar Starbucks at the corner of 103rd Street and Harlem Avenue in Chicago Ridge in 2019.

Glazier is not done in Lansing. There are plans to bring in a Taco Bell to the north of the Starbucks and a Chipotle across the street on Torrence, next to Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop.

The new Starbucks is accessible from both Torrence and Thornton-Lansing Road. The shop has a drive-thru. 

The building is a typical Starbucks with a dozen tables, free Wi-Fi and a small outdoor patio.

Although a date for a grand opening and ribbon cutting has not yet been set, the store will be hosting a promotion on Thursday, November 17, when 400 red reusable Starbucks cups will be given away while supplies last.

Hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Pizza Castle moves from Gage Park to new home in Hickory Hills

Co-owner Rich Jensen cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of Pizza Castle's new home in Hickory Hills.

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

After almost five decades of serving pizzas from a small storefront in Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood, Pizza Castle co-owner Richard Jensen had an opportunity to move into a bigger space and he jumped at the chance.

So, Jensen packed up the family business and made the move a few miles south to Hickory Hills. 

Pizza Castle held a grand opening November 17 at their new location at 7737 W. 95th St. in the Ricky Rockets plaza.

Rich Jensen and Kathy Jensen.

“The best news,” Jensen said. “Was that the pizzas are the same.”

He was worried because the pizza oven that he had been using since taking over the business in 1973 was too big to make the move to the new location and he had to buy a new oven.

“It was a great oven,” he said hinting that someone might want to move in and start up a new pizzeria.

“The oven is key to making good pizza,” he said. “So far, people are happy.”

Pizza Castle was already the name of the pizzeria when his brother Paul bought the place.

“We talked about changing the name, but decided to leave it be,” he said.

Pizza Castle was and remains a family business. Jensen’s wife, Kathy, and his sons Erik, Rick and Kris are all part of the staff. Kris is also a North Palos firefighter.

Jensen said the new location is about three times the size of the Gage Park location. “We went from about 750 square feet to 2,200 square feet,” he said. “We now have a walk-in cooler. Ten tables for sit down service. And we have outdoor seating.”

The new place also comes with a seven-seat bar that will allow Pizza Castle to offer gaming machines, as soon as their license is approved.

“We’ll have four machines, but we needed a liquor license. We only will sell beer and wine.”

Pizza Castle features very thin crust pizza. It has two house specialties: The King Arthur has sausage, mushrooms, green pepper and onion; the Pie by Di has sausage, mushroom, pepperoni and jalapenos. Pizza sizes range from 10-inch to 18-inch.

But pizza isn’t all they do at Pizza Castle. The menu includes sandwiches, pasta, wings, calzones and shrimp.

In addition to the new dine-in option, Pizza Castle offers catering, delivery and take out. 

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

For more information, call 708-930-5600 or visit eatatpizzacastle.com.

They are still hiring, if interested.