Joey’s Red Hots to open Monday in Orland Hills

Joey’s Red Hots will open its seventh location on Monday at 9135 W. 159^th St. in Orland Hills. (Photo by Steve Neuhaus)

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

Co-owner Anthony Nardo is not one to miss an opportunity to expand the reach of the Joey’s Red Hots empire.

The Orland Park-based chain of restaurants has set Monday, February 26, as the opening date for its newest Joey’s location, in Orland Hills.

Nardo and his partner Nick Iozzo jumped quickly when the latest location at 9135 W. 159^th St. became available in October after Chicken-N-Spice closed.

“It was brought to our attention it was available and we fell in love with it,” Nardo said. “I think this location will do very well. It’s on 159^th Street.”

He said there was some remodeling. “We had to make it our own. Joey’s has a brand,” he said.

The newest Joey’s will be the second to offer a drive-thru. The first was the location in Riverdale, which opened in 2022. All locations offer carry-outs, dine-in and patio seating.

Orland Hills will feature a full menu, including pizza slices.

The chain will now have seven locations: the original site at 17400 S. Wolf Road in Orland Park, New Lenox, Crest Hill, Chicago’s Morgan Park community, Justice, Riverdale, and Orland Hills. Gaming machines are available where legal. The company also operates eight food trucks.

The restaurant will employ from six to eight employees.

Hours at the new location will be 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily to start. “We might stay open until midnight on weekends,” Nardo said.

For information, visit their website at joeysredhots.com, or check out their Facebook page at Joey’s Red Hots.

 

Will County's Hidden Oaks Nature Center to close for renovation

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook is about to be transformed, but the process will require the facility to be closed for most of the year starting Monday, Feb. 19. 

“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but promise to be an asset to the community and a great place to visit upon our grand reopening,” said Angie Trobaugh, facility supervisor at the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Hidden Oaks, which is located at 419 Trout Farm Road

Hidden Oaks Preserve also will close on occasion for outdoor renovations during the year, as necessary. The preserve renovations will not affect Hidden Lakes Trout Farm, which is in the northern part of the preserve. 

The interior and exterior work at Hidden Oaks Nature Center is designed to convert the former Bolingbrook Park District site, which was purchased by the Forest Preserve in February 2022, into a nature center tailored to Forest Preserve-type exhibits and activities. 

“This is a long time coming and very strategic on our part,” Trobaugh said. “We completed a conceptual design plan for the exhibits in 2023 and now we are really excited to see the plan come to life for the community.”

The project will include architectural changes to the interior of the building and new exhibits including: 

• Expansion of the reception and gift shop area.
• Conversion of the south existing classroom into an exhibit gallery.
• Replacement of the children’s bathroom with a program staging area.
• Updated rental space for the public featuring new paint, carpet, cabinets, doors, lighting and a wet bar. 
• A new shade structure outside. 
• An accessible path from the nature center to the nature playscape and the natural amphitheater. 

Once the interior of the building is renovated, exhibit work will provide new design features throughout the first floor and a new permanent live animal tank for the nature center’s resident turtles, Trobaugh said. Also, an elaborate indoor birdwatching lookout deck will be installed. This new feature promises to attract advanced birders and beginners alike.

“But the beloved oak tree in the center of the lobby will remain and receive a much-needed overhaul,” she added. “Once the work is completed, the nature center’s theme will be to explore Hidden Oaks to uncover surprising stories of local animals, plants and habitats. Both the construction and exhibit plans are robust and designed with all Will County residents in mind.”

While the theme will be exploration, the nature center's mission is to "ignite curiosity," she added. 

"The new and improved Hidden Oaks will encourage local community members to discover their natural world through interactive exhibits, educational programs, outdoor spaces and hands-on natural play," she explained. 

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

Just before midnight on February 7, a lucky Illinois Lottery player stopped into a convenience store in oak Lawn and hit the jackpot on Fast Play Twenty 20s, winning $902,096.

The ticket was purchased at 7-Eleven, located at 4501 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn.

The store will receive a selling bonus of 1 percent of the prize amount, or just over $9,000.

Twenty 20s is an Illinois Lottery progressive jackpot Fast Play game. The jackpot begins at $50,000 and grows with each ticket sold statewide -- in-store and online -- until the jackpot is won.

Already this month, the Fast Play Twenty 20s game has net Illinois Lottery players more than $1.48 million in prizes.

Fast Play is a quick and easy draw game that can be played at any time. There are no numbers to pick, no play slip to complete, no scratching, and no waiting for winning numbers. There are currently over 25 Fast Play games offered at various price points and play styles.

The Lottery announced Friday that a $90,000 Pick 4 ticket was also purchased in Oak Lawn on February 7. It was for 1-0-2-1 purchased for the Pick 4 evening draw. No sale location was announced.

Cook County Clerk seeks poll workers For Presidential Primary Election In March

Suburban voters can do their part for democracy and earn some cash in the process by registering to serve as an Election Judge for the Cook County Clerk’s Office in the March 19, 2024, Presidential Primary Election. 

Clerk Karen Yarbrough is encouraging all residents to consider serving as an Election Judge or Polling Place Technician to work on Election Day. 

The pay rate for poll workers has increased to $250 for Election Judges and $400 for Polling Place Technicians, and the Clerk’s Office provides training for both positions. 

The Clerk’s Office is also putting out a call to encourage high school and college students to consider serving as judges. 

“Our Judges are the gatekeepers for election operations and their work is critically important to keeping Election Day running smoothly,” said Yarbrough. “They are also the unsung heroes of our democratic process who provide a vital public service to voters leading up to and on Election Day.” 

The two poll worker positions available include: 

• Election Judge: These judges greet voters, sign them in, and work together to ensure the polling place is running smoothly and voters are properly served. This position earns $250. 

• Polling Place Technician: Technicians work with Election Judges to check supplies and equipment and assist with the setup, maintenance, and breakdown of election equipment. Due to the additional equipment responsibilities, Polling Place Technicians receive additional training and earn $400. 

Election Judges must be a registered Cook County voter or an eligible college or high school student (16 or older). The Clerk’s Office is also in need of bilingual Election Judges in many precincts with high concentrations of Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Tagalog, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Gujarati, Urdu, and Arabic-speaking voters who are not proficient in English and may need special assistance at the polls. 

Anyone who wishes to serve as an Election Judge is encouraged to apply online at cookcountyclerk.com/work.

Panda Express will be celebrating the grand opening of its newest location at 4801 W. 87^th St. in Oak Lawn with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, February 15, beginning at 9 a.m. (Supplied photo)

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Panda Express will be celebrating the grand opening of its newest location at 4801 W. 87^th St. in Oak Lawn with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, February 15, beginning at 9 a.m.

The first lucky 88 guests to receive a free Panda Express branded T-shirt.

The new location features an updated store design for the restaurant chain, known as Panda Home. The updated model incorporates design elements inspired by traditional Chinese architecture and traditions with modern motifs that tells the unique story of Panda Express. Panda recognizes consumer habits have changed over the last three years and to meet the needs of guests’ evolved lifestyles, the store design creates efficiencies for operators and diners to accommodate the increased demand for online ordering and drive-thru channels. 

“The opening of the new Panda Express location is an additional opportunity to give Oak Lawn residents access to enjoy their favorite American Chinese dishes,” the company said in a release. “We encourage everyone to stop by the restaurant to experience the new store design and taste Panda Express favorites, which are all freshly made with quality ingredients.”

The new Panda Express location offers Panda’s iconic dishes, including the world-famous The Original Orange Chicken, award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp and guest-favorite Broccoli Beef entrée. 

“Our entire Panda team is grateful to serve the Oak Lawn community by providing new jobs and supporting local organizations through fundraising opportunities,” said Nancy Diaz, Panda Express Area Coach of Operations. “We hope to be a lasting part of the community and welcome all guests into our doors to try our American Chinese favorites and discover their own.”    

In celebration of the upcoming Lunar New Year, guests who visit PandaLNY.com now until Feb. 10 may also play The Good Fortune Scratcher Game2 for a chance to win exciting prizes including an $888 Panda Express gift card, $88 Panda Express gift cards, $8 off any Family Meal, free egg rolls and more.    

Local store hours are Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (with drive-thru open until 10 p.m.); Friday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (with drive-thru open until 10:30 p.m.); Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (with drive-thru open until 10:30 p.m.)  

For more information on Panda Express, please visit Pandaexpress.com. 

Free Home Run Inn pizza

Home Run Inn, the family-owned pizza brand that has been dishing out pizzas in Chicago for more than 75 years, pays tribute to National Pizza Day on Friday, February 9.   Available at any one of its nine Chicagoland locations, for dine-in or carry out, guests will receive a free 12-inch frozen Classic Cheese or Sausage pizza (value $7.99 -10.99) with the purchase of any extra-large pizza (limit 2 free pizzas per guest).  

Home Run Inn is offering other specialty items for the month beginning on February 5, ranging from their chocolate swirled strawberry daiquiri to heart shaped pizzas to share A-Pizza your heart with your loved ones. 

“Home Run Inn is always looking to celebrate holidays with a fun twist,” says Gina Perrino Bolger, Senior Vice President of Home Run Inn and fourth generation family member.  

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

Bedford Park buys Southern Belle restaurant

Southern Belle's in Bedford Park has been purchased by the village. (Supplied photo)

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

Southern Belle’s restaurant in Bedford Park closed for the last time on Sunday after more than two decades at 6737 S. Archer Ave.

The village has a contract to purchase the site for $2.5 million. Closing is expected in the first quarter. 

Bedford Park Mayor Dave Brady said a plan to move the restaurant to 65th Street and Central Avenue didn’t work out because of the cost. 

Southern Belle’s restaurant in Bedford Park closed for the last time on Sunday after more than two decades at 6737 S. Archer Ave.

The village has a contract to purchase the site for $2.5 million. Closing is expected in the first quarter. 

Bedford Park Mayor Dave Brady said a plan to move the restaurant to 65th Street and Central Avenue didn’t work out because of the cost. 

Southern Belle’s still has locations in Yorkville, Barrington, Plainfield, and Carpentersville.

Brady said the Bedford Park building needs work.

Brady said village officials have discussed four possible options for the property. One would be building a courtroom and police training facility. Another would be turning it into an outdoor recreation facility such as a synthetic skating rink. A third option would be to beautify the property. Brady said the village could also turn around and sell the lot.

He also said the village board would consider other options, if they are proposed.

Brady said the village board was committed to upgrading the property and improving the southwest entrance to the village.

In a related move, Bedford Park late last year annexed a parcel of land near the restaurant that had been within Bridgeview boundaries until it was de-annexed.

Brady said the parcel was missed by both Bedford Park and Bridgeview when they did a land swap involving the former 3M property.

Wright’s Furniture closing

Wright’s Furniture Warehouse at 2936 Wireton Road in Blue Island is in the final weeks of its closing sale.

The store, which has been selling furniture in the south suburbs since 1980, is closing because its owners are retiring after more than 40 years.

The warehouse will close by March 6. The store is open Thursday to Sundays.

For more information, visit their website at wrightsfurniturewarehouse.com.