Berkot’s Moving Into Lockport

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

My sister-in-law was beside herself when the Fairway Finer Foods store closed in Lockport a few weeks ago.She really, really liked their potato salad and brownies.

She should be happy to learn though that the Fairway store (formerly Sterk’s) at 500 Summit Drive is being converted into a Berkot’s Super Foods store.

There’s no timetable for opening the store, but workers are inside the building getting it ready for reopening sometime this summer.

Berkot’s is based in Mokena and has 12 supermarkets throughout northern and eastern Will County.

The chain is well-regarded for its meat department and has some of the best beer prices around.

 For more information, visit their website at Berkot's Super Foods.

As for Fairway, the Dolton-based supermarket chain still has two stores in Dolton and another (former Sterk’s) store in Sauk Village.

Fat Jonnie’s Daughter closes
The Fat Jonnie’s Daughter hot dog stand closed recently at 9432 W. 191st St. in Mokena. 

Puppy Shop closes in Palos
The Puppy Shop, which opened in December at 12226 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights, has closed already. Owner Abraham Ronces said problems with permits and unexpected problems with the store’s water heater would have been too costly to repair. The store sold puppies and offered grooming services, and Ronces had ambitious plans for the future. He still sells puppies and offers grooming from his original store in Berwyn.

Deal of the week: Free pizza at Speedway
Speedway gas stations that serve fresh pizza (and not all of them do) will be giving away a free slice from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 27. Limit of one slice to a customer.

Aldi to open Friday in Chicago Ridge

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

The Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall Aldi store is holding its grand opening at 10 a.m. Friday.

Grand opening events include the chance to win groceries for an entire year, the chance to win tickets to see Glee Live on Stage, and $10 gift certificates for every $100 you spend at your favorite mall stores all weekend. Just bring your receipts dated May 20-22 to the Concierge Center.

The Radio Disney AM 1300 Road Crew will be on hand beginning at noon Saturday. Live entertainment will be going on from noon to 4 p.m. all three days including live music, face painting and balloon artists.

The idea of a grocery store in a mall may seem new to younger generations but Jewel supermarkets were original tenants of both Ford City shopping center on the Southwest Side and River Oaks Mall in Calumet City when they both opened in the mid-1960s; though both left within a few years.

For more information, visit their website at http://www.aldifoods.com/ or click here.

Simply Smokin’ closes
Simply Smokin, the latest restaurant to try its luck at 10211 W. Lincoln Highway in Frankfort, is closed, the apparent victim of an eviction.

Frankfort police told the Frankfort Station newspaper that the owners of the restaurant were evicted a couple of weeks ago. The story indicated the restaurant’s furnishings were strewn about in front of the restaurant, which would be consistent with an eviction.

Funny thing is, when the restaurant opened last summer, the Daily Southtown reported that its operators were longtime owners of the property.

Another funny thing is that the property is listed for sale with a couple of local real estate companies. The asking price is $1.3 million and all of the listings say the owner is retiring.

The string of failures there is puzzling considering all of the traffic that Lincoln Highway gets.

Gas City stations are now Speedways
The 17 Gas City stations bought by Speedway at the bankruptcy auction last month were rebranded last week. Hope you used your Gold Card rewards because they didn’t carry over to Speedway’s Speedy Rewards program. There were 4 stations in Frankfort, 3 in Homer Glen, 2 in Mokena, 2 in New Lenox and single stores in Tinley Park, Shorewood, Oswego, Naperville, Romeoville and Darien. It doesn’t appear the new Speedways will carry E85 fuel. For more information, visit their website at http://www.speedway.com/.

Golden Rose opening at Chicago Ridge
Another store opening at Chicago Ridge Mall on Friday is Golden Rose USA cosmetics. The store will be across the way from Aldi. For more information, visit their website at http://www.goldenroseusa.com/ or visit their Facebook page.

Deal of the day
If you like buffets, here’s a deal. Go to Old Country Buffet’s Facebook page and click the “Like” button. You will be able to print a coupon good for one free dinner buffet with the purchase of another dinner buffet and a beverage. The coupon is good through Wednesday night.

Five Below store for tweens and teens opens in Orland Hills

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A new kind of dollar store aimed at the preteen and teen crowd opened in 10 locations in Chicagoland on Friday including stores at the Orland Town Center at 159th Street and 94th Avenue.

Grand opening promotions included nickel hot dogs, free T-shirts and a shopping spree.

Five Below carries merchandise ranging from fashions to consumer electronics to candy and snacks, all priced from $1 to $5.

The chain, which had 145 stores in 13 states mostly on the East Coast, is preparing a second wave of openings this summer including a store at 191st Street and Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park’s Brookside Marketplace.

Store hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For information, call the Orland store at 708-403-2185 or visit the website at http://www.fivebelow.com/. The chain also has a Facebook page.

Gas station face-liftThe Clark gas station at 16836 Oak Park Ave. is being rebranded as a Marathon station. The station is closed while signage is changed and the station undergoes a brief remodel.

Deal of the weekThis may not appeal to everybody, but comic book lovers can get free comic books on Saturday at Amazing Fantasy Books & Comics stores in Frankfort, Tinley Park, Calumet City and Lockport. The giveaway runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or as long as supplies last. In past years, the stores have had appearances by costume characters and autograph sessions by comic book authors and artists. For more information, visit http://www.afbooks.com/.