Ross Dress for Less to Open in Calumet City, Bolingbrook

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Ross Dress for Less, a discount apparel and home fashion chain, will open two new stores this weekend in Bolingbrook and Calumet City.

California-based Ross entered the Chicago market last fall when it opened a dozen stores including locations in Matteson and Orland Park.

Ross stores typically carry brand name products priced 20 percent to 60 percent less than at department and specialty stores.

The stores are located at Bolingbrook’s Maple Park Place and Calumet City’s Calumet Center, 480 River Oaks West.

The stores open at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 3. From Saturday through Sunday, March 11, each store is offering shoppers a chance to win a $500 shopping spree or one of five $100 shopping sprees.

“We started in California and are working are way east,” said Mary Walter, senior vice president of stores, during last year’s opening in Orland Park. “Customers in Chicago will respond to our great products at great prices."

Walter said Ross has more than 1,000 stores in 27 states. Each store employs about 50 associates.

Store hours will be Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

As part of the grand opening ceremonies, Ross will make a donation of $1,000 each to the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs and the George Werden Buck Boys & Girls Club.

For information, call the Bolingbrook store at 630-378-2022, the Calumet City store at 708-832-2593 or visit http://www.rossstores.com/.

Chicago Ridge Mall Welcomes 2 Back
Gloria Jean’s Coffee recently reopened at Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall in the Aldi Court and The Children’s Place reopened earlier this month after being closed for a couple of weeks for remodeling.

Clock Tower Gifts Closes
Clock Tower Gifts closed last month at 18700 S. Wolf Road in Mokena almost five years to the day it opened in 2007 in the retail center.

Eatery Closes at River Oaks
Smokey’s Rib Shack closed recently at River Oaks Mall in Calumet City.

Plush Horse Coming to Tinley Park

Plush Horse is coming to Tinley Park next month.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Palos Park’s Plush Horse Ice Cream & Coffee Shop, considered by many to have the best ice cream in the southwest suburbs, is opening a second location at 7903 W. 171st St. in the Tinley Downs plaza in Tinley Park.

Steve Rydberg, son of owner Ann Rydberg, said he is hoping the new location will be ready by mid-March.

“Mom wanted to give it a try,” he said of the second location, which will feature the same sweet treats as the Palos Park location. “We will have cupcakes and candy, as well.”

Rydberg now works downtown at a bank but grew up working at the Palos Park location.

“I helped make the ice cream,” he said. His favorite flavor? “I really like chocolate peanut butter.”

Rydberg said the new location will continue to be a family affair with relatives and his wife Mary Ellen Rydberg helping staff the new location.

For information, call 708-444-1800.

New York & Co. Remodeling

New York & Co. at Orland Square Mall will be closed for the next couple of months as the store undergoes remodeling. The mall expects the store to reopen in about 60 days. A number of stores are sprucing up at the same time the mall is undergoing an overdue face-lift.

Francesca’s to Host Chamber Event

Francesca’s Vicinato, 12960 S. LaGrange Road in Palos Park, is hosting a Business After Hours from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, for members of the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce. RSVP to 708-349-2972 or http://www.orlandparkchamber.org/.

Sign Up for Brew and Vine Festival

The third annual Tinley Park Brew and Vine Festival will run from 2-11 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at the Tinley Park Convention Center. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available.

The event will showcase popular brewers and wineries with an extensive list of diverse wines and craft beers. The Tinley Park Brew and Vine Festival offers tastings for both fine wines and craft beers, as well as gourmet foods.

Admission to the festival includes wine, beer and food tastings, a commemorative wine or beer glass, and access to the event.

For information, visit http://www.tinleyparkbrewandvinefest.com/.

Oak Lawn Kmart to Close

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

The Kmart at 11000 S. Cicero Ave. in Oak Lawn has been added to the list of stores being closed by Sears Holdings Corp. No closing date was announced. Kmart also operates a store at 4101 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn.

It is the first store in the Southland to be designated for closing since Sears Holdings announced last year that it would close between 100 and 120 underperforming stores.

Sears Holdings, which posted a $2.4 billion fourth quarter loss on Thursday, also said it would sell off its Outlet store division – including a store that recently opened in Tinley Park and a store in Bridgeview – and certain hardware stores. There are standalone Sears Hardware stores in Orland Park and Alsip.

Corn Product Wants New Name

Corn Products International, which operates a factory in Bedford Park with a distinctive smell of burning corn, will ask its shareholders in May to change the company’s name to Ingredion. Smellion might be a better name considering the odors that come out of that plant.

Southgate Pharmacy Closes in Homewood

Southgate Pharmacy filled its last prescription on Valentine’s Day as the longtime store in Homewood shut down. The store was one of three opened in 1956 by the Skoniecke family. It was the last one to close.

Tinley Park Tobacco Closes

Tinley Park Tobacco at 7921 W. 171st St. in Tinley Park closed recently.

Free Pancakes at IHOP

Celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP next Tuesday with a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. The chain asks that you consider leaving a donation for charity. In the Southland, IHOP restaurants can be found in Orland Park, Matteson, Crestwood, Lansing, Ford City Mall, Bridgeview, Bolingbrook and Bourbonnais. For information, visit http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/.