Plato's Closet moves Orland Park store

Plato's Closet opened recently in the former Wolf Camera store at Orland Square Mall.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Plato's Closet, a consignment and resale shop for teens and young people, made its move earlier this month to new digs at 70 Orland Square Drive in the outer ring at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park

The store has the same hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Its phone number also is unchanged at 708-349-0800 and its website and Facebook page will not change with the move.

Messages and an email seeking comment were not returned.

Art Van Furniture expanding

Business has been booming since Art Van Furniture opened its first Chicago-area store last summer at 15080 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

Now the store has taken over the adjacent spot, formerly a Spree thrift shop, and is adding 15,500 square feet of space to the Orland location. The addition has an estimated cost of $ million.

Michigan-based Art Van Furniture has a distribution center in Bolingbrook and stores in Bedford Park, Chicago, Batavia, Woodbridge and Merrillville, Ind., with a new store coming soon to Downers Grove.

Superheroes to visit Culver's

Superheroes of all shapes and sizes will descend on the Culver's of Homewood at 850 W. 183rd St. and Tinley Park at 18248 Sayre Ave. to celebrate National Superhero Day on Monday, April 28.

Beginning at 5 p.m., children under the age of 12 will be encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero for a meet-and-greet with local police and fire personnel. Food specials will be available for any little one who comes dressed in costume. Kids who dress up will receive a coupon for a free Kid's Meal.

"It's our way of recognizing both our little and big superheroes, all under one roof," said Culver's owner Jack Rush. "We wouldn't be the brand we are today without all of our younger guests, and we also want to honor those who serve and protect our entire community."

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

Sears Hardware closing in Orland Park

Closing sales signs at the Sears Appliance and Hardware store at 7010 W. 159th St. in Orland Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy 

The Sears Appliance and Hardware store at 7010 W. 159th St. in Orland Park is holding a store closing sale as the retailer prepares to shut down the specialty store by April 30.

Employees said the sale was for that store only and that it would last until April 30 or they run out of inventory. They said they were notified of the closing in February.

The store typically carries merchandise found in Sears hardware and appliance departments including tools, grills, washers, dryers and refrigerators.

Calls to Sears for comment were not returned, but the closing is not expected to affect a Sears Outlet store a few blocks away at 159th Street and Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park nor the Sears store at Orland Square Mall at 151st Street and LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

Store hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

For information, call 708-429-6738.

Sanfratello's closes in Glenwood

The original location of Sanfratello's Pizza closed abruptly last week at 127 Main St. in Glenwood.

Sanfratello's opened in 1969 in a small home as a carry-out pizzeria and expanded over the years to include a dining room. It began franchising the name several years ago.

Sanfratello locations in Tinley Park, Highland, Ind., and Dyer, Ind., remain open.

Attempts to reach the owner were unsuccessful.

New AT&T dealer opens

A new authorized AT&T dealer location has opened at 1217 S. State St. in Lemont.

The 1,100-square-foot store will offer devices, accessories and services.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays,  from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

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 

SportStation closes in Tinley Park

The SportStation closed earlier this year at 7050 W. 171st St. in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A Tinley Park company that provided uniforms and sports gear for local teams and players for more than 20 years closed earlier this year and left many unsatisfied customers in its wake

The SportStation closed its retail store at 7050 W. 171st St. in February and posted a note on its Facebook page that it would continue as an online business.

Several customers, however, posted complaints on the SportStation Facebook page asking for information on orders that had been placed months earlier. Many of them were complaints, including one as recently as March 30, that requests for refunds continued to be ignored.

The company's phone number is out of service and an email request for comment Sunday was returned as undeliverable.

The company's website was still active as of Sunday night but its Facebook page was taken down Sunday afternoon after a request was posted asking one of the unsatisfied customers for comment.

Sandy's Sandwiches closes in Justice

Just about a year after Sandy's Sandwiches opened at 8350 S. Roberts Road in Justice amid promises of being the first of many such locations in the Chicago area, the sandwich shop has closed.

The neighboring Chino's Pizzeria at 8356 S. Roberts Road also closed recently.

The same plaza will be welcoming a pawn shop, which is opening just a few doors down.

Pub at the Max grand opening

Owners of the new Pub @ the Max in McCook will provide free food and a cash bar from 5-10 p.m. Friday as part of the grand opening of the new restaurant in the McCook Athletic Center, 4750 Vernon Ave.

The pub has video gaming machines, a sports bar, plenty of televisions and a selection of more than 40 beers and cocktails.

Eventually, there will be closed circuit televisions so family members can follow the action on any of the MAC's athletic fields from the comfort of the Pub.

For information and reservations, call 708-485-1555 or visit them online at Pub at the Max.

Combo restaurant closes in Mokena

A combined KFC and A&W Root Beer restaurant at 19814 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena closed recently.

 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.