New Mexican restaurant in Tinley Park serves a 5-pound burrito

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Arturo Lamas always wanted to open a Mexican restaurant and his dream came true Monday when he soft opened Asado Mexican Grill at 9516 W. 179th St. in Tinley Park.

The specialty of the house? Would you believe a five-pound burrito, with sides of rice and beans, of course. It’s as big as the tray it’s served on, says Lamas.

“You can have it with steak, chicken, pork or ground beef,” says Lamas. “If you eat the whole thing, it’s free.”

“Nobody has dared to order one yet,” Lamas said with a laugh this afternoon. “The next best thing are the steak tacos.”

Lamas said he wanted to do a soft opening this week to make sure everything was working smooth before the grand opening next week. “It’s amazing. We’ve been busy all week.”

Lamas grew up in Calumet City with his wife, Sarah, who owns Fudgi Island Cookie Co. in Tinley Park. Both shops are offering a 10 percent discount to anyone who brings in a receipt from the other store.

“We want to drive traffic from each store to the other,” says Lamas, who adds that anyone who mentions reading about Asado Mexican Grill in Comings & Goings can also get a 10 percent discount.

Restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday but may change. “It depends on our customers,” he says. “Ideally, I’d like to be open from 10 to 10.” The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

The phone number is 708-970-8787 but it’s a recorded message until Monday. A website is also in the works at www.asadomexicangrill.com

Mokena ribbon cuttings on Saturday
Two new businesses in Mokena will hold ribbon-cutting ceremonies Saturday.

First up is The Little Guys home technology store, which will hold its ceremony at noon at its new location at 19031 S. Old LaGrange Road. The store recently completed its move from its longtime home in Glenwood.

Next up is the Spin Club at 2 p.m. at 9960 W. 191st St. Spin Club is a fitness center that utilizes indoor cycling.

Finally Fajitas
Fajitas Mexican Restaurant finally opened its doors this week at 167th Street and Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park. There's a second location in Countryside.

Meijer job fair continues next week
Meijer will continue its job fair Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Ave. The supermarket chain is hiring more than 100 people for its new store near 159th Street and Harlem Avenue in Orland Park. Jobseekers should first visit www.joinmeijer.com to fill out an application before attending the job fair. The store is expected to open this summer.

Pierzynski Shoes closing after more than 100 years on Southwest Side

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A store that shares its name with White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski is closing after more than a century of covering feet on Chicago’s Southwest Side.

Pierzynski Shoes, 6910 W. Archer Ave., is holding a going out of business sale. The store was founded by A.J. Perzynski in 1904 but is currently owned by Mike and Mindy Czerniak.

Store hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The sale will last until all merchandise is sold. The phone number is 773-586-1205.

An employee said there is still plenty of footwear available. She attributed the closing to changes in the way people buy shoes.

“Discount shoe stores and the Internet have killed us,” she said.

Chick-fil-A breaks ground in Orland Park

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Chick-fil-A, a fast-food staple throughout the South, is finally answering the pleas of its Chicagoland fans and is breaking ground this week on the chain’s first two locations near the Windy City.

Ground was broken today at 156th Street and LaGrange Road in Orland Park for what will be the chain’s second restaurant in the Chicago area when it opens in September. A groundbreaking ceremony is set for tomorrow in Aurora at what will be the chain’s first Chicago-area eatery when it opens in August. A third restaurant is planned to open in October in Wheaton.

“Our fans in Chicago have been vocal about wanting Chick-fil-A here,” said Dan Cathy, president and chief operating officer of the chain. “Fans here have even posted videos on YouTube as part of their campaigns for us to open in Chicago.”

Kevin Bulmann, of Cincinnati, who will be the owner/operator of the Orland Park restaurant when it opens, is no stranger to Orland Park.

“I have lots of family in Orland Park,” Bulmann said, pointing out his aunt who attended today’s groundbreaking. “It’s her birthday.”

“I spent most of my summers as a youth in Orland Park,” Bulmann said. “I cut a lot of grass here.”
Bulmann said he will turn over his Cincinnati store to Chick-fil-A when the Orland Park store is ready to open.

“I’m going to move here and be a part of this great community,” he said.

Bulmann said the Orland restaurant would be about 4,600-square-feet, and have 122 indoor seats, half-a-dozen outdoor patio seats, and a playland for children.

The restaurant will bring 60 to 80 jobs to the area, he said. Hiring will begin in early August. “We’ll have a trailer on site for applications,” he said.

Chick-fil-A’s Brenda Green said the chain is planning an aggressive push into the Chicago area in 2011. The chain plans to open 20 to 25 restaurants in the Chicago area over the next five years.

“We’re planning 10 percent of our new restaurants in 2011 will open in the Chicago area,” she said.

The chain is opening 78 restaurants this year and has nearly 1,500 locations in 38 states.