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/.

Empire Books to close in Frankfort

Paula Ingram plans to take her book store online.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Empire Books will close its doors in Frankfort by the end of the month, but owner Paula Ingram’s passion for books will continue in the form on an online book store.

“I’m taking the store online,” she said. “You can do everything online.”

Ingram is bittersweet about the closing.

On one hand, “We had a good run,” she said about the store that opened five years ago. “I was hoping it would last, but it’s time to move on to a new adventure.”

On the other hand, “I get my life back in some fashion. It’s been me by myself every day for five years.”

She also doesn’t think the end is near for printed books even though book stores are disappearing at an alarming rate.

“I think there will always be a demand for printed books,” she said hopefully. “There’s just something about the feel of a book and the act of turning pages that you don’t get with an electronic reader.”

The store at 20879 S. LaGrange Road in the Walt’s Food plaza will stay open until April 30. Prices have been lowered on everything in the store, including the fixtures and furniture.

For information, call 815-469-0723 or visit her online store at http://www.empirebooksshop.net/.

Pizza Mia opens in FrankfortFranchise owner Bob Chavez opened the latest Pizza Mia restaurant at 19860 S. Harlem Ave. in Frankfort on April 4. Other stores are in Homer Glen and New Lenox.

The Frankfort pizzeria offers carryout and catering and plans to add delivery on May 2, Chavez said. “We are hiring drivers right now and making sure the staff is fully trained before we start delivery.”

Chavez, of Lockport, said he chose the Frankfort location because “there was a lot of name recognition and demand from the Frankfort area.”

He said response so far has been great, especially from the high school students at Lincoln-Way North, which is about a block away.

“We have some kids from the school working here,” he said.

Pizza Mia is open Mondays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 3-11 p.m. and Sunday from 3-10 p.m.

For information, call 815-806-8300 or visit http://www.pizzamiaonline.com/.

Ford City happeningsThe shopping center at 71st Street and Cicero Avenue recently lost women’s apparel store New York & Co. but is adding space where Montgomery Ward used to be for new stores. In the meantime, the mall’s JCPenney store added a portrait studio and the Carson’s added a Casual Male Big & Tall department.

Chicago Ridge happeningsWestfield Chicago Ridge Mall recently lost its Whispers Coffee and Tea kiosk, but the mall at 95th Street and Ridgeland added a Mandee women’s apparel store last week. Pierre’s Café also is coming soon to the Bed, Bath & Beyond Court.

Arrenello’s reopens in GlenwoodArrenello’s Pizza, which was temporarily closed by a recent fire in a neighboring business, has reopened at 325 Glenwood-Lansing Road in Glenwood.

Orland Cold Stone reopensA tip from a reader: The Cold Stone Creamery reopened recently at 16135 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park. The store is open Sunday to Thursday from noon to 9 p.m. and from noon to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Deal of the weekSubway is offering 6-inch Cold Cut Combo or Meatball sandwiches for $2 through the end of April.

New Eva's Bridals opens in Tinley Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy


Eva's Bridal International now open in Tinley Park.



A new store for brides opened about a month ago at 18219 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park in the former Le Spose Di Angela Bridal Boutique.

Eva’s Bridal International is a couture salon with higher end wedding gowns from national and international designers, according to store manager Brianna Jackson.

Although Eva’s of Tinley Park is not affiliated with Eva’s of Oak Lawn, which was devastated by a fire back in November, the new store is helping brides whose wedding plans were affected by the fire.

“We are taking care of brides for Eva’s of Oak Lawn,” said Jackson. “Until they have their new store ready.”

On its website, Eva’s of Oak Lawn’s promises an announcement soon about its new home in Oak Lawn and recommends its brides visit Eva’s of Tinley Park in the meantime.

Eva’s of Tinley has been holding trunk sales, and offers bridal parties, said Jackson.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, call 708-444-4370 or visit their website at http://www.evasbridalsoftinleypark.com/ or their >Facebook page.

Funeral home open house

Van Henkelum Funeral Home, which recently opened a new facility in Palos Heights after being without a permanent home in the village for a few years, is holding an open house from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday at 13401 S. Ridgeland Ave. in its new home in a strip center. The public is invited and there will be light refreshments. For more information, call 708-448-3530 or visit their website at http://www.vanhenkelum.com/.

Grocery store opens in Chicago Heights

Kroger opened one of its Food 4 Less discount grocery stores last month at 1333 S. Western Ave. in Chicago Heights in a former Dominick’s Finer Foods. The new store is open 24 hours daily and is one of its larger locations.

Deal of the week

Here’s a great deal if you’re a golfer. Tuckaway Golf Club in Crete is celebrating its 50th anniversary by offering two special two-year memberships. The first one costs $198 and lets you golf free Monday to Friday until Dec. 31, 2012. The second one costs $398 and lets you golf free seven days a week and holidays until Dec. 31, 2012. For information or to get in on this deal, call 708-946-2259.