Sears Essential Re-Opening as Kmart

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The Sears Essential experiment is over in the Southland.

Shortly after Kmart and Sears merged in 2005, the Kmart store at 15830 S. Bell Road in Homer Glen was converted into what was supposed to be the first of many new Sears Essential stores. It was to be a kind of hybrid store with the best of Kmart and Sears under one roof.

The idea didn’t catch on and the store has been converted back into a Kmart store.

The store had a soft opening on Halloween and plans a grand re-opening on Saturday.

Festivities run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lockport Mayor Dev Trivedi will help store manager Tiwanna Walker cut the ribbon. Kmart’s mascot Mr. Bluelight will be on hand to take photos with fans. Former Bears player Steve McMichael will be signing autographs from noon to 2 p.m. Eddie V. from KHITS Radio will broadcast from the store from noon to 2 p.m. and give away T-shirts, movie passes and DVDs. A face painter and balloonist will be there to entertain the kids. The store will raffle off prizes and gift cards.

Sears Outlet Store Coming to Tinley
While the Sears Essential store is disappearing, a Sears Outlet store will be opening in early December in the former Bally Total Fitness, 16040 S. Harlem Ave., Sears spokeswoman Kimberly Freely said Friday.

The 24,000-square-foot store will carry some new merchandise as well as discontinued, used and scratched or dented merchandise.

Pita Oven Closes
Pita Oven, a Mediterranean restaurant that featured Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine, abruptly closed this week. A reader said she went there on Monday and saw employees carting equipment out of the store. The phone number is out of service, which doesn’t suggest they were just moving.

Capri Express Closes in Tinley Park
The Capri Express restaurant at 16703 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park has closed only a few months after opening. A sign on the door says the location is temporarily closed for renovation. There’s also a notice from the Village of Tinley Park that the restaurant may not reopen without proper permits and an inspection. Calls to the company's Burr Ridge location were not returned.

Yogurt Shop Opens at Orland Square Mall
Bare Berry, a frozen yogurt shop, has opened at Orland Square Mall in the lower level JCPenney Court. Hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, visit http://bareberryyogurt.com/.

Free Fall Wine Tasting
Orland Park Wine & Spirits, 8600 W. 159th St. in Orland Park, will host a wine tasting on Saturday, Nov. 12, from noon to 5 p.m.

Visitors will sample wines from around the globe.

Special guests will be Pastry Chef Kimberly Zarobsky from Sweet as Cake, who will be showcasing her liquor-infused cupcakes; Andrea Turner from Tassos Gourmet Foods, who will feature olives and spreads for the holidays; Nicole Shepherd from Scentsy Products, who will have a sample of fine fragrances.

Bears Deal of the Weekend
Rockwelz Bar Meets Grill, 11265 W. 159th St. in Orland Park, has a free halftime BBQ buffet during Bears games. For information, call 708-226-0042 or visit http://www.rokwelz.com/.

 

Deals for Vets on Veterans Day

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Military veterans and active duty personnel will be able to feast for free Friday as a host of American businesses are offering free food to America’s past and present servicemen and servicewomen in honor of Veterans Day. Most deals do not include a beverage or a gratuity, and some national chain locations may not be participating.

Ed & Joe’s restaurant in Tinley Park is offering a free small pizza with two toppings or any sandwich, none of which the owners say are served in a vacuum-sealed bag or require hydration.

Applebee’s is offering a free signature entrée all day.

Chili’s is offering free lunch for veterans from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Famous Dave’s in Orland Park is offering a free Two Meat Salute. Choose two different meats served with corn bread muffin, corn-on-the-cob and your choice of one side. For information, call 708-532-7850.

Hooters in Joliet, Lansing, Oak Lawn and Orland Park are offering 10 free wings (boneless or regular) with any drink purchase.

Krispy Kreme in Midlothian may be offering a free doughnut. The store opens at 5 a.m. if you want to try.

Little Caesars Pizza is offering free orders of Crazy Bread.

Outback Steakhouse is offering a free Bloomin’ Onion and a Coca-Cola product.

Subway is offering a free six-inch sub or flatbread.

Texas Roadhouse is offering free lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

T.G.I. Friday’s in Tinley Park, Orland Park, Oak Lawn, Bedford Park and Bourbonnais are offering buy one get one free or 50 percent discounts to solitary diners.

The Olive Garden is offering a free entrée from a special menu during regular business hours. All entrées inlcude freshly baked garlic sticks and choice of soup or salad.

Seven-Eleven is offering a free small Slurpee from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Accompanying family members also will receive a free Slurpee.

Golden Corral is passing on Veterans Day but will offer its 10th annual Golden Corral Military Appreciation dinner on Monday, Nov. 14, from 5-9 p.m. The free “thank you” dinner is available to any person who has ever served in the U.S. Military.

Retail discounts
Lowe’s, Home Depot, Big Lots and Dollar General stores are all offering veterans, active duty personnel and their families 10 percent discounts on Friday.

Free car wash
Delta Sonic car wash locations in Crestwood and Tinley Park, Easy Clean Car Wash in Lansing, Starlite Car Wash in Worth, Tinley Park Super Wash and Zoom Clean Car Wash in Calumet City are all offering free car washes to veterans and active-duty personnel.


Free round of golf
Silver Lake Country Club in Orland Park is offering a free round of golf. Call 708-349-6940 for a tee time.

Garrett Design Group Takes Place of Chuck’s House of Magic in Homewood

Garrett Design Group arranged this balloon drop
at the 1996 Democratic National Convention.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Chuck’s House of Magic may have sold its last deck of trick cards but the business has not pulled a disappearing act.

Call it a business evolution.

The storefront remains the same at 18725 Dixie Highway in Homewood, the phone and fax numbers haven’t been changed, the employees are still there, and Garrett and Joyce Gruberman are still the owners.

What has changed is the focus. The company is expanding its popular and successful balloon and event décor side of the business.

“Half of the business remains the same,” said Garrett Gruberman, who became co-owner with his mom, Joyce, after his dad, Chuck, retired in 2005. “We’re just getting more into that end of the business.”

The change on Nov. 1 from Chuck’s House of Magic to the Garrett Design Group was “bittersweet,” he said about the store that survived numerous moves, a failed balloon venture in Orland Park and a devastating fire.

“One woman came here crying,” he said. “She said she was here the day the store opened. She was very emotional. I almost wanted to say, ‘We’re staying open.’ “

Although the new company will emphasize its balloon and event décor along with services such as lighting, backdrops and draping, it will continue to offer to local residents the services they have come to associate with Chuck’s.

“If someone local wants a balloon pickup, we’ll still do it,” Gruberman said. “They just need to call ahead to make sure someone is here. We won’t be staffed like the store was.”

“We’ll also continue to rent mascot costumes and seasonal costumes like Santa and the Easter Bunny,” he said.

The company will also continue to provide entertainers such as clowns, face painters, balloon twisters and magicians to local businesses, such as the Denny’s in Mokena, which features a magician or balloon twister most weekends.

“We’ll also continue to offer stage makeup to local theater groups and donate services to local groups like the Cancer Support Center,” said Gruberman, 29, a resident of Homewood. “We’re happy to help local groups.”

But the transition was inevitable, Gruberman said.

“For 25 years, the balloon and event décor side of the business was always expanding,” he said. “We go everywhere. I’m going to Denver for a New Year’s Eve show for a band that used us here in Chicago.”

Clients have included the City of Chicago, which asked Chuck’s to decorate Daley Plaza when the city won the right to bid for the Summer Olympics; Columbia College and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Gruberman is bracing for the loss next summer of his business partner, who will join her husband in retirement.

“Mom plans to retire in June, but said she’ll still be around if we need an extra set of hands,” he said. “And my wife has joined the business helping with designs.”

As for Chuck?

“He showed up to turn off the neon sign for the last time and to scrape the name off of the door,” Gruberman said with a laugh. “He’s 70 now and likes to work once in a while, if it’s not too hard.”

For information, call (708) 798-2111, or email info@garrettdesigngroup.com or visit Garrett Design Group online.

Pooch Parlor Moves in Homewood

The Pooch Parlor dog grooming business relocated recently from 18216 Harwood Ave. to 18719 Dixie Highway in Homewood. For information and hours, call the business at 708-798-6825.

Pain Clinic Opens in South Chicago Heights

The Pain Clinic, which specializes in neurology, chiropractic, therapy and acupuncture, opened recently at 176 W. Sauk Trail in South Chicago Heights. For information and hours, call 708-756-7777.

Hair Cuttery Opens in Frankfort

A Hair Cuttery salon opened opened recently at 20165 S. LaGrange Road in the Hickory Creek Marketplace in Frankfort. For information and hours, call 815-464-5237 or visit http://www.haircuttery.com/.

Eva’s Bridals Rises from the Ashes
Eva’s Bridals in Oak Lawn, which was destroyed in a nasty fire just about a year ago, reopened this week at 5269 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn.

In the year since the fire, the shop has been working out of rented storefronts and opened a satellite store in Tinley Park.

For information, call the shop at 708-422-5599 or visit http://www.evasbridalsofoaklawn.com/

Brewing at Alsip Nursery

Alsip Nursery is celebrating “Learn to Homebrew Day” tomorrow with a free seminar on how to make your own beer. An expert will be on hand from 1-3 p.m. to go over what it takes to brew your own lager, ale or stout. Whoever attends gets to return in a couple of weeks to sample what they make.

Bears Deal of the Weekend

Post-Game Pub & Sedona Grille, 9630 Willow (195th Street) in Mokena, will have a free pregame spread before the Bears take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night and drink specials during the game.