Sam Maguire's Closes in Orland Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Sam Maguire's Irish Pub is no more.

The establishment closed its doors at 39 Orland Square Drive for the last time Sunday night.

Judging by the comments on its Facebook page, the closing caught everyone off guard.

It also caught the Orland Park Chamber off guard.

Chamber Executive Director Keloryn Putnam said she came in to work Monday and found out she had to find a new venue for this week's Young Professionals Meet Up, which had been scheduled for Sam Maguire's on Thursday.

"They hadn't been a chamber member for awhile," Putnam said. "So I don't really know what happened. I just came in and found out they were closed."

The meeting has been reschuduled for Casa Margarita, 9549 W. 151st St., at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The phone number and website were both still working Monday, but neither the website nor a recorded phone message indicated the establishment was closed. There also was no indication on its Facebook page that the tavern was closed except for the dozens of comments by former employees and customers.

Mary McNally, a loan officer at the State Bank of Countryside branch in Homer Glen, said the closing was not linked to a foreclosure lawsuit filed against the tavern in September seeking $2.2 million.

"We had nothing to do with their closing," she said. "I know nothing about it."

She also said she believes the foreclosure suit is still making its way through Cook County Circuit Court.

The property has been listed for sale for months for $2.7 million, and was on a Coldwell Banker website as recently as Dec. 27, 2011.

Pet Store Opens in Tinley Park

Mochapet opened Friday in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Mochapet opened Friday at 7537 W. 159th St. in Tinley Park.

The store carries a full line of supplies for cats and dogs as well as the animals themselves. It does not, however, carry birds, fish or reptiles and has a limited number of products for those animals.

Hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

A website and Facebook page are coming. In the meantime, for more information call 708-444-7387.

CiCi's Pizza to Open Monday in Orland Park

A CiCi's Pizza will open at 11 a.m. Monday at 9218 W. 159th St. in the Park Hill Plaza center in Orland Park.

Texas-based CiCi's is a pizza buffet restaurant. The first 100 people to buy a buffet on Monday will win a free buffet a month for the coming year.

Hours will be Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

For information, call 708-460-3002 or visit http://www.cicispizza.com/.

CiCi's Pizza will open Monday in Orland Park.

Bridgeview Life Storage Wins Award

Bridgeview Trustee Claudette Struzik and Life Storage manager Nancy Warrer inspect one of the units.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Life Storage has been selected for the 2011 Best of Bridgeview Award in the Mini & Self Storage category by the U.S. Commerce Association.

The storage facility at 7700 W. 79th St. in Bridgeview is the fourth largest in Illinois, said manager Jeffery Helms. He and co-manager Nancy Warrer received the award on Dec. 21.

The award is presented to companies that have exceptional marketing success in their local community, said the USCA in a release.

The 95,000 square foot facility opened three years ago, said Helms.

“We have more than 1,000 units,” he said. “We have only indoor units with climate controls. We also have truck docks and office suites.”

Helms said the Bridgeview facility is spread out over a larger area than most LifeStorage facilities. “Most of our facilities are vertical, we’re more horizontal,” he said.

The Best of Local Business award program recognizes outstanding businesses across the country, the USCA said.

The USCA is a New York City based organization funded by local businesses to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

For more information, call Life Storage at 708-546-3249 or visit them at http://www.lifestorage.net/.