Fox Head Apparel Coming to Orland

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Fox Head Inc., which made its name with a worldwide brand of motocross apparel and has since branched out into other performance sports, is going to open its only Chicago-area store at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park this spring.

The mall said the store will be moving into part of the space being vacated by Bath & Body Works, which is downsizing and moving across the way.

The company was started as Fox Racing in 1974 in Campbell, Calif.

Calls to the company for more information were not returned.

Jamaica Jerk Choice Coming to Tinley Park

Jamaica Jerk Choice restaurant, which offers Caribbean cuisine, is coming soon to 15910 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park.

For information, check out the menu at its Calumet City location at http://www.jamaicajerkchoice.com/.

Calls and emails to the owner were not returned, but an employee at the Calumet City location said the 1,200 square foot Tinley location should be open by March.

Cartridge World Has New Digs

Cartridge World, which refills printer cartridges and the like, moved recently from its original home at 15942 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park to new digs at 7751 W. 159th St. Tinley Plaza in the Castle Plaza.

Charlotte Russe Closes in Orland

The Charlotte Russe store in Orland Square Mall closed recently. Fans of its clothing and shoe lines can still find them at stores in Ford City Shopping Center, Chicago Ridge Mall, the Promenade in Bolingbrook and Louis Joliet Mall.

McLaughlin to Deliver State of Orland Park to Chamber

Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin will give his state of the village address to the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, at Silver Lake Country Club, 14700 S. 82nd Avenue.

Cost is $14 for chamber members in advance, $17 for members and non-members at the door.

RSVP by Feb. 24 to 708-349-2972 or http://www.orlandparkchamber.org/.

Public Meeting on Illiana Expressway

The Illinois and Indiana Departments of Transportation will present the preferred routes for the proposed Illiana Expressway from Interstate 65 near Lowell in northwest Indiana to Interstate 55 near Wilmington.

There will be a meeting on Thursday, Feb. 23, at Matteson Hotel and Conference Center (Holiday Inn) at 500 Holiday Plaza Drive in Matteson from 5-8 p.m.

There will be a continuous PowerPoint presentation, and attendees will have the opportunity to view study exhibits, provide comments and speak with IDOT, INDOT and study team representatives on a one-on-one basis. A question and answer forum will be held at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Mokena White Castle Gone But to Return

Work has started on rebuilding the White Castle at 191st and LaGrange in Mokena.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Don’t fear Mokena White Castle fans, the iconic fast-food restaurant will soon return bigger and better than before to its spot at 191st Street and LaGrange Road.

In case you missed it, the restaurant disappeared the other day. It was just gone. There was a vacant muddy lot and a couple of signs telling Slider fans where they could go to get their closest fix – on U.S. 30 in New Lenox and at 159th Street and Harlem Avenue in Orland Park.

“The new building should be ready by May 5, depending on weather,” said Bill Thompson, regional director of restaurant operations for White Castle. “Since it’s been such a mild winter, we should be able to easily make that date.”

Thompson said the new Mokena restaurant will be similar to the one in New Lenox when finished.
“It’s the same design,” he said. “It will have a little bigger front room.”

The new building also will sport a drive-through lane with two windows, Wi-Fi, and televisions, Thompson said.

The Mokena restaurant has been there since 1997 when it was acquired and converted from a Hardee’s.

White Castle is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. The Ohio-based chain has been operating in Chicago since 1929.

Wynder's, Home of the Spiral-Cut Hot Dog, Closes in New Lenox

Terry Johnson shows off one of his spiral-cut hot dogs in New Lenox in June 2010.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Sad to say, I saw this one coming.

Wynder’s restaurant in New Lenox, which opened in June 2010 with the unique product of a spiral-cut hot dog, shut its doors for the last time last week.

I called the shop last week after I saw a notice on the door that they had cut their hours to 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Owner Terry Johnson wasn’t in, but the woman on duty said the store was staying open but cutting back its hours. That’s never a good sign.

Then it was closed.

I remember when Wynder’s opened. Johnson was absolutely passionate about his spiral-cutting technique.

He said the process brought out hidden flavor in something as mundane as a hot dog. He said he got the idea from his mom, who used to make him fried bologna sandwiches.

Johnson has been trying since day one to expand his brand. He had a couple of nibbles from groups in Florida and Texas, but nothing got off the ground.

He originally wanted to open shops in Joliet and Tinley Park, but they never materialized.

He was selling spiral-cutting gadgets from his website, which was still up this week. So, maybe that is still going.

Wynder’s is not the first hot dog shop to fail in that location despite its seemingly great location across the street from Lincoln-Way Central High School. Willie’s Wee-Nee Wagon had a brief run there prior to Johnson taking his shot.

Johnson told the New Lenox Patch this week that road construction on U.S. 30 was partly to blame, and he’s right. Construction along the road has made life miserable for lots of business owners there.

The lousy economy since he opened and what I’m sure are not cheap rents in that plaza also didn’t help, I’m sure.

Johnson is a nice guy who had a clever idea to make a hot dog more than just a hot dog. (I’ve been slicing hot dogs and sausages when I grill ever since I met him.) It’s too bad he didn’t succeed.