Free Pretzel Day at Auntie Anne's

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Mark your calendars for tomorrow if you love pretzels because it's Free Pretzel Day at Auntie Anne's pretzel shops in malls across the Southland.

Pretzel lovers can get a free original pretzel or a cinnamon sugar pretzel from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Auntie Anne's shops at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park, Ford City Mall on Chicago's Southwest Side, River Oaks Center in Calumet City, Westfield Louis Joliet Mall in Joliet and Westfield Southlake Mall in Merrillville (or is it Hobart) in northwest Indiana.

5 Guys Burgers Opens in Matteson

Five Guys Burgers and Fries opened this week in Matteson.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Virginia-based Five Guys Burgers and Fries opened its fourth Southland location this week in a strip center at U.S. 30 and Cicero Avenue in Matteson.

The gourmet burger joint opened on Monday and is the 29th Illinois restaurant for the chain that started 25 years ago in Arlington, Virginia.

The restaurant serves burgers with up to 15 different toppings, hot dogs, three veggie sandwiches and fries.

The Matteson location, like most others, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. There is no drive-through.
For information, call 708-283-4515 or visit http://www.fiveguys.com/.

There are two Five Guys locations in Orland Park and another in Chicago Ridge.

Papa John’s Opens in Palos

Indiana-based Papa John’s pizza opened its eighth Southland location recently at 7154 W. 127th St. in Palos Heights.

The pizzeria is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. for delivery and carry out orders and accepts online orders.

For information, call 708-361-5050 or visit. http://www.papajohns.com/.

Frankfort Business Expo This Saturday

The 28th annual Frankfort Business Expo will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at the Lincoln-Way East High School fieldhouse in Frankfort. The public is welcome and admission is free.

More than 100 local businesses are expected to be on hand along with former Bears lineman Steve McMichael who will be signing autographs from 10 a.m. to noon.

For information, visit http://www.frankfortchamber.com/.

Garrett to Address Rotary

Jim Garrett, CEO of the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau, will be the guest speaker for the Lansing Rotary Club meeting at 12:15 p.m. Friday at Popolano’s Restaurant. Lunch costs $10. For reservations, call Dick Turek at 708-895-0300.

Home & Garden Show in Tinley

Tinley Park is hosting the Springtime Home & Garden Show this weekend at the Convention Center, which will feature more than 250 exhibitors and offer seminars on backyard vegetable gardens, spring bulbs and perennials and backyard living spaces.

Show hours are 4-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors 62 and older and free for 18 and younger.

Ted’s Greenhouse in Tinley Park will have plants and perennials for sale.

For information, call 800-883-7469 or visit http://www.homeshowpros.com/ for discounted admission.

Ross Dress for Less to Open in Calumet City, Bolingbrook

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Ross Dress for Less, a discount apparel and home fashion chain, will open two new stores this weekend in Bolingbrook and Calumet City.

California-based Ross entered the Chicago market last fall when it opened a dozen stores including locations in Matteson and Orland Park.

Ross stores typically carry brand name products priced 20 percent to 60 percent less than at department and specialty stores.

The stores are located at Bolingbrook’s Maple Park Place and Calumet City’s Calumet Center, 480 River Oaks West.

The stores open at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 3. From Saturday through Sunday, March 11, each store is offering shoppers a chance to win a $500 shopping spree or one of five $100 shopping sprees.

“We started in California and are working are way east,” said Mary Walter, senior vice president of stores, during last year’s opening in Orland Park. “Customers in Chicago will respond to our great products at great prices."

Walter said Ross has more than 1,000 stores in 27 states. Each store employs about 50 associates.

Store hours will be Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

As part of the grand opening ceremonies, Ross will make a donation of $1,000 each to the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs and the George Werden Buck Boys & Girls Club.

For information, call the Bolingbrook store at 630-378-2022, the Calumet City store at 708-832-2593 or visit http://www.rossstores.com/.

Chicago Ridge Mall Welcomes 2 Back
Gloria Jean’s Coffee recently reopened at Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall in the Aldi Court and The Children’s Place reopened earlier this month after being closed for a couple of weeks for remodeling.

Clock Tower Gifts Closes
Clock Tower Gifts closed last month at 18700 S. Wolf Road in Mokena almost five years to the day it opened in 2007 in the retail center.

Eatery Closes at River Oaks
Smokey’s Rib Shack closed recently at River Oaks Mall in Calumet City.