Frank Thomas to Promote Big Hurt Beer at Durbin's, Beer and Vine Fest

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Former White Sox slugger Frank Thomas will be visiting Durbin’s locations this week and the Tinley Park Beer and Vine Fest on Saturday to promote his Big Hurt Beer.

Thomas, who was known as the Big Hurt while a player, will be at the Tinley Park location tonight at 6:30 p.m. and at the Midlothian Durbin’s at 8 p.m., the Palos Hills Durbin’s at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the Evergreen Park Durbin’s at 6:30 p.m. Friday and the Burbank location at 8 p.m. Friday, and the Frankfort Durbin’s at 7 p.m. Saturday. He’ll be at the Beer and Vine Fest in Tinley Park from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday.

Tenant Found for Tinley Distribution Center

Bedford Park-based M. Block & Sons, which is the leading distributor of consumer products to retailers throughout the United States, according to its website, will be moving in to the Tinley Park Corporate Center at Oak Park Avenue and Prosperi Drive in Tinley Park.

The 915,000 square foot distribution center has never been occupied since it was built back in 2008.

The deal was announced last week by commercial real estate firm CBRE Group.

Tinley Economic Development Director Ivan Baker said some tenant build out would be required because the building was never finished in 2008.

As part of the deal, Tinley Park is going to prohibit parking on Prosperi Drive east of Oak Park Avenue so trucks using the warehouse will not have to negotiate parked cars.

CBRE said M. Block & Sons would be moving in sometime in June.

M. Block said its vendor partners include Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and their Keurig single serve coffee division, Proctor & Gamble, Kraft, Sensio, Tristar Products Inc., Applica Inc., Jarden Consumer Solutions, Blue Avocado, and Arc International. Major retail accounts include Bed Bath and Beyond, Walmart, Target, JC Penney, Macy's, Costco, Kohl's and other leading home retailers. M. Block manages distribution centers in Redlands, Calif., and Bedford Park.

Cicero Avenue Construction Projects

The Illinois Department of Transportation has started resurfacing Cicero Avenue from 95th Street to 127th Street and from 147th Street to 175th Street.

Milling and resurfacing work began Monday and is scheduled to end on Sept. 7. There will be intermittent lane closures in Oak Lawn, Alsip, Midlothian, Oak Forest and Country Club Hills.

Cicero already is reduced to one lane in each direction for bridge work at the Cal-Sag Channel just south of 127th Street. That project is expected to last through August.

There will be additional lane closures when work begins later this spring on the CSX Railroad overpass just south of 115th Street. That project is expected to last until mid-July.

IDOT reminds motorists to anticipate delays and allow extra time for trips through these areas.

Dunkin’ is Hiring in Indiana

Dunkin’ Donuts is holding a Career Fair tomorrow from 1-4 p.m. at its Merrillville, Ind., location at 2050 W. 81st Avenue.

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at http://www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com/.

Central Collision Acquires Phase 1

Central Collision Center has acquired Phase 1 Coach Works in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Mokena-based Central Collision Center Inc. has acquired Phase 1 Coach Works at 18040 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park.

The new location will be the seventh for the collision repair chain owned by Michael Caruso.

The 20,000-square-foot center in Tinley Park was owned by Jack and Monika Ditmars. Central will retain the facility’s 13 employees.

“This acquisition continues our commitment to the south suburban community and the growth of the Central Collision family,” Caruso, president and CEO of Central Collision, said in a news release. “We will continue to develop high-quality repair centers to meet the specific needs of our clients. Our goal is to improve the repair process for our customers.”

Central Collision operates five traditional repair facilities in Peotone, Mokena, Crete, New Lenox and Oak Forest. The company also operates one rapid repair facility, called Central Express, in Oak Forest.

For more information, visit http://www.centralcollision.com/ or their Facebook page.

Matteson Best Buy Closing

Electronics and appliance retailer Best Buy announced over the weekend that it would be closing its store at 4707 Lincoln Mall Dr. in Matteson as part of its plan to shutter 50 stores nationwide.

The store is expected to close within the next month.

Health & Wellness Fair Coming to Oak Lawn

More than two dozen health and wellness related businesses and organizations will have booths at this year’s Health & Wellness Fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday at the Senior Center, 5330 W. 95th St. The fair is free and open to all. For information, call the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce at 708-424-8300.

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

Kup a Joe Café to Open in Frankfort

Kup a Joe Cafe is opening Monday in Frankfort.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Jim Garofalo says his decision to open a new restaurant in Frankfort was an easy one, “I missed it.”

Garofalo has been out of the game since he sold the original Egg and I in Chicago Heights to his son in 1996. Another son owns the Egg and I in Tinley Park.

“This is my first venture since I sold the Egg and I to my son.”

Garofalo and his wife, Stacey, will be hands-on owners when they open the Kup of Joe Café at 6 a.m. Monday in the former Plaza Café location at 41 Old Frankfort Way, which closed in January.

“She’ll be running the front end and I’ll be everywhere else.”
 
“This is a nice location,” he said. “The community has shown a lot of interest in the reopening.”

Garofalo said he did some remodeling inside such as painting.

“When painting, I took down pictures of servicemen that had been on the wall,” he said. “If anyone hung up a picture and wants its back, stop in and see me.”

Garofalo said the menu would be breakfast and lunch items. “We’ll have fancy French toast and some specials.”

Kup of Joe initially will be open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The patio will be open weather permitting, he said.

Garofalo said he eventually would be offering local delivery. “After we get off the ground,” he said.

For information, call 815-464-0909.

Designers Show Off Fancy Glasses in Oak Lawn

Complete Vision Care, 6209 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn, is taking a page out of the bridal industry handbook by hosting its own designer trunk show on Saturday.

“Normally, we carry what we think people will want,” said Dr. Sandra Bury, owner of Complete Vision Care. “The trunk show will be a fun experience for someone looking for something unusual and different.”

“If you have a certain look in mind, this is going to be the event for you,” said Bury, who started at Complete Vision Care in 1989 and took ownership in 2002.

“This will be a perfect way to shop for sunglasses,” she said. “A lot of doctors don’t offer much variety for sunglasses.”

“We will have several complete designer lines at the show,” said Bury. Designers coming on Saturday include Tiffany, Coach, D&G and Michael Kors.

“The Tiffany frames feature Swarovski crystal,” she said.

Bury said there will be doctors on duty to perform eye exams or customers can bring in their prescriptions.

“We will give a 20 percent discount for any purchases on Saturday,” Bury said. “We’re also raffling off an iPad2 and gift bags.”

Bury said her practice has been around since before 1951 and the trunk show is just a way for her to have some fun with her clients, some of whom go back that far.

“I’ve practiced all over and chose to live, work and shop in Oak Lawn,” she said. “I love this community.”

The trunk show may just be the beginning.

“I’m thinking we might have a ladies night with chocolates, wine and massages.”

The trunk show starts at 11 a.m. and runs to 2 p.m. “We’re extending our hours for the show. It will be three hours of craziness, I’m sure.”

For information, call 708-423-2500 or visit their website.

Pub Crawl is Saturday

Pete Mitchell’s Bar and Grill, 21000 Frankfort Square Road in Frankfort, along with Bud Light is sponsoring the inaugural Southwest Fun Pub Crawl from 6-11 p.m. Saturday. Crawlers will start at Pete Mitchell’s and also visit the Wild Rover and Old Plank Trail Tavern (Gracie’s) in Frankfort, Post Game Pub in Mokena and the Sweet Spot in Tinley Park. Cost is $20 per person and includes transportation via bus and a T-shirt. For information, call 815-464-8100.

Tax Time is Pizza Time

Old Town Pizza Company in Orland Park is helping ease the bite from the tax man. From now till Wednesday, April 18, you can get any large pizza with up to four toppings for only $10.40. Order online or call 708-478-7488 and use promo code 625.