Mokena White Castle to Reopen Sunday

A new White Castle opens Sunday on the site of the previous White Castle in Mokena.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Slider fans in the Mokena area who have been without a local White Castle since the location at 191st Street and LaGrange Road was demolished earlier this year take heart, the newly constructed replacement White Castle will open in the same location at 9 a.m. on Sunday, June 3.

The new White Castle has the same design as one that opened last year on U.S. 30 in New Lenox, said Bill Thompson, regional director of restaurant operations for White Castle.

“Mokena will have a little bigger dining room,” he said.

The new eatery sports a drive-up lane with two windows, free Wi-Fi and televisions, Thompson said.

White Castle has been a fixture at the intersection of 191st and LaGrange since the company acquired the building from Hardee’s in 1997. The new building eliminates some problems that existed with the previous building, notably the drive-through lane.

Ohio-based White Castle has been operating in the Chicago area since 1929, and the company is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.

Cheesecake Factory Eyes Orland Square Mall

California-based Cheesecake Factory, perhaps best known for employing Kaley Cuoco’s character Penny on the hit CBS comedy “Big Bang Theory,” plans to locate in Orland Square Mall later this year.

The plan calls for the Cheesecake Factory to move into the Jos. A Bank location and for the menswear retailer to move into the former Ruby Tuesday location. It would be the food chain’s first location in the Southland.

The Cheesecake Factory will be about 11,000 square feet when it opens this fall or winter.

GSU Offers Business Workshop

CenterPoint at Governors State University is sponsoring a series of Starting a Business in Illinois workshops in June for Chicago Southland residents.

The free workshops focus on personal, financial, and legal aspects of starting a business. Participants will learn what steps to take and what resources are available to assist new business owners succeed in today’s challenging economic climate.

A workshop will be presented Tuesday, June 5, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Palos Heights Public Library, 12501 S. 71st Avenue, Palos Heights. Dan McAllister, Regional Representative for GSU CenterPoint, will present the program.

For more information, contact CenterPoint at 708-534-4927 or http://www.centerpointgsu.com/.

Share Your Soles Needs New Home

Alsip-based Share Your Soles Foundation, a non-profit organization that has been bringing shoes to desperately impoverished people throughout the world for the past 12 years, has to vacate its warehouse by the end of June and is looking for a new home.

Founder Mona Purdy is looking for a vacant warehouse that the group can use. You can contact her at 708-448-4469 or via email at info@shareyoursoles.org.

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/.

Lincoln Mall Sold to 2 Bidders

Lincoln Mall in Matteson was sold at foreclosure auction Friday to two bidders.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Beleaguered Lincoln Mall hit the auction block on Friday and was sold off to two bidders.

“The sale won’t be final until confirmed by the foreclosure judge,” said Michelle Panovich, a receiver for the mall at U.S. 30 and Cicero Avenue in Matteson and a senior vice president with Mid-America Asset Management.

Panovich said the mall was sold as five parcels.

Three of the parcels were acquired by Credit Union Liquidity Services LLC, the Texas-based lender who filed suit against the mall’s owner Realty American for defaulting on a $40 million loan.

She declined to name the other buyer until the court approves the bids. The process should take about 14 days, she said.

The Judicial Sales Corp., which conducted the auction, on its website listed the bid for the two parcels as $154,500, which Panovich confirmed.

“If someone bought it, I’m happy,” said Panyovich about the sale. “The buyer said they intend to keep the mall open.”

The mall has been on a decline for more than a decade. The pending departure of Sears will leave Carson’s as the mall’s single anchor store, though JCPenney and Target have stores adjacent to the shopping center.

Charleyhorse Closing Sunday in Tinley

The Charleyhorse in Tinley Park will close Sunday night. Photo by Tinley Park Patch.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The Charleyhorse sports pub at 9501 W. 171st St. in Tinley Park will shut its doors for the last time after a closing party Sunday night.

Co-owner Maria Sord said in an email that the Charleyhorse locations in New Lenox and Munster, Ind., will remain open. The closing also will not affect the 94 West restaurant in Orland Park nor the nearby Park Hills Car Wash.

“The way we see it, we will now have more time to focus on other two Charleyhorses and 94 West, as well,” Sord wrote in an email. “Not taking Tinley’s closure as anything negative at all. Just time to move on!”

Sord said some employees at the Tinley location may be transferred to the other locations, if openings are available.


She said gift cards purchased at the Tinley Charleyhorse will be readily accepted at the other restaurants.

Sord said she had no information about possible new tenants in the Charleyhorse space.

Free Doughnuts on Friday

Krispy Kreme – there is still one in Midlothian – is giving away free doughnuts (no purchase necessary) on Friday to celebrate National Doughnut Day, while participating Dunkin’ Donut locations are giving away free doughnuts with any beverage purchase.

Tinley, Orland Farmers Markets Return This Weekend

Both Tinley Park and Orland Park will resume their farmer’s markets this weekend.

Tinley’s market runs from 7 a.m. to noon every Saturday through October in downtown Zabrocki Plaza at 173rd Street and Oak Park Avenue.

This year’s market will feature a jumphouse for kids starting at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month. Face painting and craft projects will be available for the kids every Saturday until Sept. 1, said Becky Nichols, from Evon's Trophy and Gifts, chairman of the Farmer's Market Committee.

Mr. Photo Booth will be on hand to take photos on opening day, she said.

Vendor selections will include fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Orland’s market runs from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays through Oct. 5 in the Village Center parking lot at 14700 S. Ravinia Ave. except on Aug. 3.

More than 35 vendors will be selling a variety of items including fresh produce, bakery items, jewelry, bread, gourmet mixes, household items, flowers, plants and garden accessories.

Tinley Liquors Looks Like a Goner

Family owned and operated Tinley Park Liquors appears to be out of business at 7032 W.183rd St. The store’s website and Facebook page have not indicated anything is wrong at the business, but its phone number is no longer accepting calls and there has been a sign on the door for weeks indicating the store is “closed for inventory.” There also is a message from April 27 on its Facebook page asking why the business is closed but without a comment from the owners.

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/.