AMC Theatres Opens MacGuffin’s Bar in Chicago Ridge Mall

AMC Theatres has put in new seats and screens
and opened MacGuffin's Bar
inside Chicago Ridge Mall.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

 Moviegoers who see a show at Chicago Ridge Mall can now enjoy a cold one while catching a flick.

AMC Theatres, which is in the midst of a major renovation at the mall and has already finished updating the seats and screens at two of the six theaters it operates inside the mall, opened MacGuffin’s Bar and a new concession stand on June 1.

The bar offers beer, wine and cocktails to patrons 21 and older who can meet before a show, recap a movie they have just seen or take their drink of choice into the theater to enjoy while watching a film.

Opening MacGuffin’s is part of AMC’s plan to expand food and drink options at locations nationwide. The chain also has opened MacGuffin’s at AMC Showplace Village Crossing 18 in Skokie and AMC Randhurst 12 in Mount Prospect. 

The name of the bar is an homage to famed director Alfred Hitchcock who used the term to describe a plot device that drives the story.

The other four AMC screens and seats at Chicago Ridge Mall are expected to be fully updated by next month.

For more information about the theatre or to order tickets, visit AMC Theatres Chicago Ridge.

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.

Rent-a-Center Opens in Tinley

Rent-a-Center, a household appliance rent-to-own company, is now open at 17101 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park in the former Hollywood Video location in the Jewel-Osco plaza. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closed on Sundays. For information, call 708-263-6225 or visit Rent-a-Center.

Pittsburg Paints Closes

The Pittsburg Paints store closed recently at 9212 W. 159^th St. in Orland Park’s Park Hill Plaza.

Gas Station Switches Brand

Has anyone noticed that the gas station at 19301 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena has changed over to Mobil? It used to be some kind of cut-rate gas station and was a Clark station years ago.

Dad’s Deal of the Week

Ed and Joe’s in Tinley Park has a deal for Father’s Day. Purchase a $25 gift card for Dad and you get a certificate good for one free 16-inch pizza with one topping in July. Offer is good through Sunday, June 17.

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.

Bank Acquires Sam Maguire’s

State Bank of Countryside last week acquired the former Sam Maguire's Irish Pub at auction.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

State Bank of Countryside is the new owner of the former Sam Maguire’s Irish Pub, which closed in Orland Park without warning in early January.

The bank was the only bidder for the property at 39 Orland Square Drive, which was auctioned off on Friday.

A foreclosure lawsuit was filed by the bank in September 2011 against the popular Orland Park restaurant seeking more than $2.2 million from restaurant owners Michael Wilke, Marian Wilke and MTT Investments LLC.

“All the parties involved wanted to move this sale along,” said Michael Coughlin, an attorney with Burke & Handley, who handled the case.

The sale will become final after it is approved by a foreclosure judge in Cook County.

Sam Maguire’s had been for sale for months before it closed with an asking price of $2.7 million. The property is still listed at online realty websites as being for sale with an asking price of $2.2 million.

Torrid Reopens in Orland Square

Torrid, a clothing store for plus-size women, has reopened in its new location in the upper level JCPenney Court at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. The new store is next to The Body Shop. For information, call 708-226-1860 or visit Torrid Orland Square Mall.

Brannigan Chiropractic Hosts BAH

Brannigan Chiropractic, 1400 Ravinia Place in Orland Park, will celebrate its 10th anniversary by hosting a Business after Hours for the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

For information or to RSVP, call the chamber at 708- 349-2972 or visit Orland Park Chamber.

Garrett to Address Oak Lawn Chamber

Jim Garrett from the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau will be guest speaker at the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting at 11:30 a.m. June 12 at the Hilton Oak Lawn, 9333 S. Cicero Ave.
After the lunch, Laura Urban of Globus Family of Brands will have a travel presentation.

Cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members.

For information, call 708-424-8300 or visit the Oak Lawn Chamber.

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/.

Oak Lawn Couple Open Marie’s Café

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

When Dean Kochert started looking for a place to open a restaurant of his own, he ruled out being an Italian beef or hot dog kind of place.

“There are plenty of those already,” he said.

Kochert decided on quick casual, a concept he was familiar with after working for years at the Italian Village and Panera.

The result was Marie’s Café and Catering at 3660 W. 111th St. in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood community, which opened on May 7.

“I’ve worked for a number of fast casual restaurants,” he said. “Marie’s is similar to Corner Bakery or Panera.”

“Our niche is gourmet burgers,” Kochert said. “We have six signature burgers and a BYO burger, all served on a unique butter egg bun; toasted.”

Marie’s also has assorted fresh pastries in the morning, breakfast sandwiches, eight kinds of salads, specialty sandwiches and three Panini sandwiches. For a complete list of their menu items, visit Marie’s Café and Catering.

Kochert and his wife and co-owner, Allison, live in Oak Lawn and wanted to open their café in the village.

“We tried to locate in Oak Lawn,” he said. “We looked and looked and couldn’t find a location that worked.”

They settled on a space owned by St. Xavier University that formerly was a Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream shop.

“It’s a good space,” Kochert said. “It seats 55 and is across the street from Mount Greenwood Park, so we get a lot people in from the neighborhood or after they visit the park.”

Kochert said Marie’s has a great stereo system that plays Frank Sinatra music in the morning, easy rock like the Eagles and Bruce Springsteen in the afternoon and dinner music like Natalie Cole in the evenings.

Marie’s is open from Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For information, call 773-840-3344 or visit Marie’s Facebook page.

Baise to Address Southland Chamber

Illinois Manufacturers Association President and CEO Gregory W. Baise will talk about the state’s fiscal recovery during his keynote presentation at the June 11 Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce Regional Consensus Luncheon at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

With more than 20 years in the IMA top spot, preceded by several high level state appointments, Baise has an inside track on just about everything in Illinois. He will talk about how to change non-residents’ perception of doing business in Illinois as well as the present state of manufacturing.

The luncheon, which begins at 11:30 a.m., is open to the public. Reservations are $30 for members, $40 for non-members and can be made on the chamber website, http://www.chicagosouthland.com/, and by telephone at 708-957-6950.

On Stage Salon Opens in Alsip

On Stage Salon, 5418 W. 127th St. in Alsip, held its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony last week. For information, call owner Olga Trujillo at 708-239-1111.

Wireless Connection Celebrates Anniversary in Lansing

Wireless Connection, 3320 Ridge Road in Lansing, will celebrate one year in business from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Evergreen Park Market Returns

The Evergreen Park Farmer’s Market resumed today at Yukich Field at 89th Street and Kedzie Avenue, next to the fire station. The Evergreen Park market runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday through Oct. 26.

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/.