Odyssey Fun World Opens State's First Mobile Zip Line Ride in Tinley Park

Odyssey Fun World in Tinley Park has opened a Zip Line ride.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Odyssey Fun World at 19111 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park last week opened the state’s first mobile Zip Line ride.

“It’s an extreme ride,” said General Manager Clint Paraday describing the ride that lasts only seconds but packs a wallop. “We opened it on Friday and the crowd response was phenomenal.”

Paraday said the ride Zip Line tower stands 30-feet high and the line stretches out to 130 feet long. There is a 60-pound minimum weight and a 250-pound maximum. 

“The heavier you are, the faster you go,” Paraday said. 

The Zip Line is one of many improvements Paraday has brought to the amusement park in the past year including a corn maize last Halloween and a musical light show at Christmastime.

“We’re trying to stay relevant,” he said. “We had 30,000 people go through the corn maize in 30 days last year and it’s going to be even better this year.”

The Zip Line ride is set up next to the go-cart track and while it will stay put this season, Paraday has big plans for next year.

“For insurance reasons, we aren’t taking it out this year,” he said. “But next year I plan to have it at festivals, Tinley Park Caribbean Days and other outdoor events.”

A ride costs $10.

For information, call 708-429-3800 or visit Odyssey Fun World.

New Owner for Joan’s Place

Kenneth Mandernach’s West End 6950 Corp. is the new owner of Joan’s Place at 6950 W. 95^th St. in Oak Lawn. The village granted the new owners a liquor license last month.

Beverly Closings

Café 103 at 1909 W. 103rd St. in Chicago’s Beverly community and its sister business, Beverly’s Pantry at 1907 W. 103^rd St. both closed recently.

Free Shredding

Parkway Bank & Trust at 14345 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park is offering free shredding to the community from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. You can bring up to five boxes of personal documents to be shredded. For information, call 708-460-4888.

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.

Orland Berkot’s to Open on Thursday

Berkot's Super Foods will open its newest store in Orland Park on Thursday,

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Berkot’s Super Foods will open its newest store at 8 a.m. Thursday, June 21, at 11333 W. 159^th St. in Orland Park’s Wolf Crossing Plaza.

The 40,000-square-foot store will be the Mokena-based chain’s largest and will feature its highly regarded meat department, produce department, deli and bakery.

Grand opening events will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday to Sunday. The first 100 customers each day will receive a free bag of groceries.

Each day, Berkot’s will play “Check-out Bingo” every 15 minutes and the winner will receive a $10 gift card for their next visit and a chance to spin the Prize Wheel with prizes ranging from appliances to movie passes to a $1,000 shopping spree grand prize.

On Friday, former Black Hawks star Dennis Savard will be at the store from 6-7:30 p.m. promoting Savy’s Pizza. On Saturday, former Bears star Richard Dent will be on hand from 2-4 p.m. to promote MillerCoors.

Berkot’s opened its first store in Mokena in 1990 and has 12 other locations in the Southwest Suburbs.

Cleaners Closes in Orland

AmeriClean Cleaners recently shut its doors at 11021 W. 179th St. in Orland Park.

Odyssey Sweet Spot Hosts Chamber

Odyssey Sweet Spot sports bar and driving range at 19110 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park will show off its new beer garden while hosting a Business After Hours for the Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday.

Aladdin’s Cave Resale Shop Opens

A resale shop called Aladdin’s Cave opened recently at 509 E. 45^th Avenue in Griffith, Ind.

The store specializes in vintage items and antiques.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays.

For information, call 219- 972–1715.

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.

Rizza Adds GMC to Tinley Dealership

Rizza has added GMC to its offerings at its Tinley Park dealership.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Rizza Cars, Chicagoland Automotive Group, has added a GMC franchise to its Tinley Park location at 8425 W. 159^th St. GMC joins Buick and Cadillac at the dealership.

GMC models include SUVs such as Acadia, Terrain and Yukon, as well as Sierra and Canyon trucks.

Rizza also sells Acura, Ford, Kia, Porsche and Saab at dealerships in Orland Park and North Riverside.

 For more information, visit Rizza Cars.

Journeys Backyard Barbecue Hits Orland Park

Motocross meets music when Journeys Backyard Barbecue hits Orland Square Mall from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Metal Mulisha freestyle motocross team will perform three times (12:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.) as it shows off by doing can-cans, black flips and the kiss of death. 

Osiris has a team of skateboard pros that will perform at 1:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. on a 48-foot-wide Super Mini Ramp. Performers include Corey Duffel, Chad Bartie, Caswell Berry, JT Aultz, Kellen James and Pierre-Luc Gagnon. They will hold autograph sessions after each performance.

After a battle of the bands, musical performers will include Hit the Lights at 4:40 p.m. and Never Shout Never from 6-6:45 p.m.

For more information, visit Journeys Backyard Barbecue.

Marquette Bank Holds Appreciation Week

Marquette Bank will be holding its annual Customer and Neighbor Appreciation Week from June 16-23 at branches in the Southland.

The bank will kick off the week by holding a Free Family Party featuring Jim Nesci’s Cold Blooded Creatures on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Orland Park branch at 7560 W. 159^th St.

Customers and neighbors are invited to come see Jim Nesci’s Cold Blooded Creatures show featuring alligators and snakes, enjoy refreshments and participate in fun activities.

Saturday is also Switch to Neighborhood Banking Day at all Marquette locations.  Neighbors are encouraged to join the movement toward local banking and strengthening our local economy.  Stop in at any Marquette Bank location for new customer specials and free credit history reports. 

Bank branches also will offer free financial services such as estate planning, retirement checkup, home financing review, and an online bill pay demonstration. 

Marquette will offer free document shredding on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at 6316 S. Western Ave. in Chicago, 5700 W. 159^th St. in Oak Forest and 17865 S. Wolf Road in Orland Park. Shredding will be offered on Saturday, June 23, from 10 a.m. to noon at branches in Bolingbrook, New Lenox and 8855 S. Ridgeland Ave. in Oak Lawn.

Marquette Bank’s Customer and Neighbor Appreciation Week will also feature Free On-site Document Shredding at several of its locations on Saturday, June 16 and Saturday, June 23.  Customers can help prevent identity theft by shredding old statements, bills and documents.  Document Shredding will be available at the following locations:

For information, call 1-888-254-9500 or visit www.emarquettebank.com.

Mackey’s Pub Opens in Orland

John Mackey, who has owned Ryan’s Pub in Frankfort since 1997, has opened a new bar and restaurant called, aptly enough, Mackey’s Pub at 9400 W. 143^rd St. in Orland Park.

Mackey’s Pub opened last month and features a full bar, specialty martinis and a menu that includes the family’s famous fried chicken.

John and his wife, Maureen, first got started in the bar business when they opened Paddy B’s in 1983 in Orland Park. They sold it in 1997 shortly before buying Ryan’s Pub.

Walt’s Celebrates 75^th Anniversary

Walt’s Foods is celebrating its 75^th anniversary this week with gift certificate giveaways – just register at any store – and a Hot Dog Stand on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. where you can get a hot dog, chips and a pop for $1.

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.