Tinley Hotels Finish Major Renovations

Comfort Inn and Suites in Tinley Park recently renovated its rooms.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Comfort Inn & Suites and the Sleep Inn, both in Tinley Park’s hotel complex near Interstate 80 and Harlem Avenue, each recently completed $750,000 in renovations.

Comfort Inn’s renovation included an update of the interior of the building at 18400 Spring Creek Dr. with a more modern style. Visitors will also find a variety of upgraded amenities including free wi-fi in guest rooms and throughout the hotel, LCD televisions, miniature refrigerators and microwave ovens.

Comfort Inn offers 65 rooms with 17 suites including one Jacuzzi suite. The hotel offers an indoor heated swimming pool, business center, fitness center, and a complimentary shuttle within five miles.

Sleep Inn’s renovation also updated the interior of the building at 18420 Spring Creek Dr. with a more modern style. Visitors will also find a variety of upgraded amenities including free wi-fi in guest rooms and throughout the hotel, LCD televisions, miniature refrigerators and microwave ovens.

The Sleep Inn has 73 rooms with a variety of double, queen and king beds. The hotel offers a business center, fitness center, and a complimentary shuttle within five miles.

“Significant renovations have had great impact in helping us give the feel of luxury at an economical price to our guests" said Karla Ruzich, general manager of both hotels. “Our visitors notice the improvements and appreciate the work to create a warm and inviting atmosphere where they feel comfortable.”

Fringe Boutique Moves in Frankfort

The Fringe Boutique is closed while the clothing store makes its move from its original home at 20529 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort to its new home at 27 Ash St. in downtown Frankfort.

The store is scheduled to reopen in its new digs on Thursday.

For information, call (815) 469-0607 or visit the store’s Facebookpage.

Party City Now Open in Mokena

Party City opened last month at 11375 W. Lincoln Highway in Mokena, next to the J.C.Penney store.

The store, which carries party and seasonal supplies, is open Monday to Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, call the store at 815-464-0970.

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.

Evergreen Park's Wolf’s Bakery Carries on Dressel’s Tradition

Wolf's Bakery in Evergreen Park sells its own version of the Dressel Classic chocolate fudge whipped cream cake.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

When I was a kid, you knew it was going to be a good time when a Dressel’s chocolate fudge whipped cream cake made its way to the table. Apparently, so did everyone else of my generation who grew up on the South Side or in the south suburbs.

The cakes were sold at the Dressel’s Bakery and were readily available frozen in most Chicago-area supermarkets. That is, until the company that had acquired the bakery closed up shop many years ago.

A few years ago, while I was still toiling at the SouthtownStar, columnist Phil Kadner wrote about the Dressel’s cake that we all so loved.

After some taste tests, it was determined that Baumann’s Bakery in Palos Heights had a cake that was pretty darn close to the Dressel’s original.

And now Baumann’s is closing its doors for the last time tomorrow. As sad as that is, it’s not the end of the line for the famed Dressel’s cake.

The Dressel’s Classic lives on at Wolf’s Bakery in Evergreen Park, which has been serving baked goods since 1939.

In fact, Wolf’s Bakery at 3241 W. 95^th St. has been selling its version of the cake for some time now.

“We’ve been selling it for a year or two,” said Nancy Dineen, manager at the bakery. “We sell quite a few every day. We make them fresh every day.”

The cakes come in one size, seven inches, and sell for $15.99.

“Each one serves from six to eight,” said Dineen. “I’ve eaten several. It tastes just like the old Dressel’s cake.”

Another sweet disaster averted thanks to the folks at Wolf’s Bakery.

The bakery is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

For information, call 708-422-7429 or visit them online atWolf’s Bakery.

TCBY Back in Orland Park

TCBY opened recently at 14658 S. LaGrange Road in the former Extreme Pita location in the Coopers Square shopping center in Orland Park.

The 1,400-square-foot location is the frozen yogurt company’s 15^th store in Illinois and replaces a store that closed a few months ago at 158^th and LaGrange.

Rami Kashkeesh is the owner of the new store.

Burger King Burns Down

Whopper fans in South Chicago Heights are out of luck since a fire earlier this week destroyed the longtime Burger King restaurant at 3219 Chicago Road in the southeastern Cook County suburb. No one was hurt in the blaze.

McDonald’s Closes for Renovation

The McDonald’s restaurant at 515 Ridge Road in Munster closed this week and will be torn down to make room for a new, improved state-of-the-art restaurant in the northwest Indiana suburb.

The franchise owner is asking customers to frequent his other locations in neighboring Highland.

A business owner in Lansing reported that traffic at the McDonald’s in that suburb had noticeably picked up since the Munster location closed.

The new McDonald’s is expected to reopen later this year.

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.

Marathon Station Under Construction

A former Speedway station at 15301 S. Harlem Ave. is being converted into a Marathon station.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Construction is under way on a Marathon gas station at 15301 S. Harlem Ave. in Orland Park. The station used to be a Speedway gas station and a Super America station before that. A media contact for Marathon said the station is independently owned and he did not have any information about when the station would be opening.

Four Winds to Open New Tower

Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Mich., will open a new, nine-story tower on Friday, which will add 250 rooms to the casino’s hotel and more than double the number of rooms and suites available.

The new tower is just one of three new improvements to the casino.

On July 7, Rod Stewart will open the Silver Creek Event Center in a sold-out show.  On July 11, the casino will welcome a 12,000-square-foot Hard Rock Café. The café will have two levels with seating for 275 and a stage for live music.

For information, call 1-866-494-6371 or visit Four WindsCasino.

Last Call for Baumann’s Bakery

Baumann’s Bakery at 12248 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights has dealt with some tough problems in recent years including a car driving through the front window last month and co-owner Ray Baumann’s health issues that required a liver transplant.

The last straw apparently was the recent retirement of its longtime baker.

Co-owner Cathy Baumann decided enough was enough and will close the bakery for the last time on Saturday. She’s trying to find a buyer for the business, which she and Ray have owned for almost 30 years.

Vote Expected on Field of Dreams

The City Council in Dyersville, Iowa, is expected to vote next week on annexing property that was the site of the “Field of Dreams” baseball movie starring Kevin Costner.

The land is being acquired by Oak Lawn residents Michael and Denise Stillman, who have ambitious plans to build a baseball and softball complex called All-Star Ballpark Heaven on the property.

Dyersville city officials recently approved a memorandum of understanding with the Stillmans regarding the property and the project.

Iowa state officials are on board with the plan and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a state tax break for the project.

A call to Denise Stillman at All-Star Ballpark Heaven was not returned.

Toy Box Connection Seeks Sponsors

Orland Park-based Toy Box Connection, a nonprofit organization that connects children in need with the gift of a toy, will be hosting its third annual Charity Golf Outing at Silver Lake Country Club in Orland Park on Monday, July 30, and is looking for golfers and sponsors.

Golfers can register individually or as a foursome. Along with 18 holes of golf with a cart, the event will include a continental breakfast, lunch, beverages on the course, a steak dinner, raffle prizes and contests.  Special pricing is available for groups signing up as a foursome. 

Sponsorship and prize/raffle donation opportunities are also available.  Sponsorships include tee/hole sponsors, beverage cart sponsors and lunch and dinner sponsors.  All sponsors and prize donors will be listed in the event/dinner program.  Discounted prices are available when sponsorship is combined with a foursome of golf.  All sponsorship costs are tax deductible. 

Toy Box Connection was started in June 2008 by Michelle Maxia, an Orland Park mother of two and retired police officer.  Its primary goal is to touch the life of a child through the gift of a toy.  Since its inception, Toy Box Connection has distributed more than 1 million toys to nonprofits that, in turn, have given them to thousands of children in need.  Such nonprofits include Together We Cope, Loyola’s Ronald McDonald House, Lambsfold Women’s Center and Mooseheart Orphanage. 

For information, call Joyce Latkowski at 708-364-9024 or visit Toy Box Connection. 

Tinley Park-Frankfort Rotary Awards Scholarships

The Tinley Park-Frankfort Rotary Club earlier this month handed out scholarships to local students heading to college this fall. Students who received $1,000 scholarships were Andrew High School graduate Nicholas Lew, Lincoln-Way East High School graduate Julianne Sipos, Tinley Park High School graduate Rachel Gattone and Lincoln-Way North High School graduate Dena Waldier. Lisa Hurdle, a graduate from Tinley Park High School, received a $500 scholarship for her community service efforts and fundraising for the school’s Interact Club, a Rotary sponsored service club.

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.