South Holland Bounce House Business Has its Ups and Downs

Mimi the Clown is one of the party offerings
at Bounce n House in South Holland.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Sandre Crane liked inflatable bounce houses so much that she kept renting them for family parties.

One day she decided to stop renting and bought one.

That fateful decision in January 2009 has turned into a home-based business for the South Holland mother of two that features 15 inflatables, three concession machines (snow cones, cotton candy and popcorn popper), magicians, clowns, face painting and characters such as Elmo, Dora the Explorer, Sponge Bob, Hello Kitty, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

“I got into this because we kept renting one for my niece’s birthday party,” said Crane, who has been known to do some face painting when she’s not studying to be a nurse.

“It’s been pretty good to me,” she said. “It has its ups and downs.”

She now has three employees who drop off and pick up the equipment and a fourth who drops off and picks up as well as cleans the equipment.

“We clean all of the inflatables at least once a week,” she said.

She said the most popular inflatable right now is a two-for-one combo that is a bounce house with a 13-foot-slide.

Storage is not a problem, she said.

“I store all 15 of them in my garage,” she said. “They roll up pretty small.”

She said she will continue the business even after she graduates from nursing school.

For information, call 708-516-4727 or visit Bounce n Houseat Facebook or on the web.

Regus Grand Opening

Regus Orland Executive Pointe will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday at 15255 S. 94^th Avenue in Orland Park.

Mayor Dan McLaughlin is expected to cut the ribbon.

Appetizers and beverages will be served.

RSVP to Joanne Sicher at 708-428-6200 or joanne.sicher@regus.com.

Elite Windows Closes in Mokena

Elite Windows closed recently at 19138 S. 88^th Avenue in Mokena.

Tinley Chamber to Tee Off

The Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual golf outing on Wednesday, July 18, at 8 a.m. at the Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park. Golf begins with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m.

Cost is $125 per golfer for 18 holes of golf, cart, continental breakfast prior to start, complimentary beverages and lunch on the course and dinner buffet with open bar. Dinner only tickets are $40 per 

person.

For information or to reserve a tee time, call the chamber office at 708.532.5700 or email info@tinleychamber.org.

Tinley Hosts GSU Workshop on Starting a Business

CenterPoint at Governors State University is sponsoring a free Starting a Business in Illinois workshops from 9-11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 18, at Kallsen Center in the Tinley Park Village Hall.

The workshop will 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.

Dan McAllister, Regional Representative for GSU CenterPoint, will present the program, sponsored by the Village of Tinley Park.

For information, contact CenterPoint at (708) 534-4927.

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.

Iron Horse Saloon Replaces Fat Sam’s in Lockport

Fat Sam's in Lockport was sold and renamed Iron Horse Saloon.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Fat Sam’s at 1225 E. Ninth St. in Lockport was recently sold and renamed the Iron Horse Saloon.

Iron Horse features a sports bar, restaurant and Trackside OTB. It was purchased in April by a consortium from longtime owner Sam LaRocco, who opened Sam’s Triple Crown in Orland Hills in May. Fat Sam's in Orland Park was not affected by the deal and remains open.

The consortium includes local partners Paul Roebuck and Angelo Amaro. The other four members wished to remain anonymous.

About the only thing that has changed since new owners took over has been the menu.

“We have gotten some newer items and removed some unpopular items from the old menu,” said Megan Kozina, restaurant manager, who made the transition from Sam’s to Iron Horse.

Newer items include prime rib and ribs, said Kozina.

“We’ve had a lot of customers who said they liked the new items,” she said.

There are also daily food and drink specials, she said.

Iron Horse hours are from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays.

For information, call 815-838-4420 or visit Iron Horse on Facebook or online at Iron Horse Saloon.

Ross Dress for Less to Open in Northwest Indiana

Ross Dress for Less, a discount apparel and home fashion chain, will open a new store this weekend in the Crossings at Hobart plaza at U.S. 30 and 80^th Avenue in Merrillville. It will be chain’s first store in the Hoosier State. 

The grand opening will be at 9:15 a.m. Saturday at the store, 2550 E. 79^th St.

California-based Ross entered the Chicago market last fall when it opened a dozen stores including locations in Matteson and Orland Park. It has since added stores in Calumet City and Bolingbrook.

Ross stores typically carry brand name products priced 20 percent to 60 percent less than at department and specialty stores.

“We started in California and are working are way east,” said Mary Walter, senior vice president of stores, during last year’s opening in Orland Park. “Customers in Chicago will respond to our great products at great prices.”

Ross has more than 1,000 stores in 27 states. Each store employs about 50 associates.

Store hours will be Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

For information, call the store at 219-942-2681 or visit online at Ross Dress forLess.

Quinlan Elected VP for Clerk’s Association

Oak Lawn Village Clerk Jane M. Quinlan was elected last month to a one-year term as vice president of the South and West Municipal Clerks Association, which represents more than 75 municipalities in south and west Cook County.

The association meets monthly to conduct business pertaining to the needs of municipalities and their residents. The association also promotes continuing education for clerks and the betterment of the profession of municipal clerks.

Tinley to Host Caribbean Beach Block Party

 

Oak Park Avenue will resemble Margaritaville from noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 15, when the annual Caribbean Beach Block Party takes over downtown Tinley Park.

The popular event offers live music on two stages, activities for the whole family, a mini-Taste of Tinley Park and much more.

North Stage
The Walk-Ins-Noon to 3 p.m.
The Associates-4 to 7 p.m.

South Stage
Billy's Boys-Noon to 3 p.m.
Mr. Myers-4 to 7 p.m. 

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.

Arena Lanes to Reclaim Family Bowling Center in Oak Lawn

Arena Lanes is reclaiming its family bowling center in Oak Lawn.
Courtesy of Let's Bowl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Effective next Tuesday, Arena Lanes will replace the Brunswick Zone Oak Lawn as the name of the bowling center at 4700 W. 103^rd St.

Longtime proprietor Bill Bard is taking back his family’s bowling alley that he leased to Brunswick Corp. in 2001.

The Bard family opened the bowling alley with 24 lanes in 1956 and added 16 lanes in 1962 and ran it until they leased it to Brunswick. Bard said in February that he decided to resume running the alley after Brunswick opted to let its lease expire.

The closing of Brunswick Zone leaves a Brunswick Zone XL in Homewood as the company’s only location in the south suburbs. The other closest Brunswick locations are in Woodridge and River Grove.

DePaulo Travel Relocates in Frankfort

DePaulo Travel, which was displaced when the Village of Frankfort approved plans for a Mariano’s Fresh Market on LaGrange Road, has found a new home in the former Riley’s Trick Shop at 103 Bankview Dr., next door to Heartland Blood Center.

The travel agency has been in Frankfort for 32 years.

Tinley Chamber to Tee Off

The Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual golf outing on Wednesday, July 18, at 8 a.m. at the Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park. Golf begins with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m.

Cost is $125 per golfer for 18 holes of golf, cart, continental breakfast prior to start, complimentary beverages and lunch on the course and dinner buffet with open bar. Dinner only tickets are $40 per person.

For information or to reserve a tee time, call the chamber office at 708.532.5700 or email info@tinleychamber.org.

Two new mattress stores open in Orland Park.

Discount Mattress USA opened earlier this year at 14700 S. LaGrange Road and Chicago Mattress Outlet opened recently at 15567 S. 94^th 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 www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.