Graystone Golf Course to Close

Graystone Golf Course in Tinley Park will close at the end of the season.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

If you’re a fan of Graystone Golf Course at 7600 W. 191^st St. in Tinley Park, you better make your tee times soon.

The nine-hole layout will end its run as a golf course at the end of its current season.

Owners of the course, which was built by Jim Gray and opened in 1995, want to turn the 48-acre site into either a sod farm or soybean farm. Odds favor a sod farm as there is already an irrigation system in place to water the grounds.

Karen Gray, one of three owners and the person who has operated the course since Mr. Gray’s death in 2009, did not return phone calls.

Village records indicate the course has been for sale since Mr. Gray died but there has been little real interest in buying the land, which is zoned for office and restricted industrial use.

The village board has to approve a special use permit to allow the farming, but that shouldn’t be a problem. There are farms all around the course and the Plan Commission has endorsed the permit.

As part of the special use permit, the folks who own the course have to keep trying to sell the land.

That’s no problem. The site is currently being advertised – as a former golf course – with the price listed as negotiable.

Wrestling Show at Convention Center

Purely Obsessed Wrestling World is bringing pro wrestling to the Tinley Park Convention Center on Saturday, July 21.

Former WWE stars “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn and Bob “Hardcore” Holly highlight the night’s action.

Doors open at 5 p.m. for a meet and greet with Gunn and Holly. General admission starts at 6 p.m. and the action starts at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

For information, visit POWWEntertainment.

Oak Ridge Family Dental Grows

Dr. Meghan E. Gaffney recently joined the staff at Oak Ridge Family Dental, 4445 W. 95^th St.

Dr. Gaffney grew up in Lemont and graduated cum laude in 2008 from Creighton University in Omaha with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. In 2012, Dr. Gaffney graduated with a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Creighton’s School of Dentistry. She is an active member of the American Dental Association, the Illinois Dental Society and the Chicago Dental Society.

While living in Nebraska, Dr. Gaffney was a dance instructor at Craio na Tire Studio of Irish Dance.

Bookworm Café Drops Expansion

Plans have been dropped for the Bookworm Café to open a second location inside the New Lenox Public Library, but it remains business as usual for the location inside the Oak Lawn Public Library, which celebrated its first anniversary in May.

The café is located on the library’s first floor near the Raymond Avenue entrance. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1-4 p.m.

The café offers free wireless Internet access.

For information on daily specials, call 708-357-9676.

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.

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.