Tribes Alehouse to Open in Former Tinley Park CharleyHorse

Tribes Alehouse is opening a second location in the former CharleyHorse in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

It didn’t take long for a new establishment to gobble up the site of the former CharleyHorse sports pub at 171^st Street and LaGrange Road in Tinley Park’s Park Hill Towne Center.

Niall Freyne, owner of Tribes Alehouse in Mokena, is in the process of converting the former sports pub into a second location for his restaurant and pub.

"We're looking at opening in mid-September," Freyne said Tuesday. "We've only been in here for three weeks and we're almost done."

Freyne said he gutted the interior and started from scratch.

"I went against the rules and made the space inside smaller," he said. "But we are doubling the size of the bar and will have seating for 135."

"We'll start with 50 beers on tap and I hope to add a few as we go along."

Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki said he had been working with Freyne for the past three or four months to open a Tribes Alehouse in the village.

Zabrocki said Freyne has his liquor license and all of the other permits he needs, so it’s up to him when the new Tribes will open.

“I know he wants to open ASAP,” Zabrocki said.

The mayor also is quite pleased to see Tribes moving into Tinley Park.

“He has an excellent reputation,” Zabrocki said. “It’s a great location.”

Zabrocki said the opening of Tribes would be great for the area near 171^st and LaGrange.

“You’ll have Frankie’s Ristorante, a white tablecloth Italian restaurant, and Tribes, a kind of Irish pub. What more could you ask for?”

The website for Tribes says the pub is taking applications for all positions from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Thursday on the patio at the Tinley location and also anytime at the Mokena location, 11220 W. Lincoln Highway.

Freyne, of Mokena, opened Tribes in November 2009 just five months after he closed Galway Tribes in Frankfort. Freyne said the recession and a dramatically increased tax assessment killed Galway Tribes, which has since reopened as Tommy Nevin’s Pub.

Tribes Alehouse in Mokena features craft beers with 45 on tap most days, a full bar and an extensive menu.

Final Days for Enrico's

Enrico's Italian Dining is shutting its doors for a final time tomorrow at its longtime home on LaGrange Road in Frankfort.

The property was sold earlier this year by owners Harry and Bob D'Ercole to Roundy's, a supermarket chain based in Milwaukee that plans to build a Mariano's Fresh Market on the site.

The D'Ercoles have said they want to stay in the village in a new location, but haven't announced a spot.

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.

Savers to Open Next Week in Orland Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Savers will be opening its Orland Park thrift store at 15625 S. 94^th Avenue with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16.

As part of the opening celebration, Savers is working with the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago. Donations to the store will directly benefit the Foundation.

The company was founded in 1954 and has alliances with more than 140 nonprofit organizations and charities.

The Bellevue, Wash.-based retailer has been expanding its presence for the past few years and plans on opening more than 100 new stores in the next couple of years. The chain has more than 270 stores in the U.S., Canada and Australia.

Savers will be opening three stores in the Chicago area that day including locations in Carol Stream and Arlington Heights. They will join three stores already open in Downers Grove, Naperville and St. Charles.

For information, visit them online at Savers.

Pizza Eating Contest at Durbin’s

Durbin’s is celebrating its 25^th anniversary with a pizza eating contest at 7 p.m. Wednesday at its Tinley Park location with the winner getting free pizza for life. For information, call 708-429-1000.

Calling for Business Champions

The Economic Development Council for the Southwest Suburbs is seeking nominations for its 2012 Business Champion Awards.

Nominations are being accepted in five categories:

• Training and Development
• Sustainability
• Excellence in Government
• Philanthropy
• Best Place to Work

Eligible individuals or businesses must be clients of Moraine Valley Community College’s Corporate, Community and Continuing Education subdivision or be located in or provide services in one of the 26 communities in the college’s district.

Nominees can enter as many categories for which they qualify, but they can only win once. Entries must include a nomination form and a brief description of the business or individual. Self-nominations are accepted. 

The awards will be presented at the 18th annual Business Champion Awards Banquet on Thursday, Nov. 1.

For information, call Eda Schrimple, Economic Development Council for the Southwest Suburbs coordinator, at 708-974-5714.   

Lynnie Ques Closes Thornton Shop

Lansing-based Lynnie Ques restaurant has closed its Thornton location after 18 months. The Lansing eatery remains open at 19267 Burnham Ave. For information, call 708-474-7837 or visit them onlineat Lynnie Ques.

Bimba Acquires Minnesota Company

University Park-based Bimba Manufacturing Co. closed on its deal last week to acquire Pneumadyne Inc. in Plymouth, Minn. The companies provide pneumatic, hydraulic and electric solutions and components.

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.

Jamaica Jerk Choice Opens in Tinley

Jamaican Jerk Choice opened in July in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Jamaican Jerk Choice, which offers Caribbean cuisine including jerk chicken and curry goat, opened earlier this month at 15910 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park.

The 1,200-square-foot restaurant has a sister store in Calumet City.

Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m.

For information, check out the menu at Jamaica Jerk Choice.

Justice Adding Brothers at Orland Store

Justice, a clothing store aimed at girls from ages 7 to 14, is opening the door to boys at some of its outlets including one at Orland Park Place mall in Orland Park.

The Ohio-based chain plans to open 10 Justice & Brothers stores, including the one in Orland Park, by the end of the summer.

The Orland Park Place store reopened this week after being closed for remodeling and the addition of the Brothers store within a store.

The chain’s store in Orland Square Mall is open and will remain a Justice store for girls.

Durbin’s to Open Monday in Plainfield

Durbin’s will open its seventh location in Plainfield at 11 a.m. Monday in the former Pom Poms All-American Bar & Grill at 16031 S. Lincoln Highway.

The family-owned chain, which also has locations in Burbank, Evergreen Park, Midlothian, Tinley Park, 

Palos Hills and Frankfort, is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this month. Durbin’s is noted for its pizza, ribs, burgers and homemade doughnut holes.

Renovations to the building included a 4,000-square-foot enclosed beer garden.

Mirror Image Salon Opens

Mirror Image Salon held its grand opening this week at 17722 Oak Park Ave. in downtown Tinley Park.

Marquette Bank, Charter Fitness Seek School Supplies

Marquette Bank and Charter Fitness are holding school supply drives in August.

Marquette Bank is holding its annual drive through Friday, Aug. 10. Customers, employees, neighbors and businesses can donate school supplies at any of the bank’s 23 locations. For information, call 1-888-254-9500.

Charter Fitness is hosting its annual drive through Sunday, Aug. 19.  Brand-new school supplies may be dropped off at any participating locations.  The donations will benefit local students and schools in each of the communities Charter Fitness serves. 

For information, ask at your local center or visit CharterFitness.

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.