Scrementi’s Returns to Mokena

Scrementi's Italian Grill opened this week in Mokena.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Scrementi’s restaurant has found a new home in Mokena.

Now called Scrementi’s Italian Grill, the restaurant opened Tuesday at 9301 W. 191^st St. in the Boulevard shopping center.

The first Scrementi’s Mokena location opened in the fall of 2010 in the former Angelino’s and was forced out several months later. They searched a long time for a new location before settling on a corner spot at the Boulevard.

 “The new location has a totally different set up,” said Nancy Vandal, manager at the original Scrementi’s in Steger.

The new location is a single-level establishment as opposed to the three-floor former location. There is an outdoor patio, a bar area and a small banquet room for parties of up to 50 people.

“The menu will be very similar to the original location,” Vandal said.

She said owner Sam Scrementi was going for a “casual but elegant feel.”

“He wants people to be able to enjoy a nice dinner or to be able to sit in the bar and relax,” she said.

The new Scrementi’s will be open for lunch and dinner with hours from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

For information, call 708-478-3335 or visit them online at Sam Scrementi’s Restaurant or check out their Facebook page.

Natalie’s Gifts Calls it Quits

Natalie’s Gifts is going out of business after more than 20 years at 7206 W. College Drive in the Tiffany Square shopping center in Palos Heights. The store is holding a liquidation sale through August with prices on collectibles slashed 70 percent. For information, call 708-923-1461.

Gold and More Closing

Gold and More, a resale shop that specialized in buying gold and silver, is holding a going out of business sale at 7220 W. Benton Drive in Frankfort Square.

An employee said the store, which opened in November 2010, will close by the end of the month unless it runs out of inventory.

“We have until the end of the month when the lease runs out, but I don’t see us lasting that long,” the employee said.

Cici’s Closes in Lockport

The Cici’s Pizza restaurant closed recently at 16131 S. Farrell Road in Lockport. If you have a hankering for their pizza buffet or breadsticks, there are still restaurants in Plainfield, Naperville, Schererville, Ind., and at 9218 W. 159^th St. in Orland Park.

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.

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.