Tinley Couple Open Bakery in Frankfort

Sweet Dreams Cakes and Bakery is now open in Frankfort Square.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Deon and Vicki O'Bryant, who live in Tinley Park and have been selling cakes at farmers markets under the name Sweet Dreams Cakes, opened a bakery over the weekend at 80^th Avenue and Lincoln Highway in Frankfort Square.

Sweet Dreams Cakes and Bakery is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays and from 6:30 a.m. to noon Sundays.

For information, visit them online at Sweet Dreams Cakes or check out their Facebook page.

Bar Louie Opens in Matteson

Bar Louie, a national chain of nightclubs, opened earlier this year inside the renovated Matteson Holiday Inn, 500 Holiday Plaza Dr. (next to the U.S. 30 and Interstate 57 interchange).

A Bar Louie location on LaGrange Road in Orland Park closed back in February 2010.

For information, call 708-898-0124 or visit them online atBar Louie or visit their Facebook page.

Portillo’s Hiring in New Lenox

Portillo’s is hiring for its new location at 2306 E. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox. Apply in person on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Atrium Point, 1938 E. Lincoln Highway, Suite 214. For information, visit them online at Portillo’s.

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.

Continue your story here. 

Pole Dancing Convention Back in Tinley

A pole dancer competes at last year's competition. -- Photo by Jeremy Farmer, TimeOut Chicago.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Now for something completely different.

The Great Midwest Pole Dancing Competition and Convention is coming this weekend to the Tinley Park Convention Center.

It will be the second year the center will host the pole dancing competition, which is sanctioned by the Pole Fitness Association and Pole Dance and Fitness Association.

The convention begins at 9 a.m. Friday and runs through Sunday. The public is welcome and tickets are $65 per day with weekend passes available.

For information and a complete schedule of prices and events, visit them online at Great Midwest Competition and Convention.

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.