Chuck’s Fest Returns to Toyota Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Chuck’s Fest, a beer, food and music extravaganza, returns this weekend to Toyota Park in Bridgeview.

The fest was started in 2008 by Chuck Pine, owner of Chuck’s Southern Comforts Café in Burbank. The three-day festival moved two years ago to Toyota Park.

A new food offering this year will be smoked goat, which will be done on Saturday at the fest alongside Birrieria Zaragoza, a Mexican restaurant in Chicago renowned for its roast goat.

Back this year will be the beer tasting on Saturday featuring 80 brewers serving more than 120 craft beers.

“It’s probably the biggest beer tasting event in Chicago,” Pine said. “We’ll have VIP tasting from noon to 3 p.m. for $45 to give connoisseurs a jump on the sampling. They’ll be able to sample everything we have including some brands that we have in limited supply.”

Activities for kids include a balloon launcher, face painting and a bounce house.

Bands will be on stage throughout the festival.

There will be big screen TVs located so fans can keep tabs on their favorite college and pro games over the weekend.

For a complete list of beers and food and bands, visit Chuck’sFest 2012.

General admission is $5 per person with free parking. Hours are Friday, Sept. 7, 5-11 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 8, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 9, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

House of Brides Making its Move

The new House of Brides Wedding Super Center in Orland Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The House of Brides store at 15180 S. LaGrange Road in Ravinia Plaza in Orland Park has closed, and the company will be moving into a new location at 9604 W. 161st St. in Orland Park.

"They have applied for a transfer of business license and occupancy permit," Karie Friling, Orland Park's director of development services, said. "We will be inspecting the store (this) week."

 A news release on PRWeb.com stated the company will announce this week the location and opening date of its new House of Brides Wedding Super Center in Orland Park.

Calls to the House of Brides corporate office in Glen Ellyn were not returned.

The company was ordered by Cook County Judge Maureen P. Feerick to vacate the Ravinia Plaza premises by the end of August for failure to pay more than $232,000 in back rent to Inland Real Estate Corp.

The case began on March 1 when a joint action complaint was filed at the Cook County Courthouse in Bridgeview. At that time, House of Brides was $208,620 in arrears.

Inland spokeswoman Nicole Spreck declined to speak about the court decision citing company policy.

Famous Dave’s to Open at Evergreen Pointe

Minnesota-based Famous Dave’s restaurant chain last month signed a lease for a 3,600-square-foot barbecue restaurant at 2851 W. 95^th St. in the former Little Gym at Evergreen Pointe shopping center.

The village approved a business license and wine and beer liquor license for Famous Dave’s in April.

The restaurant is now hiring managers and other employees. Job candidates can apply online at Famous Dave’s Evergreen Park.

Once open, hours will be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The chain operates more than 170 restaurants in the United States, including one 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.

Advance Auto Parts Opens in Mokena

Advance Auto Parts is now open in Mokena.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Virginia-based Advance Auto Parts opened its after-market auto store today in the last remaining outlot at the Mokena Town Square shopping center at LaGrange and LaPorte roads in Mokena.

The store, which is next to the A&W Root Beer and KFC restaurant, is the company’s 11th in the Chicago Southland.

For information, call 708-478-8098 or visit them online at Advance Auto.

Jos. A Bank Reopens at Orland Square Mall

Men’s clothier Jos. A. Bank opened recently its new upper level location on Aug. 18 at Orland Square Mall 

in Orland Park.

The store moved into the space vacated by Ruby Tuesday while its own former downstairs space will become home later this year to The Cheesecake Factory.

For information, call 708-226-1191 or visit them online atJos. A. Bank.

Sweet Deal for Metra Station

Tinley Park officials have selected Isn’t That Sweet of Palos Heights to provide pastries, light lunch and coffee to commuters at the 80^th Avenue Metra Station. Owner Nicole Betourney should be open for business later this year.

Home Run Inn Coming to Beverly

Home Run Inn has announced on its Facebook page that its pizzeria at 10900 S. Western Ave. in the Beverly community is scheduled to open in October. The restaurant originally was expected to be open by this spring.

The Beverly location will be the chain’s ninth restaurant in the Chicago area.

The dine-in restaurant will be about 4,000 square feet in size and is being built on two adjoining lots. It will seat about 120 people and offer liquor.

The chain was started in 1947 at 4254 W. 31^st St.

Calls to marketing director Gina Bolger were not returned.

New Look for Lady Foot Locker

The Lady Foot Locker shoe store inside Ford City Shopping Center, 7601 S. Cicero Ave. in Chicago, recently finished a remodeling project.

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.