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I have more than 40 years in the news business and have successfully evolved into an electronic journalist. Comings & Goings and Southland Savvy track news about businesses in Chicago's Southland.

Meatheads to open in Frankfort

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy 

Meatheads Burgers & Fries will open its 10th restaurant on Thursday, Nov. 1, at 11143 W. Lincoln Highway in Frankfort. The first 1,000 people to register online will receive a free burger at the new location.

Meatheads plans to be an active Frankfort community member, giving all profits from its soft-opening lunch and dinners to Lincoln-Way Hockey and Frankfort Square Baseball.

For information, call 815-469-0244 or visit Meatheads.

Dunkin’ Donuts to Replace Nino’s

Nino’s Pizza was torn down recently at 4630 Lincoln Highway in Matteson to make way for a Dunkin’ Donuts shop.

The once popular pizzeria had been closed for some time when it fell victim to the wrecking ball this summer.

Village officials have been working since the spring with Samorma Inc. to bring in the doughnut shop. Samorma operates Dunkin’ Donut and Baskin-Robbins shops in Orland Park and Tinley Park.

The new Dunkin’ Donuts will be about 2,400-square-feet and feature a drive-through lane. A second space of about 2,000 square feet will be available for another tenant in the building.

Bank Moves in Cal City 

BMO Harris Bank moved earlier this year from its longtime home at 555 Burnham Ave. to 530 Torrence Ave. in Calumet City.
7-Eleven Opens in Palos Heights
A new 7-Eleven opened recently at 11900 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights between Tastee Freez and Mona Lisa, which vacated the space taken over by the convenience store.
The store is planning a grand opening for Friday, Nov. 9, from noon to 3 p.m. The store is open 24 hours and was granted a liquor license.
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 at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

Wendy’s opens in Palos Heights

Wendy's opened this week at 12875 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights.
By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A new Wendy’s restaurant opened this week at 12875 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights. The fast-food eatery is in an outlot at the new Jewel-Osco store that opened several weeks ago at 127th and Harlem. 

Diana’s Kitchen delights Metra passengers

Commuters who use the 80th Avenue Metra Station in Tinley Park can finally get a cup of coffee or something to eat on the train while heading downtown for their morning trip. 

Diana’s Kitchen opened last week in the station cafĂ© and from 5-9 a.m. is selling coffee, doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches and other drinks and snacks. 

The restaurant at 167th Street and Oak Park Avenue replaces Isn’t That Sweet, which backed out of a deal to open in the station.

Old Plank Bank takes over First United

New Lenox-based Old Plank Trail Community Bank recently acquired the assets and deposits of Crete-based First United Bank.

Besides the main office in Crete, the failed bank had two branch banks in Frankfort. It has assets of $328 million and deposits of $317 million.

New Look for Food 4 Less

The Food 4 Less grocery store at 5556 W. 159th St. in Oak Forest had a grand reopening recently after the store finished a major remodeling.

The store now features an expanded meat department with full-service butchers, an expanded produce department with organic selections and aisles devoted to foods from around the world.

The store, which is a division of Kroger Foods, opens daily at 6 a.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 at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

LBK Boutique Opens in Tinley Park

Lisa Kopas opened LBK Boutique last month in Tinley Park.
By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

If Lisa Kopas had not started selling wedding accessories online in 2005 the Tinley resident would never have dreamed of opening her own store, LBK Boutique at 7913 W. 171st St. in the Tinley Downs Shopping Center.

“I would never have done it without having the online store,” she said. “But I was successful online and was determined to try and do this myself.”

Kopas decided to open the brick and mortar version of LBK Boutique after she lost her job as a controller at a power plant in Ford Heights when it closed.

Kopas, 45, opened the store last month and said business was great until a road and sewer construction project started at the intersection of 171st and 80th Avenue.

“Business has been half of what it was,” she said.

“We sell accessories and gifts for all occasions,” she said. “We have lots of wedding and bridal accessories.”

Store hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store is closed on Sunday.

For information, call 708-468-8649 or visit LBK Boutique online, or its Facebook page, or its ebay store.

Rosati’s Opens in New Lenox

Rosati’s Pizza of New Lenox opened earlier this month at 108 W. Illinois Highway in New Lenox in the former home of Lazy Dogz Burgers and Beef. The location offers carry out and delivery to New Lenox, Joliet, Mokena and Manhattan.

For information, call 815-485-1000 or visit Rosati’s of NewLenox.

Middle Eastern Bakery Opens

Almasi Bakery, which specializes in Middle Eastern baked goods, opened recently at 17845 S. Wolf Road in Orland Park. For information, call 708-478-5535.

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 at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.