Big Lots Now Open in Lockport

Big Lots is now open in Lockport.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Big Lots has opened a 30,000-square-foot store in the Summit Plaza at Summit Drive and Ninth Street in Lockport in a portion of the former Kmart.

The store’s grand opening is set for Friday, Nov. 16, but the store opened to customers last week.

Other tenants in the plaza include Berkot’s Super Foods, Advance Auto Parts,  Pizza Hut, Merlins 200,000 Mile Shop and Lockport Chiropractic.

Sara Lee stores closed

Sara Lee Outlet stores in Oak Lawn and Homewood have joined the ranks of Southland businesses that are now only a fond memory.

The Homewood store closed some time ago and the Oak Lawn store closed for good over the weekend. 

Both were victims of the company’s decision earlier this year to split into two companies.

Dialysis center under construction in Oak Forest

Ground was broken last month for a new Fresenius Medical Care dialysis center at 5340 W. 159^th St. in Oak Forest. The center will have 12 dialysis stations when it opens, which is slated for spring 2013.

Central Collision food drive under way

Central Collision, a locally owned auto repair shop with locations in Tinley Park, Mokena, Crete, Peotone, New Lenox and Oak Forest, is collecting non-perishable food through Nov. 20 as part of its annual Thanksgiving food drive.

The company will match all of the donations and last year gave 2,418 food items to Alicia’s House Food Pantry in South Chicago Heights.

For information, contact Marissa at marcaruso@centralcollision.com.

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.

Home Run Inn opens in Beverly

Home Run Inn is now open in Beverly.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy 

Home Run Inn opened last week for carryout orders at its latest location at 10900 S. Western Ave. in Chicago’s Beverly community, and will open for diners this week.

“The grand opening for the dining room will be 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13,” said Jamie Wagner, restaurant marketing manager for Home Run Inn.

The restaurant chain, which is celebrating its 65^th anniversary this year, will eventually be open daily for lunch but will have reduced hours when it first opens, she said.

“We’ll be closed on Mondays at the beginning,” she said adding the dining room also would be closed for lunch during the week but would be open starting at noon on weekends.

The ninth location for Home Run Inn will be a little different from most of the other locations, said Wagner.

“We’re getting back to our roots,” she said. “The Beverly location will have an open kitchen concept. There is a lot of brick and woodwork. It has more of a pub look and feel. It’s very inviting.”

The restaurant celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 26 attended by company officials, local elected officials and members of the Beverly business community.

The 4,400-square-foot restaurant has been highly anticipated by local residents who have been asking for months on its Facebook page when the Beverly location would finally be open.

For information, call the restaurant at 773-432-9696 or visit Home Run Inn online.
Mazda Dealer Now Open in Tinley

Community Mazda has completed its move from its longtime home in Oak Forest to its new home at 8325 W. 159^th St. in Tinley Park.

For information, visit Community Mazda of Tinley Park or check out the dealer’s Facebook page.

Kmart to close in Homer Glen

The Kmart at 159^th Street and Bell Road in Homer Glen will close by the end of January and has started a store closing sale.

The store, which opened in 1981, was converted from a Kmart to a Sears Essential store after the merger of Kmart and Sears in 2005, but the concept never really caught on and the store was reconverted back to a Kmart about 18 months ago.  

The store has 82 employees, some of whom may be able to transfer to other Sears or Kmart locations.

Century 21 opens in Mokena

A new Century 21 Pride office held its grand opening last week at 18700 S. Wolf Road in Mokena. For information, call 815-469-4700 or visit the Century 21 website.

 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.

Retail deals and free meals for veterans abound on Veterans Day

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Local restaurants and national chains are saying thanks to the men and women who served in the military by offering free food to active duty personnel and retired veterans this weekend.

Many of these offers require proof of service and may be limited or do not include drinks and gratuity. Some offers at national chains may not be honored by local franchises, so call ahead or ask first.

Meal deals include:

Ed and Joe’s in Tinley Park is offering a free small pizza with two toppings or a free sandwich on Veterans Day, which is Sunday, Nov. 11. The restaurant says it’s their way of making up for all of the Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) a vet consumed on duty.

Bar Louie locations (including Matteson) are offering free meals (up to $11) all day Sunday and Monday, Nov. 12.

Applebee's is offering a free meal from a special menu all day on Sunday.

Chili’s is offering their choice of one of seven meals from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Denny’s nationwide are offering free all-you-can-eat pancakes from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday.

Famous Dave’s is serving free or discounted meals on Sunday. Offers vary by location. Call ahead or visit Famous Dave’sVeterans Day page for more information.

Golden Corral is offering its 12^th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner from 4-9 p.m.

Hooter’s is offering 10 free wings – Boneless or Regular – with a drink purchase on Sunday.

Participating Krispy Kreme doughnut shops are serving a free doughnut on Sunday to all veterans.

Little Caesars Pizza will give away a free Crazy Bread on Monday.

Lone Star Steakhouse will serve a free entrée from its Stars & Stripes menu on Monday.

LongHorn Steakhouse offers a free Texas Tonion and non-alcoholic beverage on Sunday.

Outback Steakhouse is giving away free Bloomin’ Onions and Cokes on Sunday and Monday. The chain also discounts 10 percent on purchases from Nov. 13 to Dec. 31.

Red Lobster is offering a free appetizer on Sunday.

Red Robin will serve a free Red’s Tavern Double and Bottomless Steak Fries on Monday.

Texas Corral is offering a free entrée on Sunday.

Texas Roadhouse offers a free lunch on Monday from a list of 10 selections, plus sides and a drink.

T.G.I. Friday’s also is offering a free lunch on Monday.

The Olive Garden is serving a free entrée on Sunday from a special menu that includes baked garlic bread sticks and a soup or salad.

Champps American will give away a free Champps Cheeseburger and fries on Monday.

7-Eleven is serving free small Slurpees from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Other deals include:

Home Depot Military Discount: The Home Depot is offering all active duty personnel, reservists, retired military, veterans and their families a 10 percent discount off their purchases in honor of Veterans Day.

Lowe’s Military Discount: Lowe’s will offer all active, reserve, honorably discharged, retired military personnel and their immediate family members a 10 percent discount on in-store U.S. purchases made Nov. 7- 11.

Big Lots is offering 10 percent off your entire purchase to active duty, Guard/Reserve, veterans, retirees and their immediate family members.

Cabela’s is giving their standard employee discount to veterans, active duty military, Guard/Reserve, law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel on Nov. 11-12. Discount varies from 5 percent to 20 percent, depending on the item.

Dollar General offers a 10 percent discount on entire purchase on Veterans Day. Also good online from Nov 11-13, use Coupon Code VETERANSDAY.