Ross Dress for Less coming to Tinley Park

Ross Dress for Less is under construction at Brookside Marketplace in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A Ross Dress for Less discount apparel and home goods store is under construction at Brookside Marketplace in Tinley Park.

A spokesman for Ohio-based DDR Corp., which owns and manages the mall at 191^st Street and Harlem Avenue, said he didn’t have a timetable for when the store would be opening.

It will be the fourth Ross store in the Southland when it opens. The California-based retailer already has stores in Orland Park, Matteson and Calumet City.

Ross stores typically carry brand name products priced 20 percent to 60 percent less than at department and specialty stores

The chain has more than 1,000 stores in 27 states. Each store employs about 50 associates.

Save-A-Lot opens in Hazel Crest

Hard-discount grocery store Save-A-Lot held its grand opening on May 15 at 17531 Kedzie Ave. in Hazel Crest.

The limited assortment store is a subsidiary of Supervalu, which recently sold off its Jewel-Osco stores.

The Hazel Crest store features a fresh meat department, fresh produce and dairy products.

The store is about 15,000 square feet and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Matteson Menards unveils new look

The newly renovated Menards store at 21630 S. Cicero Ave. in Matteson is holding a grand reopening this week.

Among events this week, former Bears great Dan Hampton will make an appearance at the store from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, while former Sox star Lance Johnson will appear from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 23.

Health clinic opens in Frankfort

A Franciscan Express health care clinic operated by St. James hospital in Chicago Heights is now open at LaGrange and St. Francis roads, behind the Taco Bell restaurant. Office hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

For information, call 815-464-2010.

Cellular Connection opens in Palos

The Cellular Connection will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting at noon Friday, May 24, at 13039 S. LaGrange Road in Palos Park.

Moraine Valley business open house

Moraine Valley Community College Business and Conference Center will hold a free open house from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, in Building M at the college, 9000 W. College Pky. In Palos Hills.

Guests will sample the center’s food and beverage options while touring the 12,000-square-foot venue, which features an executive board room, breakout rooms, on-site catering, Wi-Fi, computer labs and business support center.

For information, sign up at Open House or contact Corporate, Community and Continuing Education at 708-974-5690.

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 follow business happenings at Comings & Goings.

Brazil soccer club to play first friendly match at Toyota Park

Cruzeiro Esporte Clube takes on the New York Red Bulls in 2010.

By Bob Bong
Desplaines Valley News


A pro Brazilian soccer club will play its first match in the Chicago area when Cruzeiro Esporte Clube takes on Mexico's Club Atletico Monarcas Morelia in the inaugural International Friendly at Toyota Park in Bridgeview.

Organizers, including Schneider Soccer, expect to sell out the 20,000 seats at Toyota Park for the match at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 29.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring these two popular international teams to the United States,” Pedro Figueiredo, owner and founder of Schneider Soccer LLC, said in a release. “Soccer and team fans are looking forward to this exciting event.” 

Founded in 1921, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is the second most successful team in Brazil with seven international championships, including two Libertadores. Cruzeiro is among FIFA’s Classic Club and has been Brazilian champions twice, domestic cup champions four times and Mineiro champions 37 times. 

Club Atlético Monarcas Morelia, founded in 1924, has been one of the main protagonists in the Mexican Primera División. Monarcas Morelia won the Mexican championship in 2000 and has played three other finals. Morelia is the 2010 North American SuperLiga champion, with a 2-1 victory in the finals over the New England Revolution.

Schneider Soccer will make a donation from the proceeds to Soccer Without Borders, a nonprofit organization supporting community-led youth programs in the U.S. and abroad for youths traditionally excluded from sports-based and extracurricular activities. 

The match will be televised in both North and South America.

For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

It is the first of two international friendly matches at Toyota Park this summer.

Eleven days later, the Chicago Fire Soccer Club will host 10-time Mexican Primera División champions Club América at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10.

It will be the third consecutive year, the Fire welcomes a Mexican opponent to Toyota Park. In 2011, the Fire took on Chivas de Guadalajara in front of a crowd of more than 18,000. A 61st minute goal by Jorge Mora would prove the difference as Chivas de Guadalajara escaped with a 1-0 victory. In 2012, the Fire rallied from a two goal deficit and were led by second half strikes from Michael Videira and Corben Bone to play reigning Mexican league champions Club Santos Laguna to a 2-2 draw at Toyota Park.

The Fire have faced América twice before, falling by identical 2-1 score lines on July 12, 2006, and April 28, 2009.

 Las Águilas, currently atop the Liga MX table, has captured 10 titles in Mexico’s Primera División and have also experience success in the CONCACAF region as well, tied with Cruz Azul as the most successful club in the region with five titles to their credit. América were also crowned champions of the 2008 InterLiga tournament, a competition between Mexican clubs to determine qualifying spots for the Copa Libertadores.

Currently sitting atop the Liga MX table, América’s roster currently boasts Mexican international defender Efraín Juárez and Ecuadorian striker Christian Benitez. Juárez, a 25-year-old right back has been capped 39 times for El Tri, and started three matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. América also feature currently Liga MX goal scoring leader, Ecuadorian striker Christian Benitez.

Tickets for the Fire match are available by calling 888-MLS-FIRE or by visiting www.chicago-fire.com. The international friendly will serve as Bonus Game 1 in the Fire season ticket and 10-game packages.

The first 5,000 fans will receive a TrueCar car magnet.

Applebee’s closing Southland locations

Applebee's is expected to close at least eight restaurants next month including this one on LaGrange Road in Mokena.

By Bob Bong
 Southland Savvy

Applebee’s restaurants in Homewood, Mokena and Tinley Park are among eight expected to close next month as part of a bankruptcy involving their franchise owner.

The casual-dining chain has 33 locations in the Chicago area and all are owned and operated by AppleIllinois LLC, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month in the Eastern District of Kentucky.

In court filings, AppleIllinois said it expects to sell 15 of the restaurants for $2.4 million to RMH Illinois LLC as part of an auction supervised by the U.S. bankruptcy court. No specific locations were mentioned in court documents.

The eight slated for closure are among 18 that are expected to go on the auction block no later than June 10. No buyer has been identified for the 18 locations but the franchisee indicated there was interest in at least some of them.

A spokesman for AppleIllinois told the Tribune that additional locations may close after the auction.   

Applebee’s has 2,000 U.S. restaurants, of which all but two dozen are owned by independent business owners.

Also expected to close are restaurants in Geneva, Palatine, Romeoville, Schaumburg and Streamwood.

Because of the uncertainty, AppleIllinois has informed the state of potential layoffs totaling more than 1,700 in Cook, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, DuPage, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.

“They notified employees at all 33 restaurants,” AppleIllinois spokesman Dan Smith told the Tribune.

Layoffs will begin June 22 and be completed by July 6, according to court documents.

The chain also has Southland locations in Matteson, Country Club Hills, Crestwood, Calumet City, Evergreen Park, Hodgkins, Chicago and Joliet.

Locations in northwest Indiana are not affected by the bankruptcy.

Sherwin-Williams opens in New Lenox

A new Sherwin-Williams paint store opened last week at 1060 E. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox.

Hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The store is managed by Megan Campbell.

For information, call 815-463-8990 or visit Sherwin-Williamsonline.

Siam Marina closes this week

Unless they get another extension on their lease, Siam Marina will be closing its Calumet City location in River Oaks Mall on Wednesday.

The popular Asian fusion seafood restaurant will be moving into new digs at 16846 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park sometime this summer. It has already had its lease in Cal City extended a couple of times.

The restaurant combines Thai, Vietnamese and other Asian cuisines together with a seafood theme.

Owners are executive chef Tammy Pham, who grew up in Saigon, and her husband Sapion Chung, who was born in the United States and who manages the restaurant.

They also own Asparagus, an Asian fusion and vegetarian restaurant, in Merrillville, Ind.

Evergreen Menards kicks off grand opening

The Evergreen Park Menards grand opening celebration will run through May 19 at 9100 S. Western Ave. Scheduled events and appearances include:

• John Cage, chainsaw carver, daily demonstrations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 11 through May 14.
• Dan Hampton, legendary Chicago Bears player, from 6-8 p.m. May 13.
• Otis Wilson, legendary Chicago Bears player, from 6-8 p.m. May 15.
• Jack McDowall, 1993 Cy Young winner for the Chicago White Sox, from 6-8 p.m. May 16.
• Paul Menard’s 2011 Indy Brickyard No. 27 car and Matt Crafton’s No. 88 truck, from noon to 8 p.m., May 13-15
• Matt Crafton, NASCAR truck series driver, Menards-sponsored Toyota Tundra No. 88, 5-7 p.m. May 14.
• Mr. Clean from noon to 5 p.m. May 18.

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.com.