SportStation closes in Tinley Park

The SportStation closed earlier this year at 7050 W. 171st St. in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A Tinley Park company that provided uniforms and sports gear for local teams and players for more than 20 years closed earlier this year and left many unsatisfied customers in its wake

The SportStation closed its retail store at 7050 W. 171st St. in February and posted a note on its Facebook page that it would continue as an online business.

Several customers, however, posted complaints on the SportStation Facebook page asking for information on orders that had been placed months earlier. Many of them were complaints, including one as recently as March 30, that requests for refunds continued to be ignored.

The company's phone number is out of service and an email request for comment Sunday was returned as undeliverable.

The company's website was still active as of Sunday night but its Facebook page was taken down Sunday afternoon after a request was posted asking one of the unsatisfied customers for comment.

Sandy's Sandwiches closes in Justice

Just about a year after Sandy's Sandwiches opened at 8350 S. Roberts Road in Justice amid promises of being the first of many such locations in the Chicago area, the sandwich shop has closed.

The neighboring Chino's Pizzeria at 8356 S. Roberts Road also closed recently.

The same plaza will be welcoming a pawn shop, which is opening just a few doors down.

Pub at the Max grand opening

Owners of the new Pub @ the Max in McCook will provide free food and a cash bar from 5-10 p.m. Friday as part of the grand opening of the new restaurant in the McCook Athletic Center, 4750 Vernon Ave.

The pub has video gaming machines, a sports bar, plenty of televisions and a selection of more than 40 beers and cocktails.

Eventually, there will be closed circuit televisions so family members can follow the action on any of the MAC's athletic fields from the comfort of the Pub.

For information and reservations, call 708-485-1555 or visit them online at Pub at the Max.

Combo restaurant closes in Mokena

A combined KFC and A&W Root Beer restaurant at 19814 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena closed recently.

 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.

Hibachi Grill evicted from Orland Park location in Home Depot plaza

Hibachi Grill was evicted last month from its Orland Park location.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet, which opened in November 2012 at 7260 W. 159^th St. in Orland Park in the Home Depot plaza, was evicted from the premises by Cook County Sheriff's Police on Feb. 27.

A green "no trespassing" notice is affixed to the front door of the restaurant, which featured Chinese, Japanese and American cuisine. The 10,865-square-foot site is listed as available on the DDR Corp. map of the property.

Calls to owner Jacky Chen at his buffet locations in Matteson and Forest Park were not returned.

Cooper's Hawk Winery to open in Oak Lawn
 
Countryside-based Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants announced last week that  it would be opening a new location in Oak Lawn's Stony Creek Promenade at Cicero Avenue and 111th Street.

The Oak Lawn location would be the chain's eighth in Illinois and 20th nationwide. It will be one of six Cooper's Hawks opening in the next year. It would be only the second location in the south suburbs.

Plans call for the Oak Lawn site to be about 10,000-square-feet and will feature a Napa-style tasting room, wine club and retail shop. The new location is expected to employ about 150 people.

The new Cooper's Hawk is slated to open in the first quarter of 2015.

Founded by Southland native Tim McEnery, Cooper's Hawk first opened its doors in Orland Park in 2005.

Simply the Best closes

Simply the Best restaurant, which opened last summer at 5611 S. Archer Ave. in Summit, closed recently. The eatery was in the former location of the Green Acres restaurant.

Countryside OKs smoke shop

Countryside aldermen approved a business license last week for Seaside Tobacco smoke shop at 5501 W. Plainfield.

Free coffee at Mickey D's

McDonald’s will be offering free coffee during breakfast hours to its customers starting this week for a limited time as the world’s biggest hamburger chain tries to stake a claim for its early-morning business.

Participating U.S. locations will offer small cups of McCafe coffee at no charge during breakfast hours from today through April 13.

The Oak Brook-based company hopes the coffee giveaway will bring in new customers and get existing customers to pick up a breakfast item.

Breakfast makes up about 20 percent of the company's U.S. sales.

 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

New deli opens in Mokena

Owner Gil Rimsnider stands inside his new restaurant D'Marie's Deli at 19031 Old LaGrange Road in Mokena.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

D'Marie's Deli, a new sandwich shop, opened a few weeks ago at 19031 Old LaGrange Road in Mokena, next door to the Stoney Point Grill and off-track betting parlor.

The deli replaces that Burrito Joint Caliente, which lasted less than a year in the same location.

Owner Gil Rimsnider said he chose that location for a couple of reasons.

"I knew the burrito joint was closing and I worked in this location years ago as manager of a Sanfratello's," he said. "This is kind of my building."

While admitting that running his own restaurant is "a little bit of a new thing," Rimsnider was confident.

"I think I have a handle on it," he said. "I have some experience."

Rimsnider said the shop would sell sandwiches, for now, but at some point would probably start selling cuts of meat.

The shop sells an extensive selection of burgers and sandwiches including a build-your-own version, but Rimsnider said he had his favorites.

"One of our specialties is called a New York Minute and features corned beef, pastrami, sauerkraut and swiss cheese on marble rye. Kind of a super reuben with the pastrami," he said.

Another favorite, he said, is one called Free Bird, which is grilled citrus chicken breast with bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado and pepper jack cheese on either a plain or pretzel roll.

Rimsnider's favorite cold sandwich is called the Four Horseman and features corned beef, pastrami, roast beef, turkey, banana peppers, lettuce, tomato, muenster cheese and horseradish mayo on a hero roll.

D'Marie's Deli has six tables for dining inside and offers carryout. "We may add delivery down the road," Rimsnider said.

Besides the sandwiches, Rimsnider said the shop has an extensive selection of craft soda pop.

"We have 24 different flavors of craft sodas from throughout the country," he said.

The deli at present is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and is closed on Sunday.
"We might add hours when the weather gets nicer," he said.

For information and to place an order, call 708-995-7257.

Champs remodeling Chicago Ridge

The Champs store at Chicago Ridge Mall is preparing for a $200,000 remodeling of the 6,000-square-foot sports gear store.

Home Depot hiring for spring

It may not seem like it yet, with more snow and cold in the immediate forecast, but spring is really right around the corner. And Home Depot is planning to hire more than 80,000 people in preparation for the spring, which is its busiest selling season.

Job seekers must apply online at www.careers.homepot.com.

Home Depot has about 30 stores in the Chicago area.

Antiques store opens in Tinley

Different Decades, a store that specializes in antiques, jewelry, artwork, decor and artisan objects, is now open at 17210 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park.

The store opened in early December in the former location of My Bike Pro.

Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

For information, call the shop at 708-770-9552.

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.