Wild Rover closes in Frankfort

The Wild Rover closed recently in Frankfort.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The Wild Rover, an Irish-themed restaurant and tavern that opened at 20535 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort in November 2011, closed down in September.

A message on its Facebook page said Sept. 28 was the last day for the establishment in the former K.T. Mae's in the Vineyards Plaza shopping center.

The sports bar was opened by brothers John and Jim Dillon. It featured Irish specialties and had an outdoor patio.

Pet store closes

Mocha Pet, a pet store and grooming salon that opened in November 2011 at 7537 W. 159th St. in Tinley Park, closed its doors in September after a brief store closing sale. It was one of two Mocha Pet stores and the original is still open in Boston, Ohio.

Siam Marina finally opening in Tinley Park

Although the opening has taken several months longer than anticipated, Siam Marina appears ready to open its doors at 16846 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park.

The restaurant has scheduled a grand opening with the Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce for 5-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10.

Owner Sam Chung was unavailable, but a manager at his Asparagus restaurant in Merrillville, Ind., confirmed the Monday grand opening. She was not certain whether the restaurant would hold a soft opening in advance of the grand opening.

Chung had originally hoped for a late spring and then a mid-summer opening, but equipment delivery problems kept pushing the opening back.

"Construction has taken a lot longer than we expected," Chung said in February. 

Chung said the menu would consist of Thai cuisine and Vietnamese specialties created by his wife and partner executive chef Tammy Pham, who grew up in Saigon. Other offerings will include Asian Fusion, seafood, vegan and vegetarian dishes.

Siam Marina closed its popular Calumet City location more than a year ago in anticipation of moving into the former Casto's restaurant. Its sister restaurant Asparagus remained open throughout the construction.

Chung said fans should watch the restaurant's Facebook page for an exact opening date or they could sign up on its website page at www.siammarina.com for a monthly newsletter. There is a recorded message for customers at its new phone number 708-407-8825.

Hours are scheduled to be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

A new Lou Malnati's opens

Popular Chicago pizzeria Lou Malnati's opened its latest location Sept. 25 at 12801 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights.

The pizzeria is in a small strip center that will also be home to a new Jersey Mike's sandwich shop and Great Clips hair salon.

The location offers carryout, delivery and catering. It is the third Lou Malnati's in the south suburbs and all are carryout and delivery only. The company operates 13 dine-in locations and 25 carryout and delivery stores. Other Southland locations are in Oak Lawn and Tinley Park.

Hours are 4-10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

For ordering and information, call 708-608-2400.

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 

La Fajita Grill shut down in Tinley

A green warning notice is glued to the front door of La Fajita Grill in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

La Fajita Grill at 16731 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park was shut down last week by the Illinois Department of Revenue.

Ivan Baker, director of economic development for Tinley Park, said the Mexican restaurant's certificate of registration was revoked by the state. He said the village had no issues with the restaurant.

The state typically revokes a business certificate of registration for unpaid taxes. 

Calls to the Department of Revenue were not returned.

Square Celt Ale House opens in Orland Park

A new Irish pub arrived in Orland Park this week when the Square Celt Ale House opened in the space formerly occupied by Sam Maguire's Pub.

Square Celt officially opened at 11 a.m. Monday at 39 Orland Square Dr. after a private preview party Saturday night. 

The building, which was acquired earlier this year by the Vaughan Hospitality Group for $1.5 million, underwent extensive remodeling and bears little resemblance to the former Sam Maguire's.

The new restaurant has 350 seats inside with another 350 seats in its expansive outdoor beer garden. There is a grill room, a bar room and a private party room. Square Celt added a fireplace, two video wall televisions and 40 televisions inside and out for sports fans.

Lisa Marie Benton, Vaughan's marketing and events manager, said Square Celt was the group's first suburban location. She said the group operates six establishments in Chicago neighborhoods.

She said the restaurant would feature Irish dishes such as shepherd's pie and an extensive beer and wine selection.

"There will be 30 beers on tap and four wines on tap," Benton said.

The general manager will be Justin Witalka.

Hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday and from 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday. 

For information, call 708-226-9600 or visit its website at www.squarecelt.com.

Bakery now open in Palos

Bella's Bakery & Breakfast opened earlier this year at 12246 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights in the former Baumann's Bakery location.

The bakery has a cafe next door  that serves breakfast along with coffee and bakery items.

Hours are 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday to Sunday. The bakery and cafe are closed on Monday.

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.

Appliance store closes without warning

By Bob Bong
 Southland Savvy

Grant's Appliances, a Joliet-based appliance store with locations in Orland Park, Downers Grove, Aurora and northwest Indiana, shut down with warning at the end of business on Wednesday, Oct. 8. 

Customers on Thursday were greeted with handwritten signs on the door  saying "temporarily closed for inventory." There was no reopening date indicated.

The chain, which started in Joliet more than 90 years ago, left numerous customers awaiting deliveries hanging with no indication of whether the merchandise would ever be received nor any way to find out what was going on.

The company's website is no longer active, its telephone mailbox is full and its Facebook page has been taken down.

The chain for decades operated out of a single store in Joliet. The Grant family sold the company several years ago and the new owner expanded by adding several stores including the one at 14740 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

Ross Dress for Less opens new stores

California-based off-price retailer Ross Dress for Less opened 20 new stores nationwide last week including its first store in Will County and its first store in downtown Chicago.

The retailer opened five stores in Illinois including its first Will County store at 475 E. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox in the Walmart plaza, a store at 26 E. Randolph in Chicago's Loop and a store in Cicero on Friday, Oct. 10, and two downstate stores on Saturday. 

The new stores bring the number of Ross locations in the Chicago area to 34. The retailer entered the Chicago market a couple of years ago when it opened stores in Orland Park. 

Ross stores typically carry brand name apparel and home goods products priced 20 percent to 60 percent less than at department and specialty stores. Each store employs about 50 associates.

Store hours will be Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

For information about Ross, visit www.rossstores.com or call the New Lenox store at 815-462-3765.

Goodwill store opens in Frankfort

Goodwill opened its newest retail store and donation center on Friday, Oct. 10, at 19917 S. LaGrange Road at the north end of Hickory Creek Marketplace in Frankfort.

The store is the charitable organization's 33rd retail store in Illinois. It also operates seven donation centers in Illinois.

"The new store is 20,396 square feet with just under 13,000 square feet dedicated to sales floor," said Cheryl Lightholder, Goodwill manager of communications.

Construction at the store at LaGrange and St. Francis roads started on June 30, Lightholder said.

Hours for the store are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Donation center hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

The store also has a Club Rewards program for frequent customers.

Eric Schultz is the manager of the Frankfort location.

The organization also has south suburban retail stores in Orland Park, New Lenox, Lemont, Plainfield and Joliet.

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