Sports Authority to close 3 stores in south suburbs

Sports Authority is preparing to close at least three south suburban stores. (Photo by Bob Bong)

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

According to employees, sports retailer Sports Authority is preparing to close three south suburban stores as part of a major reorganization aimed at keeping the struggling company afloat.

Employees said they had been informed that the Sports Authority store at 4832 Lincoln Highway in Matteson and 1510 Torrence Ave. in Calumet City would be closing though no timetable had been announced.

Employees at the Orland Hills store at 9231 W. 159th St. said nothing was official, but they had been told to expect the store to be among those closed by the retailer.

Employees at the Frankfort store at 11185 Lincoln Highway, Oak Lawn store at 9633 S. Cicero Ave., North Riverside store at 1800 Harlem Ave. and Burbank store at 7720 S. Cicero Ave.  said they were aware of the Matteson, Orland and Cal City closings, but added that their stores were not in danger of being shuttered. They also said the Water Tower place location in downtown Chicago would be closing.

There were conflicting reports about the store in Joliet. Employees at other stores said the Joliet store was among those slated for closing, but employees there said it would not be among the stores closing.

A call to the Colorado head office of Sports Authority was not returned.

The Village of Matteson posted on its Facebook page that staffers had been notified of the closing of the store at Matteson Square shopping center. The village said a liquidation sale would precede the closing, which might come as early as March.

A manager at the Cal City store said that location would act as a clearance outlet for merchandise from other stores and would not be closing immediately.

Many of the Sports Authority locations including Matteson, Calumet City, North Riverside and Oak Lawn were originally Sportsmart stores before that chain was acquired in a 1998 merger.

The chain is reportedly preparing to close at least 140 of its 450 stores.

Old Country Buffet closes

The Old Country Buffet in the Park Center Plaza at 159th Street and Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park closed abruptly recently.

There is a sign taped to the front door announcing the closing. It doesn't give a reason for the closing but does thank customers for their business.

The only remaining Old Country Buffet in the Southland is the one at 7601 S. Cicero Ave. near Ford City Mall on Chicago's Southwest Side.

Binny's now open in Mokena

Binny's is now open in Mokena. (Photo by Bob Bong)

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Binny's Beverage Depot opened its doors at U.S. 30 and Wolf Road last week as part of a soft opening for the Chicago-area liquor store chain.

The 25,000-square-foot store opened Friday, Feb. 12, at its newest location at the Mokena Marketplace. The freestanding store features a walk-in humidor for cigar sales and a wine cellar.

It is the company's 32nd store and third in the south suburbs, including locations in Orland Park and Evergreen Park. It is the chain's first store south of Interstate 80.

Hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The store will celebrate its grand opening from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27. The store will hold a ribbon-cutting at 11:45 a.m. with Mokena Mayor Frank Fleischer.

Guests are invited to sign up for a free Binny's Card, enjoy tastings of staff favorite wines and new California releases, local and national craft  beers and free giveaways.

For information, call the store at 815-534-8980 or visit Binny's.

Gas station closes

The BP gas station at 94th Avenue and 159th Street in Orland Park closed recently.

Wendy's closes

The Wendy's restaurant at 14555 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park 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 

Bob's Discount Furniture opens next week in Burbank, Orland Park

Bob's Discount Furniture will open next week in Burbank and Orland Park. (Photo by Bob Bong)

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Bob's Discount Furniture, an East Coast-based furniture chain, announced it will open the first five of eight planned Chicago-area stores next week including locations in Orland Park and Burbank.

The Orland Park store will open with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:45 a.m. Feb. 11 at 15830 S. LaGrange Road in the Lake View Plaza. The Burbank store will open at the same time at 7760 S. Cicero Ave. 

Other stores will open the same day in Skokie, Villa Park and Aurora. Three additional stores will open later this year. The locations were not disclosed.

In preparation for its Chicago expansion, Bob's leased a distribution center last year in Shorewood.

As part of the opening ceremonies, Bob's chose Burbank School as one of their recipients of a $2,500 donation as a random act of kindness.

The company is known for its commercials featuring co-founder Bob Kaufman in person or as a claymation character.

The company was founded in 1991. There are now 64 Bob's showrooms in 11 states, not counting Illinois.