Panda Express will be celebrating the grand opening of its newest location at 4801 W. 87^th St. in Oak Lawn with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, February 15, beginning at 9 a.m. (Supplied photo)

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Panda Express will be celebrating the grand opening of its newest location at 4801 W. 87^th St. in Oak Lawn with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, February 15, beginning at 9 a.m.

The first lucky 88 guests to receive a free Panda Express branded T-shirt.

The new location features an updated store design for the restaurant chain, known as Panda Home. The updated model incorporates design elements inspired by traditional Chinese architecture and traditions with modern motifs that tells the unique story of Panda Express. Panda recognizes consumer habits have changed over the last three years and to meet the needs of guests’ evolved lifestyles, the store design creates efficiencies for operators and diners to accommodate the increased demand for online ordering and drive-thru channels. 

“The opening of the new Panda Express location is an additional opportunity to give Oak Lawn residents access to enjoy their favorite American Chinese dishes,” the company said in a release. “We encourage everyone to stop by the restaurant to experience the new store design and taste Panda Express favorites, which are all freshly made with quality ingredients.”

The new Panda Express location offers Panda’s iconic dishes, including the world-famous The Original Orange Chicken, award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp and guest-favorite Broccoli Beef entrée. 

“Our entire Panda team is grateful to serve the Oak Lawn community by providing new jobs and supporting local organizations through fundraising opportunities,” said Nancy Diaz, Panda Express Area Coach of Operations. “We hope to be a lasting part of the community and welcome all guests into our doors to try our American Chinese favorites and discover their own.”    

In celebration of the upcoming Lunar New Year, guests who visit PandaLNY.com now until Feb. 10 may also play The Good Fortune Scratcher Game2 for a chance to win exciting prizes including an $888 Panda Express gift card, $88 Panda Express gift cards, $8 off any Family Meal, free egg rolls and more.    

Local store hours are Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (with drive-thru open until 10 p.m.); Friday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (with drive-thru open until 10:30 p.m.); Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (with drive-thru open until 10:30 p.m.)  

For more information on Panda Express, please visit Pandaexpress.com. 

Free Home Run Inn pizza

Home Run Inn, the family-owned pizza brand that has been dishing out pizzas in Chicago for more than 75 years, pays tribute to National Pizza Day on Friday, February 9.   Available at any one of its nine Chicagoland locations, for dine-in or carry out, guests will receive a free 12-inch frozen Classic Cheese or Sausage pizza (value $7.99 -10.99) with the purchase of any extra-large pizza (limit 2 free pizzas per guest).  

Home Run Inn is offering other specialty items for the month beginning on February 5, ranging from their chocolate swirled strawberry daiquiri to heart shaped pizzas to share A-Pizza your heart with your loved ones. 

“Home Run Inn is always looking to celebrate holidays with a fun twist,” says Gina Perrino Bolger, Senior Vice President of Home Run Inn and fourth generation family member.  

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.

Bedford Park buys Southern Belle restaurant

Southern Belle's in Bedford Park has been purchased by the village. (Supplied photo)

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

Southern Belle’s restaurant in Bedford Park closed for the last time on Sunday after more than two decades at 6737 S. Archer Ave.

The village has a contract to purchase the site for $2.5 million. Closing is expected in the first quarter. 

Bedford Park Mayor Dave Brady said a plan to move the restaurant to 65th Street and Central Avenue didn’t work out because of the cost. 

Southern Belle’s restaurant in Bedford Park closed for the last time on Sunday after more than two decades at 6737 S. Archer Ave.

The village has a contract to purchase the site for $2.5 million. Closing is expected in the first quarter. 

Bedford Park Mayor Dave Brady said a plan to move the restaurant to 65th Street and Central Avenue didn’t work out because of the cost. 

Southern Belle’s still has locations in Yorkville, Barrington, Plainfield, and Carpentersville.

Brady said the Bedford Park building needs work.

Brady said village officials have discussed four possible options for the property. One would be building a courtroom and police training facility. Another would be turning it into an outdoor recreation facility such as a synthetic skating rink. A third option would be to beautify the property. Brady said the village could also turn around and sell the lot.

He also said the village board would consider other options, if they are proposed.

Brady said the village board was committed to upgrading the property and improving the southwest entrance to the village.

In a related move, Bedford Park late last year annexed a parcel of land near the restaurant that had been within Bridgeview boundaries until it was de-annexed.

Brady said the parcel was missed by both Bedford Park and Bridgeview when they did a land swap involving the former 3M property.

Wright’s Furniture closing

Wright’s Furniture Warehouse at 2936 Wireton Road in Blue Island is in the final weeks of its closing sale.

The store, which has been selling furniture in the south suburbs since 1980, is closing because its owners are retiring after more than 40 years.

The warehouse will close by March 6. The store is open Thursday to Sundays.

For more information, visit their website at wrightsfurniturewarehouse.com.

Starbucks opens in Lansing

Starbucks is now open in Lansing. (Photo by Bob Bong)

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

Starbucks opened its newest standalone store in the south suburbs last month in Lansing.

The new store is at 18007 Torrence Avenue, at the intersection with Thornton-Lansing Road. The site was the former home of Artlynn Photography. That building and a few others to the north including Rosemoor Funeral Home were torn down and the land cleared for development.

The developer is Glazier Corporation, which developed a similar Starbucks at the corner of 103rd Street and Harlem Avenue in Chicago Ridge in 2019.

Glazier is not done in Lansing. There are plans to bring in a Taco Bell to the north of the Starbucks and a Chipotle across the street on Torrence, next to Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop.

The new Starbucks is accessible from both Torrence and Thornton-Lansing Road. The shop has a drive-thru. 

The building is a typical Starbucks with a dozen tables, free Wi-Fi and a small outdoor patio.

Although a date for a grand opening and ribbon cutting has not yet been set, the store will be hosting a promotion on Thursday, November 17, when 400 red reusable Starbucks cups will be given away while supplies last.

Hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.