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I have more than 40 years in the news business and have successfully evolved into an electronic journalist. Comings & Goings and Southland Savvy track news about businesses in Chicago's Southland.

Avon calling in Frankfort Square

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Cathy Shea and Vicky Earley (pictured from left) are not your typical Avon representatives.

Oh, they carry the usual Avon products such as soap and perfume, but these two ladies don't sell door-to-door or through parties at your neighbor's house. Shea and Earley are co-owners of an Avon store that is open to the public.

The partners opened their Avon retail outlet on Monday at 7212 W. Benton Drive in Frankfort Square (at the corner of Benton Drive and Harlem Avenue).

Their business is also a licensed Avon beauty center, which means they can train women, and men, to be Avon representatives. "We offer classes that help people get started in the business," says Earley, of Mokena.

"We lead a team of about 200 representatives," says Earley, who has been selling Avon for 10 years. "I like this so much it's my full-time job."

Shea, of Monee, has been selling Avon for about three years. She got started after approaching Earley at a demonstration.

Neither woman thinks this is a bad time to be starting a retail operation.

"Avon has been around 124 years," says Earley. "It survived the Great Depression. I think it will survive the current economy.

"Besides, women still want to wear their lipstick and makeup, and we have that at great prices."

As for men selling Avon?

"We have a lot of husband-wife teams," says Earley. "It's a great job for a couple."

Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. For more information on becoming a representative or to buy Avon products, call 815-464-0352.

Earley and Shea said customers will get 10 percent off of their first purchase, if they mention they read about the new store in Comings & Goings, which makes them the deal of the week. Just tell them, Bob sent me.

Cam Golf in Lansing to close

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Lansing's Cam Golf, which has been outfitting Southland duffers since 1972, is in the midst of a going-out-of-business sale at 17851 S. Torrence Ave.

Manager Kitty Mishevich said the sale started right after Thanksgiving and a lot of merchandise has already been sold. "By the looks of what's left," she said, "I think we'll be here through mid-January."

Mishevich said everything is marked 20 percent off but the owners will negotiate with anybody for anything in the store. "We might come down 40 percent on some items," she said.

Sale hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Owners Wayne Schaap and Paul Sutkowski bought the store from its original owners in 1991.

A second location in Orland Park closed several years ago.

For more information, call 708-895-2030.

Cam is the second golf store to close in Lansing this year. R&R Discount closed its Ridge Road location at the end of the summer.

Bob and Jack's closed
East Side eatery Bob and Jack's Pizza has closed at 10244 S. Ewing Ave. in Chicago, though the location in Dyer, Ind., is still open at 1933 Hart Street.

Dozeli Pizza vacates Frankfort
Dozeli Pizzeria, which opened a few months ago at 7818 W. Lincoln Highway behind All-Star Sports Bar in Frankfort, has already pulled the plug. The Steger location is still open. A new pizza joint, called Luigi's is going to take over the operation but an employee at All-Star said she didn't know when that would happen.

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