Grand Buffet Asian restaurant opens Tuesday in Tinley Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Tinley Park will be home to another Asian restaurant when Grand Buffet holds its grand opening tomorrow.

Grand Buffet, 18305 S. LaGrange Road, features Chinese and Japanese cuisine and sushi.

The lunch buffet is available from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and the dinner buffet is served from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. The weekend buffet is served all day Saturday and Sunday. Buffet is available for carryout.

Customers not interested in a buffet can order from the menu.

For more information, call 708-802-8908 or visit http://www.grandbuffettinleypark.com/.

Too Cool opens in OrlandToo Cool, a store that specializes in anime, Hello Kitty and other Japanese merchandise, just opened on the upper level at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park in the former Trade Secret location. The phone number is 708-226-8109.

Dionysos gone fishingNot sure what it means exactly, but the sign in front of Dionysos Greek Tavern at 10700 S. Harlem Ave. in Worth says “closed, gone fishing.” The phone number has been temporarily disconnected. We’ll keep an eye on this one and see if it reopens anytime soon.

Lockport hotdog stand closesFrom a reader, comes a tip that Kim’s Hot Dogs, 914 Garfield St. in Lockport, has closed. The eatery was a Boz Hot Dogs before becoming Kim’s. “It’s a sad, sad day in Lockport,” says the reader who now travels to Jr’s in Orland Park for her dogs.

Deal of the week
Movie fans who rent DVDs at Red Box can get a free rental by using the promo code DVDON ME at checkout. If you rent at a Red Box inside a Walgreen’s, use the promo code DVDATWAG. You can also find out more promo codes at http://www.insideredbox.com/.

Lockport in the NFL: Tony Pashos

Two Lockport natives, Tony Pashos and Eric Steinbach, finally play on the same team. Both are offensive linemen on the Cleveland Browns. Though they both grew up in Lockport, they didn't play football together. Pashos played for Lockport High while Steinbach suited up for Providence Catholic in New Lenox.

Says Pashos today on ClevelandBrowns.com, about joining the team this season: “I was really happy to be back in the Midwest, close to my family. I enjoyed all the parts of the country that I’ve been in, but growing up out here in the Chicago-area, the Midwest, it feels at home.

Connie's Pizza, Al's Beef close in Orland

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Connie’s Pizza closed recently at 16310 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

All other Connie’s locations remain open and the manager of the restaurant in Bridgeport said she had heard the Orland store was being remodeled. So, we’ll wait and see if it reopens.

You would think that it had a great location being right next to the Marcus Cinemas and all.

It’s not the only restaurant in that area to close, however, Al’s Beef across the street at 16255 S. LaGrange Road also closed recently.

But Al’s owners are planning on reopening later this year in a smaller location farther north on LaGrange, near Orland Park Place.

In the meantime, all other Al’s Beef locations remain open.

And the building won’t be vacant for long. Fat Ricky’s, a local Italian restaurant chain featuring pizza, burgers and sandwiches, is coming soon. “Hopefully, by Father’s Day,” said the manager at the Romeoville location.

The Orland location would be the fourth for the chain, which has eateries in Romeoville, Elmwood and Shorewood.

For an idea of what to expect when it opens, check out www.fatrickys.com

Shannon’s Landing to close
Shannon’s Landing, the pub at the Lansing Municipal Airport, 3820 Glenwood-Lansing Road, is closing this weekend. The pub will stay open until Sunday night or when the food and liquor runs out.
The Irish-themed pub is out of corned beef but has supplies of shrimp, burgers and beef. Drink specials in its final hours include $2 imported pints.

Village officials told the Times of Northwest Indiana that the closing had been planned, and that they want the pub to reopen after repairs are made to the building.

Party planner open house
Princess and Prince Parties, which opened last month at 6000 W. 159th St. in Oak Forest, is holding an open house from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. The shop plans parties for children and offers catering, character appearances, face painting and bounce houses. For more information, visit www.princessandprinceparties.com. The phone number is 708-532-0400.

Bowling deal of the summer
Kids Bowl Free is being offered this summer at Burr Oak Bowl in Blue Island, Castaways in Calumet City, Strike n Spare in Lockport, Thunder Bowl in Mokena, Oak Forest Bowl in Oak Forest and Orland Bowl in Orland Park. Sign your children up at www.kidsbowlfree.com. Each child will get passes good for two free games per day. There also is a family pass available for $24.95 that allows up to four adults two free games per day.