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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.

Italian restaurant coming to Evergreen Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A new Italian restaurant called Cavatappi, which means corkscrew in Italian, is opening soon in the former Mulchrone’s at 3020 W. 95th St. in Evergreen Park.

Co-owner Bill Mulchrone says Cavatappi is going to be a brick-oven pizza parlor and wine bar with other Italian dishes on the menu as well.

“We hope to open in the next couple of weeks,” says Mulchrone, who is part of the family that owned that owned the establishment in its former incarnation.

Mulchrone’s partner is Potito Conza, a chef from Torino in northern Italy.

“Our cuisine will be authentic Italian with a Torino flair,” says Mulchrone. “We’ll have Italian dishes ranging from $9 to $15.”

Mulchrone says Cavatappi will feature a wine bar with a decidedly Italian flavor. “I’d say about 85 percent of the wines will be Italian.”

The restaurant will take up the front of the building and have seating for 78 with room for another 18 at the bar. “We’re going to have parties in the back.”

Hours are going to be 4 to 10 p.m. weekdays and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on weekends.

For more information, call the restaurant at 708-576-3055. A web site is under construction and will be online soon.

Evergreen Park Mayor Jim Sexton says he’s excited an Italian restaurant is moving into the formerly vacant site.

Sexton also says he is on the hunt for a sit-down Mexican restaurant for Evergreen Park. “If there are any out there looking for a location in town, give me a call.”

Blockbuster closing in MokenaThe Blockbuster video rental store at 11230 W. Lincoln Highway in Mokena is closing. Its last day will be no later than Aug. 22. The store is selling most of its DVDs for $7.99 and Blu-ray videos are going for 10 percent off the marked price.

Pandora coming to Orland Square
A Pandora jewelry store is coming soon to Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. The company is now hiring employees for the new store. For more information, visit its website at http://www.pandora.net/.

Forman Mills opening in LansingA Forman Mills discount clothing store is opening at 8 a.m. Friday in the former Toys R Us store inside The Landings shopping center at 171st Street and Torrence Avenue in Lansing. It will be the first Illinois store for the 29-store chain that sells designer clothes at discount prices in a warehouse-style setting. The company says it hopes to open more stores in the Chicago-area. For more information, visit its website at http://www.foremanmills.com/.

Meet Your Hero Tour
White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski is coming to the FansEdge store at Orland Square Mall on Aug. 23 as part of the company’s Meet Your Hero Tour, which has Chicago sports legends appearing at different stores in different malls. Pierzynski is scheduled to appear from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 708-873-1250.

Online deal of the weekOnline shoppers can save 10 percent at http://www.fansedge.com/ by using this code when checking out: FBMIDSUM. The code is good through Aug. 1.

Sox, Bulls chairman Reinsdorf to headline Southland Chamber luncheon

Jerry Reinsdorf, chairman of the White Sox and the Bulls, will headline the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce Regional Consensus Luncheon at the Tinley Park Convention Center on Aug. 9. The event, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., is open to the public. Chamber officials expect a large turnout.

“There’s not another Chicago sports owner like Reinsdorf, and it will be interesting to hear how he made big decisions and brought such success to Chicago teams,” Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Maureen Kelly said.

Reservations for the luncheon are $25 for Chamber members and $35 for non-members. They can be made by calling (708) 957-6950 or by visiting www.ChicagoSouthland.com.

The Tinley Park Convention Center is located at 18501 Harlem Ave. (entrance off 183rd Street only).

Bridgeview driver's license office to be closed during move

By Southland Savvy

The Secretary of State driver's facility at 7200 W. 84th St. in Bridgeview will close Thursday and Friday while it moves to a larger location.

The new office will open Monday three blocks away at 7350 W. 87th St. in Bridgeview. The new office is larger and will offer more parking. Hours will remain the same, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

During the two days the office is closed, motorists can visit driver's facilities in Midlothian, 14434 Pulaski Road, and on Chicago's South Side, 9901 King Drive. An express office is at Orland Park Village Hall, 14700 Ravinia Ave.