Andy’s Frozen Custard holds grand opening in Oak Lawn

Andy's Frozen Custard is holding its grand opening tomorrow in Oak Lawn. Photo from Facebook.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

You can’t miss the giant ice cream cone at Andy’s Frozen Custard, 9507 S. Cicero Ave. in Oak Lawn. It has become an Oak Lawn landmark since the store opened last month in the former Del Taco.

The ice cream parlor features more than two dozen toppings for its cones. The menu also features concretes, sundaes, malts, splits and seasonal specialties. Soft drinks and ice tea are also available.

The store is holding its grand opening tomorrow Dec. 29 with a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. The first 100 visitors will be entered into a drawing for two gift cards that entitle the bearers to free treats for all of 2011.

Owner Andy Kuntz is also giving away free ice cream cones from noon to 5 p.m. to celebrate the grand opening.

The ice cream parlor is open daily in the winter from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and until 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

The phone number is 708-499-1400. The web site is http://www.eatandys.com/.

Auto Zone opens in New LenoxThe Auto Zone parts store opened Dec. 18 in front of the new Wal-Mart at 671 E. Lincoln Highway. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The phone number is 815-462-0917. The web site is http://www.autozone.com/.

Prime Jewelers open in The PlazaA new jewelry store called Prime opened just before Christmas in The Plaza shopping center at 9500 S. Western Ave. in Evergreen Park. The store is located on the upper level near National Wholesale. The phone number is 708-907-5691. Store hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

Also at the Plaza, Daddy & Me, a men’s and children’s clothing store, relocated to a spot on the lower level near the food court. The phone number is 708-229-8600. Store hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

Bears deal of the weekTom Kelly’s Chop House & Pub, 495 Degroate Road in New Lenox, has a free halftime buffet during Bears games.

Businesses begin to recover after last week's fire in Oak Lawn



Oak Lawn firefighters battle the blaze on 95th Street. Photo courtesy of Oak Lawn Patch

 By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

One week after an extra-alarm blaze destroyed Eva’s Bridals and Radio Shack and damaged three other businesses in the 4800 block of 95th Street in Oak Lawn, the businesses are bouncing back.

Eva’s, which was where the fire started late that afternoon, has reopened in a former Men’s Wearhouse at 6101 W. 95th St. The phone number remains the same – 708-422-5599 – and the website has more information at http://www.evasbridalsofoaklawn.com/.

The Bedding Experts, 4803 W. 95th St., sustained smoke damage from the fire but reopened on Saturday.

Advantage Chiropractic, 4809 W. 95th St., is next door to Eva’s and sustained heavy damage. A message on the company’s answering machine says the owner is looking to open a satellite office in Oak Lawn until the 95th Street office is ready to reopen.

Radio Shack, also next door to Eva’s, also sustained heavy damage and remains closed. A call to the corporate office in Texas was not returned.

Miss Fantasia Boutique, 4823 W. 95th St., also remains closed. The store was on the corner of the block and missed any structural damage but did sustain smoke damage. Its phone number is constantly busy, but the company’s website http://www.missfantasiaboutique.com/ appears to be up and running.

Dekker Lighting to close in LansingDekker Lighting, a fixture at 18230 S. Torrence Ave. for the past 40 years, is closing its doors with hopes of reopening along U.S. 30 in northwest Indiana in the future.

“If we do well enough with the closing sale, we hope to reopen in northwest Indiana,” says Jeff Dekker.

In the meantime, prices on lighting are slashed 50 percent in the Lansing showroom. Everything in the store is for sale, says Dekker. He expects the sale to last through December and possibly into January.

The phone number is 708-474-9800, and their website is http://www.dekkerlighting.com/.

Kris Kringle Haus back in OrlandA holiday tradition for 20 years, Kris Kringle Haus has returned to Orland Park.

The store, which features Christmas decorations and is only around for a few weeks before Christmas, opened last month at 15210 S. LaGrange Road in the Ravinia Plaza.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The phone number is 708-364-9860. Their website is http://www.kriskringlehaus.com/.

Learning store opens in OrlandLakeshore Learning Store has opened at 15780 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park. Its phone number is 708-403-6300. It has a website at http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/.

Sissy’s Home Décor closing in FrankfortSissy’s Home Décor is closing at 20867 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort in the Walt’s Plaza. The phone number is 815-469-5339.

Deal of the week at Ed and Joe’sEd and Joe’s Pizza is offering $5 off any size thin crust pizza from Friday to Sunday at either its Tinley Park or Mokena locations. Offer is valid on dine-in, delivery or carry-out orders. The restaurant also is offering $50 in promotional certificates if you buy $100 in gift cards from Friday to Sunday.

Pickwick Society Tearoom has new home

Cindy Vassell poses in the new location for the Pickwick Sociey Tearoom in Frankfort.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The Pickwick Society Tearoom, a downtown Frankfort gem since it opened in 2004, moved recently from its original home to new digs at 122 W. Kansas St.

“This building was the first hotel in town,” says owner Cindy Vassell explaining that the move was forced on her when she lost her lease.

“New owners bought the building we were in,” she says. “And they plan on turning our former location into a gift shop.

“We had looked at this location before and it was still available when we were told we had to move, so here we are.”

The new location is bigger than the original tearoom, 1,600 square feet compared to 900 square feet, and being a former hotel instead of a house, its layout is different. But little else has changed, says Vassell.

“We have 39 kinds of tea,” she says. “We bake all of our goods each morning and still have sandwiches, soups and salads.”

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday and closed on Monday.

For more information and menu selections, visit their website at http://www.pickwicktearoom.com/.

Lansing VFW ClosesLansing VFW Post 7660 closed earlier this month at 2433 Ridge Road the victim of the poor economy and a declining membership.

Village Farmstands closeThe Village Farmstand and Garden Center closed recently at 1 W. Sibley Blvd. in South Holland as did the Village Farmstand at 147 River Oaks Drive in Calumet City.

Bears deal at Ed and Joe’sEd and Joe’s Pizza is offering $7 off any 16-inch thin crust family pizza for tonight’s Bears game against the Miami Dolphins. The offer is good for delivery, take-out and dine-in at both the Tinley Park and Mokena locations. The limit is five pizzas. Gametime is 7:20 p.m. The phone number in Tinley Park is 708-532-3051 and Mokena is 708-478-7171.