House of Hughes closes in Crestwood

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The House of Hughes, which had been going by Hughes since its original owners sold a few years back, closed its doors recently at 14300 S. Cicero Ave. in Crestwood.

A second location at 201 Maple Street (Lincoln Highway) in New Lenox is still open under the name The Station House, but its future is uncertain.

House of Hughes once was a premiere dining establishment in the Southland. My aunt and uncle celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary there a few years ago and the place was beautifully decorated for the Christmas holidays and everyone had a great time.

Service and the quality of food had been going downhill in recent years and there are dozens of negative reviews posted at online sites such as Yelp.

There used to be several of these kind of restaurants in the south suburbs. You could go there with the family or on a date or for a birthday or graduation celebration. But they are disappearing. So sad.

Qdoba coming to Oak LawnQdoba Mexican Grill is scheduled to open next week at 5137 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn. It will be only the second Qdoba in the Southland, joining one in an outlot at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. The Denver-based company is planning a series of grand opening specials. For more information, visit their website at http://www.qdoba.com/ or visit them at Facebook www.facebook.com/qdobachicago.

Sbarro’s open again in Chicago RidgeSbarro’s is open again inside Chicago Ridge Mall after undergoing a face-lift.

New name for Mexican grillAsado Mexican Grill, which opened last year at 9516 W. 179th St. in Tinley Park with the promise of a 5-pound burrito, changed hands recently and is now known as Speedy Mexican Grill. The phone number is still 708-429-9100 and the hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, but the menu has changed and the monster burrito is no more.

Japanese restaurant opens in Mokena

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Another restaurant that combines steak and sushi opened last week in Mokena.
Zuki Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi opened Feb. 20 at 11230 Lincoln Highway in the former Blockbuster store across the street from the JC Penney.

Manager Amy Ni said the restaurant features hibachi-style cooking at your table as well as sushi. There also is a full-service bar. She said there was seating for 90 at the hibachi tables and 60 at the sushi tables.

Ni said the restaurant is planning a grand opening with the Mokena Chamber of Commerce.

Ni said the eatery is not part of any chain.

Zuki is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and for dinner from 4:30-9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 2:30-10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and for dinner only on Sunday from 1-9 p.m.

For information, call 815-806-1888 or visit their website at http://www.zukiteppanyaki.com/. Teppan Yaki means hibachi in Japanese, Ni said.

Gas City update
Bids were due Wednesday for the first round of the bankruptcy auction for Gas City stations and convenience stores. The second round of bids is due March 23. The final auction is scheduled for April 4.

And in a new development, the Wall Street Journal reported this week that William A. McEnery, whose father William J. McEnery owns Gas City, Green Garden Country Club and the Creamery ice cream parlors, has offered almost $3 million to buy the Creamery chain out of bankruptcy. Bids are due by March 25 with an auction for the ice cream parlors scheduled for March 28.

A sign at the Creamery on Wolf Road in Mokena says it is taking applications tomorrow, so someone is anticipating the chain reopening this spring.

Green Garden Country Club is a mess. The dome was knocked down in early February and is out of action until the fall. The course’s website says the course is closed until April 1 while a message at its phone number says the course is open for walkers. Calls to the pro shop went unanswered.

The message also said the restaurant is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Flexeon Rehab opens clinic in Mokena

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A new Flexeon Rehab clinic has opened at 9442 W. 191st St. in Mokena in the strip center next to Denny’s.

The new clinic is Flexeon’s 17th location and its director, Josh Feigl, also runs the Flexeon clinic at Bankview Drive and LaGrange Road in Frankfort.

The Mokena clinic will specialize in hand rehab therapy.

Laura Jo DeFalco will be the occupational therapist at the Mokena location.

For information, call 708-478-7565 or visit http://www.flexeonrehabclinics.com/.

Rockzorz closes in Frankfort
Owners Galaxia Martin and Erin Throw closed the Frankfort location of their Rockzorz Salon and Spa last month. Their Joliet location remains open.

Sweet shop opens in Mokena
The Sweet Company had its ribbon cutting and grand opening on Monday at 19806 S. Wolf Road in Mokena. Billing itself as an ice cream, coffee and candy shop, the Sweet Company is open daily in the first floor of a multi-use building just south of the railroad tracks. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit their website at http://www.shopthesweetcompany.com/ or check out their Facebook page.

Eggheadz opens in Tinley Park
A new breakfast and lunch place has opened in the former Wheatfield’s location at 16952 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park’s historic district. Eggheadz Café opened a few weeks ago and is a fitting successor to Wheatfield’s. Hours are daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Deal of the week
Forget taco Tuesdays, El Famous Burrito is offering $1 tacos on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Visit their website to find a location near you http://www.elfamousburrito.com/.