Going Out of Business Sales at Borders, Sid’s Greenhouse

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

There are bargains to be had starting today in Orland Park and Palos Hills as Borders and Sid’s Greenhouse have each started going out of business sales.

Sid’s Greenhouse has been a fixture at 10926 Southwest Highway in Palos Hills for 50 years. The company announced earlier this week it would close its retail nursery and garden center locations in Palos and Bolingbrook because of the weak economy. More than 100 employees will lose their jobs when the stores close.

Liquidation discounts of 30-50 percent off regular prices are now being offered at both stores. Sid’s Reward Bucks are still redeemable for up to 50 percent of the regular price. Sid’s will be accepting cash, checks, credit cards, gift cards and gift certificates during the inventory closeout.

At Borders, 15620 S. LaGrange Road, discounts are starting at 40 percent of the original price. The book store is accepting gift cards throughout the liquidation sale, but Borders Bucks will expire on July 31.Borders Rewards Plus members will enjoy additional discounts for a week longer.

The retailer said Friday that up to 35 stores may reopen as Books-a-Million locations, but did not indicate which stores might be saved or how soon a deal could be reached.

Farewell for Randy’s Market
The community is invited to Randy’s Market at 14250 S. Ravinia (143rd Street and LaGrange Road) in Orland Park at 10 a.m. tomorrow for a Prayer of Thanksgiving by All Saints Lutheran Church Pastor Don Borling. The store will end its 25-year run at 6 p.m. to make way for the village’s Main Street Triangle project.

Orland Borders Open as Usual

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The last remaining Borders bookstore in the Southland at 15620 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park is open and doing business as usual, until Thursday. That's when the retailer will ask the U.S. bankruptcy court to approve liquidation of the chain's remaing 399 stores.

On Thursday, the court is expected to sign off on the plan to shutter the stores by the end of September.

A manager at the Orland store said Tuesday that details will emerge after Thursday's court hearing but what she has heard so far is that gift cards will be redeemed throughout the liquidation and rewards will be accepted for at least the first two weeks of the liquidation.

"It sounds like rewards won't be accepted after the first two weeks," said the manager, who declined to give her name.

She also said customers were pouring into the store on Tuesday.

"It's been busier today than the past three days combined," she said. "I think it's people wanting to use up their gift cards. But we've been told gift cards will be accepted until the end."

Rosati’s Takes Over Piazza’s in Mokena

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Piazza’s Pizza closed last week at 19608 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena. But it is expected to reopen Tuesday as a Rosati’s Pizza.

The phone number is remaining the same 708-479-9400 but there are a few changes coming. For one, the hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Friday. For another, the menu is changing. To get an idea of the new menu, visit http://www.rosatislockport.com/. The owner of that location is taking over the Mokena site.

There apparently are two pizza chains called Rosati’s that have a common ancestor. One is based in Warrenville and the other in Elgin. The Mokena and Lockport locations are part of the Elgin group, which uses http://www.myrosatis.com/ as its website.

Mexican restaurant closes in South Holland
Taquitos Munoz closed recently at 253 E. 162nd St. in South Holland. The eatery had been open for about a year when it shut its doors.

Oak Forest businesses relocate
Pup N Suds, a dog grooming service, recently relocated from 15159 S. Cicero Ave. in Oak Forest to a new home a couple of blocks away at 4815 W. 155th St. The hours and phone number remain the same 708-687-4409.

Also moving was Great Clips, which moved its salon from 15825 S. Central Ave. to 5536 W. 159th St. The hours and phone number remain the same 708-535-9890.

El Cortez closes Orland location
El Cortez on June 26 closed its restaurant at 17171 S. Wolf Road in Orland Park. A manager at the nearby Mokena location said there wasn’t enough business at the Orland site to keep it open.

There had been lots of speculation that the Orland restaurant’s days were numbered after the chain opened at 10128 W. 191st St. in Mokena, which has proved to be quite popular. The flagship restaurant also remains open at 183rd Street and Cicero Avenue in Country Club Hills.

Deal of the week
A reminder that Speedway is giving discounts to Speedy Rewards card holders through July at locations acquired from Gas City earlier this summer. Card holders who swipe their cards get 5 cents off per gallon of regular and mid-range and 10 cents per gallon off premium. The chain also is selling any size iced tea or soft drink beverage for 67 cents.