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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.

Plass to Hold Lost Its Lease Sale Starting Saturday

Plass Appliance will start a store liquidation sale Saturday in Tinley Park.
By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy


Plass Appliance and Furniture will begin a lost-our-lease moving sale at 9 a.m. Saturday at its Tinley Park store at 9501 W. 171st St.

A store spokesman said everyone is welcome and customers do not need special invitations that were mailed out last weekend.

The spokesman said everything in the store has been marked down and inventory includes washers, dryers, refrigerators, microwaves and dishwashers.

The Tinley store opened 10 years ago.

Plass began a liquidation sale last month at its Arlington Heights location.

The spokesman said the company’s remaining five locations would remain open as usual after the Tinley store closes.

For information, call 708-349-2062 or visit its website at http://www.plassappliance.com/.

Sugarless Bakery Closes in Mokena

Sugarless World Bakery closed suddenly and without warning on Feb. 15 at 19458 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena. Messages on the company’s Facebook page, website and phone number say the store is closed indefinitely.

The store, which catered to diabetics and others who were trying to cut their sugar intake, was opened in August by father and daughter Richard and Marie Martinez.

Oak Forest Fleadh is Saturday

The third annual Oak Forest Fleadh is Saturday and includes a parade, run, bike ride, pub crawl and other festivities.

Bars and restaurants will be serving up drink and food specials all day and you can get free Italian beef sandwiches at Cindy’s Pub, 5230 W. 159th St., starting at 10 a.m.

For a complete list of events and participating businesses, visit

http://www.oak-forest.org/community/OakForestFleadh.asp.

Tinley Goes Green on Sunday

While Oak Forest will color itself green on Saturday, downtown Tinley Park will wait until Sunday to do the honors with a parade down Oak Park Avenue at 2 p.m.

Businesses up and down Oak Park are planning events to coincide with the parade or get a jump on the celebration. Durbin’s is having entertainment and food and drink specials. Ed and Joe’s is serving up Irish specialties and entertainment.

For a rundown, check out the Tinley Park Patch.

Hawg’s and Dogs Open Again

Hawg’s and Dogs reopened this week at 7940 W. Lincoln Highway in Frankfort after being closed for February for winter break. The eatery is featuring a buy one hot dog, get one free special daily from 2-4 p.m. For information, call 815-469-6946 or visit their website at http://www.hawgs-n-dogs.com/.

Sauk Trail Food & Liquors Has New Owner

Shobhar Chavda is the new owner of Sauk Trail Food & Liquors at 166 W. Sauk Trail in the La Petite Plaza in South Chicago Heights. The store sells general household products, beverages, beer and wine. A grand opening will be scheduled for a later date.

Dickey’s Grand Opening on Friday

Dickey's Barbecue in Orland Park is holding grand opening ceremonies on Friday.
By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, 15110 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park, will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 9.

WCCQ DJ Roy Gregory will be broadcasting from there from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Texas-style smokehouse, which opened in January, will feature $1 sandwiches and a chance to win free barbecue for a year (winner must be present).

Orland Plan Commission OKs Tilted Kilt

Plans to open a Tilted Kilt restaurant and sports bar in the former Fat Ricky’s at 16255 S. LaGrange Road won approval last week from the Orland Park Plan Commission.

The proposal also would add more than 1,500 square feet to the building, which was vacated recently when Fat Ricky’s moved into smaller quarters in Tinley Park.

The plan now goes to a Village Board committee for review.

If approved, the restaurant and sports bar – sort of a Gaelic cousin of Hooters with bosomy waitresses wearing plaid miniskirts and open midriffs – would likely open this summer.

A Tilted Kilt opened a few years ago near Chicago Ridge Mall. There were rumors about the same time that a Tilted Kilt was planned for the Boulevard Plaza at 191st Street and LaGrange Road in Mokena – fueled in part because a Tilted Kilt van was parked there for several weeks – but nothing ever materialized.

Fiscal Expert to Discuss State Finances

Ralph Martire, a nationally acclaimed finance and fiscal policy scholar, will discuss Illinois’ dire financial picture at the March 12 Southland Chamber Regional Consensus Luncheon at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive.

The luncheon runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is open to the public. Tickets are $30 for members and $40 for non-members. For information and reservations, call the chamber at 708-957-6950 or visit http://www.chicagosouthland.com/.

Yankee Candle Now Open in Tinley

Yankee Candle opened last month in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A Yankee Candle store opened last month next to the GNC store at 7380 W. 191st St. in the Brookside Marketplace in Tinley Park.

The store carries the usual assortment of candles and fragrances made by Yankee Candle.

For information and hours, call 815-464-0923 or visit http://www.yankeecandle.com/.

Sarku Japan at Ford City

Sarku Japan, a restaurant that features Japanese cuisine including teriyaki and tempura, opened recently in the Ford City Shopping Mall food court at 71st Street and Cicero Avenue on Chicago’s Southwest Side.

J.D. & Sons Opens in South Chicago Heights

A new discount retailer called J.D. & Sons Sales opened recently at 168 W. Sauk Trail in South Chicago Heights. For hours and more information, call 708-755-7555.

Country Charm Parking Woes

I drove by Country Charm restaurant at 101 Lincolnway Drive in New Lenox the other day and saw huge sewer pipes filling the parking lot in front of the business (part of the U.S. 30 project) and thought it might be the kiss of death. Lots of local businesses have suffered similar fates in the name of progress.

Then I received an email from Country Charm that said it is business as usual at the breakfast and lunch eatery thanks to a huge parking lot in the rear of the building with access from Andersen Road to the west and Lincolnway Drive to the east.

For information, call 815-485-3996 or visit them online at http://www.thecharmonline/.

Business Unwrapped in Orland Park

Jim Harmening, a former business columnist during my days at the Daily Southtown, will discuss technology for small businesses at a Business Unwrapped brown bag lunch seminar from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Orland Park Library, 14920 S. Ravinia Ave. Jim owns a computer consulting company called Computer Bits Inc. and really knows his stuff.