Moo & Oink Makes a Comeback

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Fans of Moo & Oink who lamented the closings of the chain’s stores last year, including one in Hazel Crest, can once again find their favorite hamburger patties and hot links in stores across the Southland.

Best Chicago Meat Co., which bought the brand’s name, logo, characters, jingle and recipes at auction in December, has recently started selling Moo & Oink brand meats at Certified, 118 E. Jackson St. in Joliet; Michael’s Fresh Market, 856 S. Route 59 in Naperville; Ultra, 13001 S. Ashland Ave. in Calumet Park; Harvey Fresh Market, 14861 Dixie Highway in Harvey; Walt's Foods, 16145 State St. in South Holland; and Walt's Foods, 2345 183rd St. in Homewood.

The company also said Moo & Oink products will be coming soon to select Jewel locations, more Ultra locations, and Food 4 Less and Strack & Van Til locations.

For a complete list of current and coming locations, visit the Moo & Oink Facebook page.

Southwest Community Services Open House

Southwest Community Services, 6775 Prosperi Drive in Tinley Park, is hosting an Open House and Business After Hours sponsored by BMO Harris Bank from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April12, for the Chicago Southland, Mokena, Orland Park and Tinley Park chambers of commerce.

Refreshments will be provided by Crazy Fingers Catering, Polonia Catering and Dove Chocolate Discoveries.

RSVP to Kelli Cody at SCS at 708-429-1260 ext. 1263 or via email at kcody@swcsinc.org.

Discover Tinley Expo is Saturday

Meet businesses and organizations from Tinley Park at the Discover Tinley Community Awareness Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 14 at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive.

The annual expo is free and showcases the community's businesses, non-profit organizations and government services. This family-friendly, free event also features entertainment, food samples and free giveaways at many of the booths.

This year's attractions include:

• Expanded format
• Continuous entertainment with music and dance from local groups
• Children's entertainment featuring face painting, balloon artists and more
• Food samples from some of Tinley Park's finest restaurants

Marquette Bank to Offer Scholarships

Marquette Bank, a locally-owned neighborhood bank, has announced 55 local high schools have been selected to participate in the 2012 Marquette Bank Education Foundation Scholarship Program, which has a 46-year tradition of providing scholarships to graduating seniors from neighborhoods near Marquette Bank’s 24 branch locations.

The scholarships are available to students who demonstrate financial need, maintain at least a B average and have an outstanding record of community service.

Since 1967, more than $2.3 million has been awarded to more than 1,281 high school students.

The 2012 scholarship amount is $2,500. Scholarship recipients are selected by their school’s principal or guidance counselors and are recognized at an awards ceremony attended by friends and family. The scholarship can be used to cover expenses at any higher education program including: four-year colleges and universities, community colleges, vocational training or trade schools. To apply, students from participating schools can pick up an application in the guidance counselor’s office.

Southland schools participating in the program include:

• Alan B. Shepard High School
• Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
• Andrew High School
• Brother Rice High School
• Carl Sandburg High School
• Dwight D. Eisenhower High School
• Evergreen Park High School
• Lemont High School
• Leo Catholic High School
• Lincoln-Way Central High School
• Maria High School
• Marist High School
• Morgan Park High School
• Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School
• Mount Assisi Academy
• Mount Carmel High School
• Oak Forest High School
• Oak Lawn Community High School
• Providence Catholic High School
• Queen of Peace High School
• Reavis High School
• Richards High School
• St. Ignatius College Prep.
• St. Laurence High School
• St. Rita of Cascia High School
• Tinley Park High School

For information on the Marquette Bank Education Foundation Scholarship Program, call 1-888-254-9500 or visit www.emarquettebank.com/about_foundation.cfm.

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at http://www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com/.

Palermo’s Reopens in New Location in Orland Park

Palermo's opened last week at 15832 S. Wolf Road in Orland Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Palermo’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, which recently closed its location at 11255 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park, reopened on Friday in its new location at 15832 S. Wolf Road in Orland Park.

The new location offers carryout, delivery and catering and has a history of pizza making being home to several pizzerias over the years including Pizza Trio and Little Town Pizza.

Hours for the new location will mirror those of its location in Tinley Park, 3-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 3-10 p.m. on Fridays, 1-10 p.m. on Saturdays and 1-9 p.m. on Sundays.

For information, call 708-349-9400 or visit its website or its Facebook page.

Another restaurant in the same retail strip, Chicago Taste Gyros closed recently at 15880 S. Wolf Road.

Rent-a-Center Coming to Tinley

Workers have begun transforming the former Hollywood Video store at 17129 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park into a Rent-a-Center store and an adjoining small office unit.

Home Show Coming to Orland

Georgio’s Comfort Inn, 8800 W. 159th St. in Orland Hills, will host the Home Show on April 14-15.

The show is free and guests will get the chance to see the latest in home remodeling and repair products and services.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

For information, call 630-385-4000 or visit http://www.chicagohomeshow.net/.

$11 Dinners at Jenny’s Steak House

Jenny’s Steak House at 5800 W. 111th St. in Chicago Ridge and Jenny’s at 191 South, 10160 W. 191st St. in Mokena are celebrating the restaurant’s 11th anniversary this month with $11 dinners from 3-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

There are 13 entrees on the $11 menu including Prime Rib Roast, Top Butt Sirloin, Pepper Rubbed London Broil, Porter House Pork Chop, 2/3 Slab Baby Back Ribs, Combo ½ Slab Ribs and Jumbo Shrimp, Fried Jumbo Shrimp, Tilapia Italiano, and Fresh Salmon, and select daily specials.

Ultra Foods Coming to Crestwood

Work is continuing on converting the former Dominick's Finer Foods in Crestwood into an Ultra Foods store.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Indiana-based supermarket chain Strack and Van Til is working on opening a new Ultra Foods grocery store in the former Dominick’s Finer Foods at 13180 S. Cicero Ave. in Crestwood.

The company had been shooting for a March opening, but that didn’t happen because of the amount of work involved in converting the store.

Work has taken longer than expected, said Crestwood village services director Bill Graffeo, because Dominick’s “took everything” when the grocery store chain abandoned the store about five years ago.

An employee at the Ultra store in Calumet Park said she heard the store should be opening in June or July.

Strack has been working for months on remodeling and modernizing the store, which would be the only true supermarket in the village.

Graffeo said groceries are available now at the Super Walmart and Target stores.

The company is now taking applications at the store and online. When open, the store is expected to employ about 50 employees.

Hester to Visit Chicago Ridge

Chicago Bears wide receiver and return specialist Devin Hester will be signing autographs and posing for photos from noon to 2 p.m. tomorrow at Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall.

Women’s Apparel Store Opens at Chicago Ridge

Body Central, an apparel store that caters to young women, opened Friday at Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall.

The store is giving away tote bags with any purchase of $50 or more.

Store hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For information, call 708-422-0395 or visit the company website at http://www.bodyc.com/.

New Look for Batteries Plus

The Batteries Plus store at 16205 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park has been remodeled and now also carries a full line of light bulbs for all kinds of fixtures and uses.

Plaza Jeweler Has New Home

Syman Jewelers, one of the Orland Plaza businesses that was forced to relocate, held its grand opening over the weekend at its new digs at 9428 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park. The new location has all of the previous services as well as a stained glass section.

Free Subway

At participating Subway shops in the Southland, you can get a free 6-inch sub sandwich when you buy one before 9 a.m. through the month of April. This offer is good on all of their sandwiches.