Convergence Technologies to Open New Mokena Location

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Convergence Technologies will hold its grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at its new Mokena location at 19112 Blackhawk Parkway.

Convergence, a computer and networking technology company based in Burr Ridge, is celebrating the opening of a new broadband network servicing Mokena, Alsip, Frankfort and Orland Park.

It will eventually offer its new service across the Southland and into northwest Indiana thanks to a $12 million Federal Broadband Stimulus Grant the company received.

The network provides high speed Internet phone service (Voice over IP), payment processing for merchants and cloud technology for residential and business customers.

The company has added 75 new jobs to the Mokena area.

For information on Convergence and its services, call 630-887-1000 or visit its website at http://www.converge-tech.com/.

Orland Square to Open Family Lounge

Orland Square Mall in Orland Park, which first opened in 1976 and is in the midst of a long overdue face-lift, will celebrate the grand opening of its new Family Lounge with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday on the lower level next to Bare Berry Yogurt with activities and refreshments.

The lounge will feature five family restrooms, privacy rooms for mothers who are breastfeeding, bottle warming stations and a family seating area. The lounge also will be adjacent to the children’s playing area.

Other renovations now under way at the Simon Properties mall include new entrances, new signage and resurfacing of the parking lot.

Tinley Aquarium Shop Closes

Capture the Sea, a fish and aquarium shop at 8010 W. 171st St. in Tinley Park, closed recently.

Marquette Bank Offers Life Car, Estate Planning Seminar

Marquette Bank and the law offices of Stephen M. Sutera are partnering to offer a free life care and estate planning seminar at the Oak Lawn Hilton at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 3.

Sutera will answer questions regarding wills, trusts, estate planning and senior life care planning at the seminar entitled, Effective Senior Life Care & Estate Planning Strategies – Understanding Your Options in Today’s Complex World.

Light refreshments will be provided during the event. Anyone interested in attending should register by calling 708-460-5166 as seating will be limited.

CUB to Pay Lucky Someone’s April Electric Bill

The Citizens Utility Board announced on Earth Day that one out of every 10 families who sign up for the consumer group’s free online energy bill-cutting service, CUBenergysaver.com, will have their electric bills paid in the month of April, up to $150.

CUBenergysaver.com was launched in June 2010 as a partnership between CUB and New York City-based Efficiency 2.0. Since then, the tool has helped consumers trim their gas and electric bills by an average of $130 a year by recommending hundreds of personalized energy-saving actions.

Efficiency 2.0 has offered to cover the April electric bill, up to $150, for one out of every 10 consumers who join CUB Energy Saver before June 1. Join at www.CUBenergysaver.com/earth.

“Protecting the planet starts at your doorstep,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said in a release. “CUB Energy Saver proves that there are hundreds of ways to cut costs and reduce energy waste. It’s simple, it’s free, and it’s what Earth Month is all about.”

CUB Energy Saver links to a household's Commonwealth Edison account to track actual reductions in energy waste. It then rewards those reductions with points — two for every kilowatt-hour saved — that can be redeemed for shopping and restaurant discounts. The tool works for all residential electric consumers, including those who have signed up for alternative electric suppliers.

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 www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

Dry Goods Coming to Orland Park

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Iowa-based Von Maur Inc. announced Monday it will open a 4,500-square-foot Dry Goods specialty store at Orland Square Mall in the fall.

The Orland store will be the women’s specialty store chain’s third location in the Chicago area and only the seventh Dry Goods store as it builds the brand. The other Chicago-area stores are at Fox Valley and Woodfield malls.

Dry Goods offers the latest in contemporary women’s clothing and accessories and features products from brands such as Free People, Hudson, Jessica Simpson, Joe’s Jeans and Silver. The store also offers an interest-free credit card for its customers.

The store will be located on the second level of the northwest wing and will feature the chain’s turn-of-the-century look.

Von Maur said the opening is part of its strategic growth plan for Dry Goods by selecting markets in which the 140-year-old company has yet to establish a presence.

"The success and volume of business at our current Chicagoland locations has been tremendous, leaving us confident that our newest location in Orland Park will yield similar results," said Jim von Maur, president of Von Maur, in a release. "With Orland Square Mall's prominent demographic of female shoppers, coupled with our exciting mix of contemporary fashion and quality service, Dry Goods will undoubtedly be well received by shoppers."

Orland Square Mall also announced two more tenants on Monday.

Flip Flop Shoes, which offers the hottest brands and latest styles of flip flops and sandals, is expected to open this summer while Love Culture, a store that sells affordable women’s fashions and accessories, is expected to open in August.

Westfield Sells Chicago Ridge, Joliet Malls

Australian-based Westfield Group announced last week that it was selling 90 percent stakes in its Chicago Ridge and Louis Joliet malls as part of a $1 billion deal with Starwood Capital Group.

Westfield will retain a 10 percent stake in the 838,608 square foot Chicago Ridge Mall and the 971,025 square foot Louis Joliet Mall and continue to manage them, the company said in a news release.

Connecticut-based Starwood also purchased majority stakes in five other Westfield-owned malls in the United States. An additional Westfield property was sold to another buyer in a separate transaction.

Westfield retains ownership of Old Orchard Mall in Skokie, Fox Valley Mall in Aurora and Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills.

Warehouse Sells for $64 Million

CB Richard Ellis Realty Trust announced last week that it paid $64.3 million for a 1.35 million square foot warehouse in University Park. The warehouse at 2400 Dralle Road is leased by Clorox.

Bath House Closes

The Bath House, a bath and kitchen remodeling company, closed its business and showroom recently at 4811 W. 103rd St. in Oak Lawn.

Bank to Host ID Theft Seminar

Standard Bank and Trust will host a free community seminar to protect residents against identity theft from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, at the Evergreen Park location at 2400 W. 95th St. RSVP to Julie Partacz at 708-499-2000 Ext. 60110.

The same branch is holding a free neighborhood shredding event on Saturday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to noon. Residents can bring four banker boxes of items per household to be shredded.

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 www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

Two Restaurants Remodeling in Orland Park, Tinley Park

Olympic Star in Tinley Park is closed for remodeling.
 The restaurant should reopen by Mother's Day.

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Two popular and longtime restaurants in Orland Park and Tinley Park have closed for remodeling.

Pop’s at 14279 S. Wolf Road in Orland Park is closed for remodeling that a sign in front of the restaurant says will take two weeks.

Olympic Star at 7100 W. 171st St. in Tinley Park is also closed for remodeling. A sign in front of the building says the restaurant will be back in business by Mother’s Day.

The Olympic Star remodeling is well overdue. I think the décor and furniture at the 24-hour Greek diner is the same as it was when I first ate there 25 years ago after moving to the area. It may not have changed since the restaurant opened in 1978.

Can’t wait to see its fresh new look.

Tinley Brew and Vine Fest is Saturday

The third annual Tinley Park Brew and Vine Festival will take place from 2-11 p.m. on Saturday at the Tinley Park Convention Center at 183rd Street and Harlem Avenue.

Sample beer, wine and food from local vendors and enjoy live entertainment. You can also visit with former White Sox slugger Frank Thomas, who will be on hand from 2-4 p.m. hawking his new The Big Hurt brand of suds.

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the chamber office, 17316 S. Oak Park Ave., or online at http://www.tinleyparkbrewandvinefest.com/.

Join the Fox Team

Fox Head, which is opening its first Chicago-area store in June, is hosting a job fair starting at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday at Center Court at Orland Square Mall.

The chain made its name with a worldwide brand of motocross apparel and has since branched out into other performance sports.

The mall said the store will be moving into part of the space being vacated by Bath & Body Works, which is downsizing and moving across the way.

The company was started as Fox Racing in 1974 in Campbell, Calif.

For information, visit the company’s website at http://www.foxhead.com/us/.

Orland Rotary Seeks Host Families

The Orland Park Rotary Club is looking for International Exchange Student Host Families within the borders of Sandburg High School for a student who will be living in Orland Park from the fall of 2012 until the summer of 2013. Host families provide a safe and loving environment for approximately three months.

Students have health insurance as well as an allowance from Orland Park Rotary. Contact Debra Baker at 708-362-1058 for information.

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 at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.