Bank Acquires Sam Maguire’s

State Bank of Countryside last week acquired the former Sam Maguire's Irish Pub at auction.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

State Bank of Countryside is the new owner of the former Sam Maguire’s Irish Pub, which closed in Orland Park without warning in early January.

The bank was the only bidder for the property at 39 Orland Square Drive, which was auctioned off on Friday.

A foreclosure lawsuit was filed by the bank in September 2011 against the popular Orland Park restaurant seeking more than $2.2 million from restaurant owners Michael Wilke, Marian Wilke and MTT Investments LLC.

“All the parties involved wanted to move this sale along,” said Michael Coughlin, an attorney with Burke & Handley, who handled the case.

The sale will become final after it is approved by a foreclosure judge in Cook County.

Sam Maguire’s had been for sale for months before it closed with an asking price of $2.7 million. The property is still listed at online realty websites as being for sale with an asking price of $2.2 million.

Torrid Reopens in Orland Square

Torrid, a clothing store for plus-size women, has reopened in its new location in the upper level JCPenney Court at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. The new store is next to The Body Shop. For information, call 708-226-1860 or visit Torrid Orland Square Mall.

Brannigan Chiropractic Hosts BAH

Brannigan Chiropractic, 1400 Ravinia Place in Orland Park, will celebrate its 10th anniversary by hosting a Business after Hours for the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

For information or to RSVP, call the chamber at 708- 349-2972 or visit Orland Park Chamber.

Garrett to Address Oak Lawn Chamber

Jim Garrett from the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau will be guest speaker at the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting at 11:30 a.m. June 12 at the Hilton Oak Lawn, 9333 S. Cicero Ave.
After the lunch, Laura Urban of Globus Family of Brands will have a travel presentation.

Cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members.

For information, call 708-424-8300 or visit the Oak Lawn Chamber.

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/.

Oak Lawn Couple Open Marie’s Café

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

When Dean Kochert started looking for a place to open a restaurant of his own, he ruled out being an Italian beef or hot dog kind of place.

“There are plenty of those already,” he said.

Kochert decided on quick casual, a concept he was familiar with after working for years at the Italian Village and Panera.

The result was Marie’s Café and Catering at 3660 W. 111th St. in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood community, which opened on May 7.

“I’ve worked for a number of fast casual restaurants,” he said. “Marie’s is similar to Corner Bakery or Panera.”

“Our niche is gourmet burgers,” Kochert said. “We have six signature burgers and a BYO burger, all served on a unique butter egg bun; toasted.”

Marie’s also has assorted fresh pastries in the morning, breakfast sandwiches, eight kinds of salads, specialty sandwiches and three Panini sandwiches. For a complete list of their menu items, visit Marie’s Café and Catering.

Kochert and his wife and co-owner, Allison, live in Oak Lawn and wanted to open their café in the village.

“We tried to locate in Oak Lawn,” he said. “We looked and looked and couldn’t find a location that worked.”

They settled on a space owned by St. Xavier University that formerly was a Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream shop.

“It’s a good space,” Kochert said. “It seats 55 and is across the street from Mount Greenwood Park, so we get a lot people in from the neighborhood or after they visit the park.”

Kochert said Marie’s has a great stereo system that plays Frank Sinatra music in the morning, easy rock like the Eagles and Bruce Springsteen in the afternoon and dinner music like Natalie Cole in the evenings.

Marie’s is open from Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For information, call 773-840-3344 or visit Marie’s Facebook page.

Baise to Address Southland Chamber

Illinois Manufacturers Association President and CEO Gregory W. Baise will talk about the state’s fiscal recovery during his keynote presentation at the June 11 Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce Regional Consensus Luncheon at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

With more than 20 years in the IMA top spot, preceded by several high level state appointments, Baise has an inside track on just about everything in Illinois. He will talk about how to change non-residents’ perception of doing business in Illinois as well as the present state of manufacturing.

The luncheon, which begins at 11:30 a.m., is open to the public. Reservations are $30 for members, $40 for non-members and can be made on the chamber website, http://www.chicagosouthland.com/, and by telephone at 708-957-6950.

On Stage Salon Opens in Alsip

On Stage Salon, 5418 W. 127th St. in Alsip, held its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony last week. For information, call owner Olga Trujillo at 708-239-1111.

Wireless Connection Celebrates Anniversary in Lansing

Wireless Connection, 3320 Ridge Road in Lansing, will celebrate one year in business from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Evergreen Park Market Returns

The Evergreen Park Farmer’s Market resumed today at Yukich Field at 89th Street and Kedzie Avenue, next to the fire station. The Evergreen Park market runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday through Oct. 26.

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/.

Oak Lawn Farmer’s Market Returns

The ladies of Sunshine Bakery in Middlebury, Ind., at last year's
Oak Lawn Farmer's Market. Courtesy of Oak Lawn Patch

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

This year’s Farmer’s Market in Oak Lawn will be the biggest yet, said Deputy Village Clerk Chris O’Grady, who has been in charge of the annual market for the past seven years.

“We will have 38 spaces this year,” said O’Grady. “When I started seven years ago we had 10 vendors. We have really grown.”

The market will run from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 52nd Avenue and Dumke Drive every Wednesday from June 6 to Oct. 17.

O’Grady said there will be five farmers at this year’s market including one returning farmer who sells potted plants.

“I wait until the market starts to buy my plants from him,” said O’Grady. “His potted plants are fantastic and huge.”

“New this year is a cheese vendor,” said O’Grady.

Other vendors will be selling fruits and berries, potatoes, leafy, green vegetables, juices, spices, jellies and jams, bread and pastries, sausages and fresh flowers. There also will be an Amish baker and a knife sharpener.

Oak Lawn Boy Scouts will be serving Chicago-style hot dogs, Polish sausages, chips and soda. Christenson’s Popcorn Wagon will be dishing out snow cones, lemon shake-ups and buckets of popcorn.

“You can find some really nice bargains,” said O’Grady.

She’s also still on the lookout for more vendors.

“I’m looking for an organic farmer,” she said. If there’s one out there, give her a call at Village Hall.

For a complete list of vendors, check out today’s Oak Lawn Patch.

Southland Chamber Names New CEO

David Hinderliter was named recently as new President and CEO of the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce. He fills a position that has been vacant for more than three years.

A Bourbonnais resident with an extensive executive resume, Hinderliter had led the Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce since 1993.

“You have no idea how excited I am to be here,” he said to members and guests at the Southland Chamber Regional Lunch on May 14.

The newly tapped Chamber chief expressed an eagerness to get down to business and push forward in his new position. His work is cut out in an organization that has an 85-community footprint.

Payless Shoesource Reopens

Payless Shoesource has reopened at Orland Square Mall in its new location in the upper level JCPenney Court, next to Home Spa.

Chuck E. Cheese Expanding

Work has begun on a 4,300 square foot addition to the front of Chuck E. Cheese restaurant and arcade at 16090 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park.

Mokena Chamber Tees it Up

The Mokena Chamber of Commerce will tee off with a shotgun start at noon Wednesday, June 13, at its annual golf outing at Sanctuary Golf Course in New Lenox.

New this year is a giant ball drop on the 16th Hole, a massive putting contest and a hole-in-one contest with the grand prize winner getting a new car from Bettenhausen Automotive.

For information, call the chamber at 708-479-2468.

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/.