Orland Park Whole Foods to Open Nov. 2

The Whole Foods Market under construction in Orland Park will open in November.

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

Whole Foods Market announced this week that its new store at 15260 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park will be opening on Friday, Nov. 2.

The Texas-based chain said Emily Conklin, who has been with the company for 14 years, would be the store manager. She will be moving over from the supermarket’s store in Chicago’s Lakeview community.

The store is one of eight the company is opening this year. It will be the chain’s 18^th store in the Chicago market and the first in the Southland. 

At 27,000 square feet, the store is on the small size, especially when compared to a Meijer or Jewel, but Whole Foods prides itself on featuring natural and organic foods that are free of artificial ingredients and hydrogenated fats. 

Whole Foods said the store would bring 150-160 jobs. 

The store will open with a week of special events and sales.

Chipotle Opens in Homewood

Chipotle opened its latest restaurant this week at 17700 S. Halsted St. in Homewood. The restaurant features Mexican cuisine and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For information, call 708-798-1332 or visit them online at Chipotle Homewood.

Buona Beef May Be Coming to Beverly

Buona Restaurants and Catering is considering opening a location in the Beverly community, but has no specific location lined up.

“Beverly would be a good fit,” said John Gill, marketing director for the Berwyn-based restaurant chain. “But we have no timeline and no specific location picked out.”

“Our business and our menu fits in well with the Beverly community,” he said. “And Beverly is one of our most requested places for a new location.”

If Buona decides to build in Beverly, it would be the chain’s first location inside Chicago.

The chain has 14 suburban restaurants and is building a 15^th in Orland Park, which is expected to open later this year, Gill said.

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.

Bogart’s Closes in Homewood

Bogart's closed earlier this week in Homewood.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Bogart’s Charhouse, 18255 Dixie Highway in Homewood, has closed its doors for the last time.

The popular restaurant reportedly hosted a party Sunday night and announced it was closing that night.

Online comments by people claiming to be employees said the owners attributed the closing to financial considerations.

Attempts to reach them were unsuccessful. The restaurant’s phone number is out of service and redirects you to a voice mailbox.

The Homewood location outlasted its Tinley Park sister by a couple of years. The Tinley location first was sold and then reacquired and then downsized and renamed Casablanca and eventually closed for good. Its location on Oak Park Avenue is still empty.

Gap Open During Construction

A new Gap store is under construction in the lower level Sears Court at Orland Square Mall, but the store will remain open in its current location until the new space is ready.

Rue 21 Now Open

Rue 21, a national fashion retailer for young men and women, opened a 5,800-square-foot store recently in the Tinley Park Plaza near 159^th Street and Harlem Avenue. The store is between Walt’s Foods and Bath & Body Works. The chain operates 770 stores in 46 states.

For information, call 708-444-2934 or visit them online at Rue 21.

Fiscal Expert to Focus on State Debt for Southland Chamber

Civic Federation President Laurence Msall, long recognized as a public policy expert, will be the guest speaker at the Sept. 10 Regional Consensus Lunch for the Southland Chamber of Commerce at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

Msall will discuss steps that lawmakers could take to address the state’s fiscal mess especially dealing with millions of dollars in unfunded pensions.

A licensed attorney, Msall’s background includes being a senior advisor for economic development under former Gov. George Ryan. Msall joined the Civic Federation in 2002.

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. Reservationscan be made online at Chicago Southland Regional Consensus Lunch or by calling 708-956-6950.

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.

Chuck’s Fest Returns to Toyota Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Chuck’s Fest, a beer, food and music extravaganza, returns this weekend to Toyota Park in Bridgeview.

The fest was started in 2008 by Chuck Pine, owner of Chuck’s Southern Comforts Café in Burbank. The three-day festival moved two years ago to Toyota Park.

A new food offering this year will be smoked goat, which will be done on Saturday at the fest alongside Birrieria Zaragoza, a Mexican restaurant in Chicago renowned for its roast goat.

Back this year will be the beer tasting on Saturday featuring 80 brewers serving more than 120 craft beers.

“It’s probably the biggest beer tasting event in Chicago,” Pine said. “We’ll have VIP tasting from noon to 3 p.m. for $45 to give connoisseurs a jump on the sampling. They’ll be able to sample everything we have including some brands that we have in limited supply.”

Activities for kids include a balloon launcher, face painting and a bounce house.

Bands will be on stage throughout the festival.

There will be big screen TVs located so fans can keep tabs on their favorite college and pro games over the weekend.

For a complete list of beers and food and bands, visit Chuck’sFest 2012.

General admission is $5 per person with free parking. Hours are Friday, Sept. 7, 5-11 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 8, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 9, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.