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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.

Peppo's Dili-Deli Opens Today in Tinley



Peppo's Dili-Deli will open today in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Peppo’s Dili-Deli, a popular sub shop since 1976 in Palos Hills, is opening today at 10 a.m. at 6905 W. 159th St. in Tinley Park.

“We’re really looking forward to opening in Tinley Park,” said Robert Peplowski, 28, a partner in the business and the son of its founder, Jim Peplowski. Both men live in New Lenox.

“We’ll have the same menu as the Palos Hills location,” said Peplowski, who added that the sub shop might have additional expansion plans in mind.

“If it works out in Tinley, we’ll open more,” he said. “We’ll continue to move south.”

The Tinley location will employ about 10 people, Peplowski said.

Red Mango Eyes mid-October Opening 

RedMango, a smoothie and frozen yogurt shop, reported on its Facebook page this week that it expects to open at 31 Orland Square Drive in Orland Park by mid-October.

Owners Trisha and Jeff Fendt said they are now taking applications online. The Orland store will be their fourth in the Chicago area and the chain’s first in the Southland.

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

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

Halloween Season is in Full Swing

Halloween City has a huge store at 15846 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.
By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

October not only marks the true end of summer it also signals the start of the Halloween season as temporary Halloween stores are now open throughout the Southland. 

Halloween City at 15846 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park is open in the former Party City store, which closed earlier this year after merging with the Party City store at 14906 S. LaGrange Road.   

Halloween City also has stores at 16845 Torrence Ave. in Lansing, at 13462 S. Archer Ave. in Lemont's Long Run Marketplace, and at 1534 U.S. 41 in Schererville's Fountain Park plaza.

All of the stores are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Hours will be extended after Oct. 20.

There is a Halloween City sign at 16195 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park, but the store is not yet open.

For information, visit the company online at Halloween City.
Spirit Halloween has a store
at 16086 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park.

Spirit Halloween has stores at 16086 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park in the former Bud’s sports bar and at 14726 S. Cicero Ave. in Midlothian's Mid-Oak Plaza. Spirit also has a store at Louis Joliet Mall in Joliet. Stores are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.


Halloween Express opened a costume and decorations at 6101 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn. The store will remain open through Nov. 2 and hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Halloween Express also has a store at 15818 S. Harlem Ave. in Orland Park. 

For information, visit Halloween Express.  

Many other stores have extensive Halloween departments including Saunoris Nursery in Frankfort, Alsip Nursery in Frankfort, Party City stores, Menard's stores, Lowe's Stores, CVS stores and Walgreen stores.


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.
 

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 18th 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 15th 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.