Wendy’s opens in Palos Heights

Wendy's opened this week at 12875 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A new Wendy’s restaurant opened this week at 12875 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights. The fast-food eatery is in an outlot at the new Jewel-Osco store that opened several weeks ago at 127^th and Harlem. 

Diana’s Kitchen delights Metra passengers

Commuters who use the 80^th Avenue Metra Station in Tinley Park can finally get a cup of coffee or something to eat on the train while heading downtown for their morning trip. 

Diana’s Kitchen opened last week in the station café and from 5-9 a.m. is selling coffee, doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches and other drinks and snacks. 

The restaurant at 167^th Street and Oak Park Avenue replaces Isn’t That Sweet, which backed out of a deal to open in the station.

Old Plank Bank takes over First United

New Lenox-based Old Plank Trail Community Bank recently acquired the assets and deposits of Crete-based First United Bank.

Besides the main office in Crete, the failed bank had two branch banks in Frankfort. It has assets of $328 million and deposits of $317 million.

New Look for Food 4 Less

The Food 4 Less grocery store at 5556 W. 159^th St. in Oak Forest had a grand reopening recently after the store finished a major remodeling.

The store now features an expanded meat department with full-service butchers, an expanded produce department with organic selections and aisles devoted to foods from around the world.

The store, which is a division of Kroger Foods, opens daily at 6 a.m.

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.

LBK Boutique Opens in Tinley Park

Lisa Kopas opened LBK Boutique last month in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

If Lisa Kopas had not started selling wedding accessories online in 2005 the Tinley resident would never have dreamed of opening her own store, LBK Boutique at 7913 W. 171^st St. in the Tinley Downs Shopping Center.

“I would never have done it without having the online store,” she said. “But I was successful online and was determined to try and do this myself.”

Kopas decided to open the brick and mortar version of LBK Boutique after she lost her job as a controller at a power plant in Ford Heights when it closed.

Kopas, 45, opened the store last month and said business was great until a road and sewer construction project started at the intersection of 171^st and 80^th Avenue.

“Business has been half of what it was,” she said.

“We sell accessories and gifts for all occasions,” she said. “We have lots of wedding and bridal accessories.”

Store hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store is closed on Sunday.

For information, call 708-468-8649 or visit LBK Boutique online, or its Facebook page, or its ebay store.

Rosati’s Opens in New Lenox

Rosati’s Pizza of New Lenox opened earlier this month at 108 W. Illinois Highway in New Lenox in the former home of Lazy Dogz Burgers and Beef. The location offers carry out and delivery to New Lenox, Joliet, Mokena and Manhattan.

For information, call 815-485-1000 or visit Rosati’s of NewLenox.

Middle Eastern Bakery Opens

Almasi Bakery, which specializes in Middle Eastern baked goods, opened recently at 17845 S. Wolf Road in Orland Park. For information, call 708-478-5535.

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.

Chicago Blu closes in Frankfort

Chicago Blu closed last week in Frankfort.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Chicago Blu Grill and Bar closed suddenly last weekend at 19917 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort.

The restaurant opened in 2006 and was acquired by new owners Jay Rodriguez, Lisa Corona, and Scott and Rachel Zdanek in August 2010.

The company posted this note about the closing on its Facebook page on Oct. 14: 

"We regret to inform that we have given our final Last Call yesterday. Many thanks to our dedicated staff and to our loyal customers. It's been a wonderful experience."

A note on the front door and front window simply says, "Closed. Out of Business."

The website has been taken down and its phone number has been disconnected. 

Custom Shirts Shop Now Open 

Customized Teez, a shop that can customize T-shirts, hoodies and even decals for cars, is now open at Ford City Shopping Center, 7601 S. Cicero Ave. The store is open during mall hours. For information, call 773-884-0337 or visit their Facebookpage. 

Graystone Closes Forever 

Tinley Park’s golf scene dimmed a bit with the recent closing of Graystone Golf Links at 7600 W. 171^st St. 

The course’s future will remain green but as a sod farm instead of 9-hole golf course. 

Owners of the course decided earlier this year to close the course at the end of this year’s season. They will operate a sod farm on the property while they continue to try and develop the site into a business park.

The course’s golf carts, trucks and other equipment hit the auction block last Friday. 

McDonald's Reopens 

A newly remodeled McDonald's restaurant has reopened at 515 Ridge Road in Munster, Ind. The fast-food restaurant had closed in June for the remodeling.

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.