Red Mango to open Thursday in Orland

Red Mango will open at 11 a.m. on Thursday in Orland Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Red Mango has scheduled its grand opening for Thursday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m. at 31 Orland Square Dr. in Orland Park. 

The shop sells yogurt and smoothies.

For information, visit Red Mango Orland Park on Facebook. 

Whole Foods To Open Friday 

Whole Foods will celebrate the grand opening of its new store at 15260 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park with a bread breaking ceremony at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 2. There will be live entertainment, sales and giveaways. 

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. 

For information, visit Whole Foods on Facebook.

Sperone's Closes

Catching up on this one. Sperone's, an Italian restaurant that opened in the summer of 2010 at 12333 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights closed a few months ago. 

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.

Meatheads to open in Frankfort

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy 

Meatheads Burgers & Fries will open its 10th restaurant on Thursday, Nov. 1, at 11143 W. Lincoln Highway in Frankfort. The first 1,000 people to register online will receive a free burger at the new location.

Meatheads plans to be an active Frankfort community member, giving all profits from its soft-opening lunch and dinners to Lincoln-Way Hockey and Frankfort Square Baseball.

For information, call 815-469-0244 or visit Meatheads.

Dunkin’ Donuts to Replace Nino’s

Nino’s Pizza was torn down recently at 4630 Lincoln Highway in Matteson to make way for a Dunkin’ Donuts shop.

The once popular pizzeria had been closed for some time when it fell victim to the wrecking ball this summer.

Village officials have been working since the spring with Samorma Inc. to bring in the doughnut shop. Samorma operates Dunkin’ Donut and Baskin-Robbins shops in Orland Park and Tinley Park.

The new Dunkin’ Donuts will be about 2,400-square-feet and feature a drive-through lane. A second space of about 2,000 square feet will be available for another tenant in the building.

Bank Moves in Cal City 

BMO Harris Bank moved earlier this year from its longtime home at 555 Burnham Ave. to 530 Torrence Ave. in Calumet City.

7-Eleven Opens in Palos Heights

A new 7-Eleven opened recently at 11900 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights between Tastee Freez and Mona Lisa, which vacated the space taken over by the convenience store.

The store is planning a grand opening for Friday, Nov. 9, from noon to 3 p.m. The store is open 24 hours and was granted a liquor license.

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.

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.