The Softer Side closing in Frankfort

The Softer Side in Frankfort is going out of business.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The Softer Side accessories store at 20881 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort is going out of business after seven years.

The biggest change for co-owner Rachel Klementzos, of Frankfort, will be having a new boss after working with her mom, Jodey Klementzos.

“I started working here with my Mom right out of high school,” said Rachel, 25, a Lincoln-East High School graduate.

She has a job lined up working in the business insurance industry.

“It’s a complete change from what I’ve been doing for the past seven years,” she said, but at least she gets to stay in Frankfort.

“It had a lot to do with the economy,” she said explaining the decision to close. “It also had a lot to do with new stores opening in the area that sell the same merchandise we do.”

The store will stay open until May or June, she said.

“It all depends on how fast we sell off the inventory,” she said adding the store has already marked down non-clearance merchandise 20 percent off.

For information, call the store at 815-469-8815 or visit the Softer Side Facebook page.

China Buffet closes in Tinley

The New China Buffet closed recently at 16141 S. Harlem Ave. in the Tinley Park Plaza shopping center.

Teavana coming to Chicago Ridge Mall

Teavana, which is a tea lover’s paradise, will be taking the place of Underground by Journeys, a footwear store, at Chicago Ridge Mall in Chicago Ridge. The store carries tea and accessories and is expected to open later this year.

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 follow business happenings at Southland Savvy.

Legends to open Tuesday in Mokena

Legends Grill and Bar will open at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Mokena.

It’s a few months behind schedule, but Legends Grill and Bar will finally open its doors at 11 a.m. Tuesday at 9710 W. 191st St. in Mokena, next to Scrementi’s in the Boulevard shopping center.

It’s the long awaited second location for Legends, which has been operating in Yorkville for some years now.

Mokena’s location will be open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight with an additional hour on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The grill will offer lunch and dinner and appetizers.

For information, call 708-995-7278 or visit Legends Mokena or its Facebook page.  

FrancoNello’s may be opening this month

Marty Joyce, chief of staff for Ald. Matt O’Shea said he believes FrancoNello’s at 10222 S. Western Ave. in Beverly may be opening later this month.

“I know they’re making progress,” he said. “The tables and chairs are there and it looks ready to go. They have really done a nice job remodeling the upstairs bar.”

“Don’t hold me to it, but I heard they were going to open March 23.”

The Italian restaurant burned down on Labor Day 2011. Its Facebook page has been promising a reopening since October.

The restaurant also said on its Facebook page that customers holding expired Groupon offers should not despair. The restaurant promised to honor the offers once its doors are open.

Calls and emails to the restaurant haven’t been returned.

Jordan’s getting new name, look

Jordan’s Pub & Eatery at 13500 S. Harlem Ave. in Orland Park is getting a new name and look.

The sports bar is transitioning into the Ale House Grill, which will be more neighborhood restaurant and less sports bar. Ale House promises daily specials, fresh baked bread, two outdoor patios and an easy carry-out area.

Ale House will maintain an upstairs sports bar, which remains open while the owners turn the main floor of the building into a restaurant.

The transition started right after the Super Bowl.

A soft opening is expected soon with a grand opening to follow.

For information, check out the Ale House Grill Facebook Page.

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 follow business happenings at Comings & Goings.

Beverly Bank to open new bank on former village site in Oak Lawn

 

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Beverly Bank & Trust closed a deal on Jan. 7 to buy a parcel of land owned by Oak Lawn on 95^th Street between Raymond Avenue and 53^rd Street for $1.8 million.

Beverly Bank, which is part of the Wintrust financial group, will build a new bank at the site that will include space for a senior community center.

“We are planning a spring groundbreaking and anticipate opening in the fourth quarter,” said Mike Johnstone, CEO of Beverly Bank & Trust. Johnstone said a temporary facility will be erected on the site prior to the permanent structure being completed.

“We still have to go through the planning process with the village,” Johnstone said. “There are lots of moving pieces with a bank.”

Johnstone said the new building would be from 20,000 to 24,000 square feet.

“It will be modeled on our facility at 103^rd Street and Western Avenue,” he said.

Village officials said the project is expected to cost about $6 million and would create about 20 new jobs.

Tria Architecture Inc. of Burr Ridge is handling the design.

Johnstone said no name has been chosen but it will reflect the Oak Lawn community. Village officials called the new facility Oak Lawn Bank & Trust.

“We are all about the community,” Johnstone said. “We think the community will identify with us.”

Sanford-Brown Closing Tinley Campus

Career education Corp. is closing all three of its Chicago-area Sanford-Brown College campuses in Tinley Park, Hillside and Skokie.

The Tinley campus will be the first one to close in January 2014.

The company is closing 23 campuses as part of a massive restructuring that includes 900 job cuts.

The campuses have stopped accepting new students and will continue to operate until current students finish their degrees.

Fitness center opens in Orland

Anytime Fitness recently opened at 11025 W. 179^th St. in Orland Park. The co-ed gym, which is owned by Kenneth Howard, is staffed from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and on Sundays by appointment, but the facility is accessible by members 24 hours a day seven days a week.

For information, call 708-995-7581 or visit the website.

Middle Eastern restaurant opens in Bridgeview

A new restaurant called Yazor Kabob, which features Middle Eastern food, opened last month at 9052 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview in the former Sheeba restaurant.

Chef Yonis Abdullah, who is one of three owners, said the restaurant specializes in what he called Jerusalem salad.

The menu also includes a variety of kabobs including lamb, beef, chicken and mushroom. Other entrees are lamb chops and steak as well as shawarma plates, which is similar to gyros.

Drinks include Middle Eastern favorites almond juice and Arabic tea.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. For information, call the restaurant at 708-599-0012.

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