Walt’s manager strongly denies Frankfort store closing rumor

A store manager strongly denied a rumor that Walt's was closing its Frankfort store.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

“That is a vicious rumor and totally untrue,” was the response from Tim, one of the managers at the Walt’s Food Center in Frankfort, when asked about a rumor making the rounds that the store at 20825 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort.

 

“I don’t know where it started but it spread like wildfire through the community,” he said. “I’ve had people coming in asking when we were going to close.

“We are not closing. Period,” he said. “We’ve just finished making improvements at the store. Why would we do that if we were going to close?”

A call to Walt’s corporate offices in South Holland was not returned.

The rumor was probably tied to the recent opening of Mariano’s Fresh Market a couple of blocks to the north of Walt’s. There are now six grocery stores or supermarkets on LaGrange Road in Frankfort and Mokena between U.S. 30 and Interstate 80.

The King retreats from Orland

Burger King closed its doors recently at 14601 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park. You can still get your Whopper fix at the fast-food chain’s location on 159^th Street near 94^th Avenue in Orland Hills.

New owners for River Oaks Toyota

New management was introduced last month at River Oaks Toyota in Calumet City, which was purchased over the Christmas holiday and remodeled.

Fernando Falcon is the new president and CEO.

Ed & Joe’s offers reward for voting

Ed & Joe’s restaurant in Tinley Park has a sweet deal for anyone who casts a ballot at Tuesday’s consolidated election.

The pizzeria will give a free appetizer worth up to $7.95 to anyone who brings in their voter receipt on April 9.

New life for gas station

The gas station at 11458 S. Harlem Ave. in Worth may be coming back to life. JTL Group Inc. has taken out a $400,000 mortgage on the property from U.S. Venture Inc.

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.

Mid Villa Pizza closes in Midlothian after 44 years, Palos location remains open

A corporate-owned Harold's Chicken Shack restaurant opened earlier  this year
in the former Fatburger location at 2341 W. 95th St. in Chicago's Beverly community.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Mid Villa Pizza served up its last pie on Monday after 44 years of selling pizza at 3636 W. 147^th St. in Midlothian.

Owner John Byrnes was unavailable for comment but longtime customers said the restaurant had been for sale and that Byrnes was calling it quits after four decades of pizza-making.

The restaurant posted this message on its web site: “Thank you for your loyal patronage over the past 4 decades. After 44 years serving Midlothian and its surrounding communities, we will be closing our doors on April 1, 2013.

“We could never express the true depth of our gratitude and appreciation to all our family, friends, guests and loyal patrons.  It has been a privilege and blessing to serve this community. We will truly miss seeing everyone's smiling face.”

The Byrnes family tradition of pizza making will continue though as John’s son Michael last year opened his own pizzeria – Mid Villa Pizza of Palos Heights – which will remain open at 12226 S. Harlem Ave. using family recipes.

Mid Villa in Palos Heights is open for dine-in, carry-out and delivery from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; 11 a.m. to midnight on Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday; and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday. For information, call 708-827-5565.

Enterprise Rent-a-Car leases space in Bedford Park

Enterprise Rent-a-Car is consolidating operations in the Midway Airport area and last month leased a 38,233-square-foot building at 6600 S. Central Ave. in Bedford Park as its new base of operations.

The company signed a 15-year lease for the site, according to Paine/Wetzel/TCN Worldwide. The site was chosen for its proximity to the airport and available land for parking.

Alsip salon has new name

On Stage Salon was acquired recently by Cathy Meckley O’Hara who renamed the business at 5418 W. 127^th St. in Alsip as O’Hara and Friends Salon.

Hours for the salon are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.

For information, call 708-239-1111.

Women’s Expo this weekend in Tinley

The Chicago Women’s Expo will offer a weekend of shopping, cooking demonstrations and wellness features April 6-7 at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 183^rd Street and Harlem Avenue.

Guests will be able to get free manicures, make-up sessions and hair styling.

“We want women to come to the Women’s Expo for a day that centers exclusively on them,” said Renee Anderson, CEO of the Women’s Expo. “As women, we focus so much on other people and commitments outside ourselves. A day at the Women’s Expo is a day women can have for themselves. Guests can look forward to a great time, enjoying a day with friends, shopping, sampling new products and getting new ideas and information for all areas of their lives.”

 Admission is $5 at the door or online at www.women-expo.com. Expo hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Sponsors include DentalWorks, Citizens Financial Bank, Paul Mitchell, Mini of Tinley Park.

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.

Cheers Liquors opens in Mokena

Cheers Liquors opened last week in Mokena.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

We’re not sure everybody knows your name at Cheers Liquors but the store opened in late March at 19155 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena in the strip center between Wendy’s and the BP station.

Its owner is Emeal Rezk and the store is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For information, call 708-479-5200 or visit its Facebookpage.

Art Van Furniture plans job fair in Orland Park

Art Van Furniture, which is moving into the Chicago marketplace this summer, has scheduled a job fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 12, at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 Ravinia Ave.

The Michigan-based retailer plans to open as many as six stores this year in the Chicago-area with the first store in Orland Park scheduled to open in July. Other locations are planned, so far, for Countryside and Batavia. The company also signed a five-year lease for an 183,000-square-foot distribution center in Bolingbrook Corporate Center West.

Jobseekers can apply in person on April 12 or online at www.artvan.com/careers. Employment information is available at 1-888-987-8190.

Jean Therapy relocates in Orland

Jean Therapy, a store that carries premium denim along with tops, jewelry, shoes and accessories, relocated recently to 14360 S. LaGrange Road in the Miroballi Plaza.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 pm. Sunday.

For information, call 708-403-9900 or visit their Facebookpage.

Club Low Key opens in Lynwood

Lynwood village officials last week approved a liquor license for Club Low Key to open at 19755 S. Torrence Ave. in the former Club Dyamonds and Club Moet.

Owner Amani Daniels said the club would open in early April.

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.