Menards to open Tuesday in Evergreen

Menards will open Tuesday in Evergreen Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy


The first store in the economic redevelopment of the former Evergreen Country Club at 9100 S. Western Ave. will arrive Tuesday morning whe n the long-awaited Menards finally opens its doors as part of a soft opening (no fanfare).

The store is about 200,000 square feet in size and employs about 150 workers.

A nine-day grand opening celebration will be announced a little later.

For a more complete report, check out this story from ourfriends at the Oak Lawn Patch.

Szarotka’s adds gaming machines to menu

Szarotka’s, a restaurant at 8100 S. Roberts Road in Justice that specializes in traditional Polish and ethnic European cuisine such as potato pancakes, cabbage rolls and pierogi, recently added video gaming to its menu.

The establishment (known by locals as Szarotka’s Hideaway) installed five of the video gaming terminals, which is the state limit, and they are operated by Accel Entertainment Gaming LLC in Bolingbrook.

According to Wally, one of the co-owners who declined to give his last name, the machines have been well received.

“So far, they are doing good,” he said.

State law imposes a 30 percent tax on gaming revenues and 5 percent of that goes to the local municipality.

Szarotka’s is the sixth establishment in Justice to carry video gaming terminals (basically video poker games).

Other businesses with the machines and their tax contribution to the village for February include Chino’s Pizzeria, $1,125; Davern’s Tavern & Lounge, $1,874; Duett Bar, $2,108; Melody Lounge, $637. The village’s total take for February was $5,743.

Walmart rolls back gas prices

Now through July 7, Walmart is helping customers save money on fuel purchases through its Great Gas Rollback program in 21 states including Illinois.

Walmart customers using a Walmart gift card will receive a 10 cent per gallon discount; customers who use a Walmart MoneyCard or Walmart Credit Card will save 15 cents per gallon on their fuel purchase.

Stations participating include those at: Bridgeview, 10260 S. Harlem Ave., Bedford Park, 7050 S. Cicero Ave., Hodgkins, 9450 Joliet Road, McCook, 42nd Street and Hinsdale Avenue.

Lansing Chamber grand opening

The Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a grand opening and ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m. at its new office at 3330 181^st Place Suite 103 in the Clock Tower office building.

Barry Bergstrom & Associates, Paul Smit & Associates and Kotecki-Turek-Shanahan Agency are  hosting a Business after Hours for the chamber from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

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.

Atlas Oil to hold Earth Market grand opening in Frankfort on Monday

Earth Market convenience stores will offer
amenities such as leather chairs and Wi-Fi.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Atlas Oil, a Michigan-based company that provides gasoline to more than 400 stations including several it owns in the Southland, will launch its new convenience store concept called Earth Market with a grand opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, April 22, at its Frankfort store at U.S. 30 and LaGrange Road in the BP station. That’s also Earth Day. 

“We wanted to market a destination,” said Mike Evans, vice president of retail and real estate for Taylor, Mich.-based Atlas Oil. “The market has changed so much and we needed to change with it.” 

Earth Market is also a cause as well as a brand, Evans said. 

“We will offer discounts to customers who bring back their coffee cups and water bottles,” he said explaining Atlas’ commitment to recycling. 

Earth Markets are designed to be family friendly, he said. 

"Besides having great Eco-Earth Coffee, Earth Markets will have a common theme and a common look with the same amenities from station to station,” he said. 

Amenities will include a café style area with lime green leather chairs, TVs, a fireplace and Wi-Fi access. 

“We want the stores to be a convenient meeting place for friends, family or students to gather,” Evans said. 

The company has rolled out the Earth Market concept at five stores including the one in Frankfort and additional stations at LaGrange Road and 191^st Street in Mokena, at 7993 W. 95^th St. in Hickory Hills, at 12230 S. Cicero Ave. in Alsip and Oswego. 

“We have another 19 locations interested in adopting the Earth Market concept,” Evans said. “We will have in excess of 30 Earth Market locations by the end of the year. 

“We are offering the Earth Market franchise to any of the stations that we supply,” he said. 

“We anticipate Earth Market will be a successful brand.” 

Bombshell Boutique grand opening 

Bombshell Boutique Salon, which opened last summer, will hold its ribbon cutting and grand opening at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, at 9031 W. 151^st St. Suite 205 in Orland Park. Owner is Katrina Hegeduis. For information, call 708-768-1089. 

Tattoo parlor opens in Justice 

The Spot Tattoo opened last month as a tattoo and body piercing studio at 8646 S. Roberts Road in Justice. For information, call 708-233-6348 or visit The Spot Tattoo on Facebook. 

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.

Jet’s Pizza lands in Tinley Park

 

Jet's Pizza now open in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Another national pizza chain opened a few weeks ago in Tinley Park when Jet’s Pizza landed at 17105 S. 88^th Avenue.

The Michigan-based chain, which proudly calls itself the 17^th largest pizza chain in the country, is in an expansion mode and the Tinley location is its first in the Southland.

Calls to the pizzeria’s general manager were not returned.

The eatery serves pizza, sub sandwiches and salads and its signature item is a deep dish square pizza.

The pizzeria opens early at 11 a.m. daily and is open until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

For information, call 708-263-0150 and check out some early reviews at Yelp.com.

FrancoNello’s now open for dinner

After months of delays, FrancoNello’s Italian Restaurant has finally reopened at 10222 S. Western Ave. in Beverly – though only from 4-10 p.m. for dinner right now.

The restaurant was gutted and rebuilt after a devastating Labor Day fire on Sept. 4, 2011.

Marty Joyce, from Ald. Matt  O’Shea’s office, said part of the lengthy rebuilding process was that owner Frank Ruffolo reconfigured the inside of the restaurant.

Joyce said the inside of the restaurant looks beautiful and the upstairs has been transformed into a nice banquet area.

Calls and emails to Ruffolo were not returned.

Plass Appliance to shut down

Family-owned Plass Appliances, which had already closed its Tinley Park, Oak Lawn, Bourbonnais and Burbank stores, has announced it will close its remaining five locations by the summer.

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.