Wienermobile to visit Frankfort

The Wienermobile will visit Frankfort on Sunday.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy


The iconic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile will visit the new Mariano’s Fresh Market at 21001 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday.

The Wienermobile  is in the Chicago area as part of the company’s 25^th anniversary of Hot Dog High, which trains a dozen college graduates to be Hotdoggers each year to pilot the Wienermobile.

Hotdogger Deli Elliot and co-Hotdogger Cookout Kelly will hand out Wiener Whistles, play games and 

pose for pictures.

The Wienermobile will also stop at Mariano’s at 5353 N. Elston Ave. from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday and

At 1720 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Vernon Hills from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

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.

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

Outriggers Closes in Tinley Park

Outriggers Fish House closed without warning Saturday night in Tinley Park.

 By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Outriggers Fish House at 15917 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park has served its last calamari – at least for a while.

The Greek seafood restaurant abruptly closed its doors for the last time Saturday night.

“We lost our lease,” said Dimitri, a manager who declined to give his last name but promised the restaurant would be back soon in a new location.

“We won’t be gone for too long,” he said. “We don’t want our customers to forget us.”

Dimitri said he wasn’t sure the restaurant would reopen in Tinley. “It will be somewhere in the neighborhood, we like this area,” he said.

Outriggers, which has had other Southland locations over the years including a restaurant a block north in Orland Park, has been in the Tinley location for several years.

The property manager for Brixmoor Property Group, which owns the Tinley Plaza at 159^th Street and Harlem Avenue, did not respond to an email.

Last call at Limestone

Limestone City Grill and Lounge at 13415 S. Ridgeland in neighboring Palos Heights gave its last call Saturday night. An employee who answered the phone Sunday said there was a private property going on but confirmed the business had closed without warning.

“I’m just here to answer the phone,” he said. “We’re closed. I don’t know why.”

Thai Rickshaw closes in Homewood

Dec. 29 was the last day of business for Thai Rickshaw at 18102 S. Martin in Homewood. The Thai restaurant closed after three years of operation.

Tobacco House snuffed in Frankfort

Tobacco House called it quits last month at 19985 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort. Owners said three burglaries in the last six months were too much.

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.

Cuzzin's Closes in Orland Park

Cuzzin's closed last month in Orland Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Cuzzin’s restaurant at 8600 W. 159^th St. in Orland Park closed a few weeks ago after being sold to new owners, according to its former owners on their Danny’s Catering Facebook page.

Cuzzin’s website says, “Our Orland Park location Cuzzin's/Cugino's is now closed. Please visit Danny’s in Melrose.

A message on Danny’s Facebook page posted on Nov. 19 says, “We want to let all our friends and fans know that we have sold our Orland Park location. For those of you on the south side I promise coming to 

Danny’s in Melrose Park for dinner or your catering needs will be worth the ride. Stay in touch with this page for upcoming events and specials. Hope to see you soon, Paula Dote.”

Calls to Dote were not returned. There is no word on who bought the restaurant or when it may reopen.

Kmart to close on 159^th Street 

The Kmart store at 159^th Street and Bell Road in Homer Glen will close by the end of January and has started a store closing sale.

The store, which opened in 1981, was converted from a Kmart to a Sears Essential store after the merger of Kmart and Sears in 2005, but the concept never really caught on and the store was reconverted back to a Kmart about 18 months ago. 

The store has 82 employees, some of whom may be able to transfer to other Sears or Kmart locations.

Moon’s Burgers Closes

Tony Gambino III has apparently given up on trying to make a go of a restaurant at 3342 W. 95^th St. in Evergreen Park.

Gambino first tried it with one of his Taco Fresco franchises, which have been successful elsewhere in the Chicago area but didn’t catch on in Evergreen Park or Tinley Park.

About a year ago, he borrowed a page from his family’s successful Moon’s Sandwich Shop at 16 S. Western Ave. and opened Tony Moon’s Burgers, which got generally good grades from online reviewers.

But Moon’s Burgers closed abruptly at the beginning of November. The phone number has been disconnected and the shop has a “for rent” sign in the window.

Palos Heights McDonald’s open again

Palos area Big Mac fans can rejoice, the fast-food icon has reopened the Golden Arches at 7100 W. 127^th St.  The restaurant, which was closed and torn down in August, reopened earlier this month after being rebuilt.

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.

 

The Cheesecake Factory Opens Wednesday in Orland Square Mall

Hostesses Cristina Hernandez (left) and Jessica Strempel wait to greet customers at The Cheesecake Factory.

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

The eagerly awaited Cheesecake Factory will open its doors at Orland Square Mall (next to lower level Macy’s) at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5.

General Manager of the Orland location will be Ryan Cook and its hours will be Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Orland location is the company’s sixth location in the Chicago area, the only full serve restaurant in the mall and the company’s only location in the Southland.

The restaurant features 60 different kinds of cheesecake.

Baby’s to give away Twinkies

Baby’s Cheesesteak and Lemonade has acquired about 4,000 of the remaining Twinkies in the world and will give them away on Wednesday, Dec. 5, to customers at the Orland Park location, 15858 S. LaGrange Road, and the Country Club Hills location at 4019 W. 167^th St.

To get one of the last Twinkies ever made, customers must make a purchase or follow Baby’s on Twitter or like the restaurant 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.

Famous Dave’s BBQ to open today in Evergreen Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy 

Famous Dave’s barbecue is trying a new concept with the restaurant it is opening today at 2851 W. 95^th St. in Evergreen Park.

“It will be 3,600 square feet with seating for 104,” said manager Andre Pleasance. The eatery will be the chain’s eighth location in the Chicago area, all of them corporate owned.

“That’s about half the size of a traditional Famous Dave’s,” he said. “It will be the first counter service Famous Dave’s in Chicago.”

Customers will place their order and get a number for their table and the food will be brought out. Famous Dave’s other Chicago-area locations are full service.

Pleasance said the Minnesota-based chain is testing the smaller concept in Evergreen Park, and, if successful, may use it in other urban areas.

“The closer you get to the city, the more carryout and delivery orders you get and fewer dine-in customers,” he said.

 Though it may be smaller, the restaurant will feature Famous Dave’s customer service, Pleasance said.

“We are so over the top for service,” he said. “We should do well with our customers who will not be treated better anywhere else.”

The restaurant will start out with a staff of 60-70 employees and a limited delivery area for local businesses.

“We’ll deliver locally to businesses at first,” he said anticipating delivery to residences to start in January.

Pleasance said the Evergreen location will open at 11 a.m. Monday with a traditional bringing in of the embers for the barbecue pit.

Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The restaurant will be able to sell wine and beer.

The chain operates more than 170 restaurants in the United States. The nearest one is in Orland Park.

For information, call 708-423-5546 or visit Famous Dave’s online.

Hibachi Grill Opens in Orland Park

Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet opened last week at 7260 W. 159^th St. in Orland Park in the Home Depot plaza.

The restaurant, which features Chinese, Japanese and American cuisine, is the third buffet for owner Jacky Chen. He also owns locations in Matteson and Forest Park.

“Business has very good, so far,” said Chen.

Hours are Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

For buffet prices and information, call the restaurant at 708-802-8989.

Hostess outlet stores close

Even in the likely event that someone comes along and buys the rights and recipes to keep making and selling Hostess Twinkies, Ho-Hos and Cupcakes, gone forever will be the Hostess outlet stores, which used to be paradise for bargain hunters looking to stock up on discounted Wonder bread, fruit pies and boxes of Twinkies and Ding-Dongs.

Employees at Hostess outlet stores in Richton Park and Burbank both said that while the cake line was likely to be acquired as soon as the bankruptcy judge gives the OK this week, their stores would be closed for good by Tuesday at the latest.

“We’re history,” said an employee at the store in Richton Park. “The cake line will be bought up by someone and they’ll still be sold in stores. But we’re done. First it was Sara Lee and now us.”

An employee at the store in Burbank echoed those comments.

“We’re not going to reopen,” she said.

Other Chicago-area stores that will be shutting down this week are located in Hazel Crest, Dolton, Munster, Ind., Bourbonnais and Merrillville, Ind.

Seattle Sutton opens in Palos

Seattle Sutton Healthy Eating opened recently at 7202 W. College Drive in Tiffany Square Plaza in Palos Heights. For information, call 708- 361-1314.

 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.

Tinley Glass moves to Frankfort

Tinley Glass has relocated from Tinley Park to Frankfort.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Tinley Glass Corp. moved recently from its longtime home on Oak Park Avenue in downtown Frankfort to new digs at 7238 W. Benton Dr. in Frankfort Square.

The full-service glass shop has been owned by Rami Kowlessar for more than 20 years.

Hours are Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

For information, call 815-464-5099 or visit its Facebookpage.

Lou Malnati’s opens in Oak Lawn

Lou Malnati's opened its new restaurant last week at 5261 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn.

The pizzeria will offer carryout and delivery. It opens at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 11 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The phone number is 708-425-2600.

SidsGraphs opens in Frankfort

Dennis Sidler, who has been selling autographed sports memorabilia since 1999, recently opened a brick and mortar store at 11 S. White St. in downtown Frankfort, in the former White Street Gallery.

Sidler carries memorabilia signed by today’s stars and Hall of Famers, items include photos, balls, helmets, jerseys and pucks.

For information and store hours, call 815-464-7437, visit SidsGraphs online or check out its 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 catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

Big Lots Now Open in Lockport

Big Lots is now open in Lockport.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Big Lots has opened a 30,000-square-foot store in the Summit Plaza at Summit Drive and Ninth Street in Lockport in a portion of the former Kmart.

The store’s grand opening is set for Friday, Nov. 16, but the store opened to customers last week.

Other tenants in the plaza include Berkot’s Super Foods, Advance Auto Parts,  Pizza Hut, Merlins 200,000 Mile Shop and Lockport Chiropractic.

Sara Lee stores closed

Sara Lee Outlet stores in Oak Lawn and Homewood have joined the ranks of Southland businesses that are now only a fond memory.

The Homewood store closed some time ago and the Oak Lawn store closed for good over the weekend. 

Both were victims of the company’s decision earlier this year to split into two companies.

Dialysis center under construction in Oak Forest

Ground was broken last month for a new Fresenius Medical Care dialysis center at 5340 W. 159^th St. in Oak Forest. The center will have 12 dialysis stations when it opens, which is slated for spring 2013.

Central Collision food drive under way

Central Collision, a locally owned auto repair shop with locations in Tinley Park, Mokena, Crete, Peotone, New Lenox and Oak Forest, is collecting non-perishable food through Nov. 20 as part of its annual Thanksgiving food drive.

The company will match all of the donations and last year gave 2,418 food items to Alicia’s House Food Pantry in South Chicago Heights.

For information, contact Marissa at marcaruso@centralcollision.com.

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.