Rudy's Grill now open in Summit

Rudy Ananbeh opened Rudy's Grill last week in Summit.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy 

A new fast-food restaurant called Rudy's Grill opened last week at 7509 W. 63rd St. in Summit.

Owner Rudy Ananbeh said he chose that location because as a cabbie he would see the foot and vehicle traffic along that stretch of 63rd Street.

"It's a very busy street," he said.

"We're here to stay," Ananbeh said. "I even bought the building. We don't plan to be here for just a couple of months."

Ananbeh said that though this is his first restaurant he has 16 years of restaurant experience. He said it also was a family affair.

"That's my son and his cousin," Ananbeh said pointing to the two cooks whipping up hamburgers, gyros and hot dogs on a grill.

The menu also includes steaks, beef, barbecue chicken, Greek chicken, salads, meal combos and shakes.

Ananbeh said his contractor worked since November on renovating the building, even though it had been a restaurant.

"We had to redo everything. It's all new," he said. "He did a good job."

The building is small but has a handful of counter seats and there is a newly paved parking lot in the back of the building.

Rudy's is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Ananbeh said business has been very good, so far.

For information, call 708-594-1600.

Orland Spree to merge with Savers

The Spree thrift store at 15052 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park will close on July 15 and merge with its Savers sister store that opened last year at 15625 S. 94^th Avenue in Orland Park. Savers is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. For information, call Savers at 708-460-3655.

Papa’s Fresh Foods closes in Palos

Papa’s Fresh Foods closed recently at 12207 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights. The phone number has been disconnected and workers were seen last week moving inventory and equipment out of the business.

A listing updated a week ago on the LoopNet website said the 2,300-square-foot business was for sale for $180,000 because the owner was relocating. The business opened three years ago in a former convenience store.

Deal of the Day: Free Slurpees at 7-Eleven

Celebrate 7-Eleven Day today with a free small Slurpee from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at participating locations. 

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.

Bonefish Grill restaurant under construction in Orland Park

Work is underway on a Bonefish Grill seafood restaurant at
156th Street and LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Several readers have asked what is being built at the corner of 156th Street and LaGrange Road in Orland Park next to the LongHorn Steakhouse.

A 5,800-square-foot Bonefish Grill seafood restaurant is under construction at 15537 S. LaGrange Road. The project has an estimated cost of $1 million.

Florida-based Bonefish Grill was started in January 2000 and has grown to more than 100 locations in more than a dozen states.

The Orland Park location will be the chain’s fourth in Illinois and the first in the Southland.

Construction is expected to be complete by the end of summer or early fall.

The project is the last outlot in the Lowe’s Home Improvement footprint, and makes for quite a restaurant row with LongHorn, Chick-fil-A, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Jersey Mike’s lined up along that stretch of LaGrange.

Rue 21 opens at River Oaks

Rue 21, a clothing store that caters to young men and women with fashions for 21-year-olds, recently opened at River Oaks Mall in Calumet City.

The store is the Pennsylvania-based chain’s 33^rd location in Illinois. The company has more than 900 locations in 47 states.

Victoria’s Secret opens at Orland Square

Victoria’s Secret lingerie store opened recently in its new location at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park.

The store can be found in the lower level by Macy’s, next to the newly opened Vera Bradley store.

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.

Hodgkins DARE officer ends 12-year run

Hodgkins Police Chief Ernest Millsap presents Sgt. Michael Cimino with a statue honoring his years of service as the DARE officer for the police department.

From Staff Reports
Desplaines Valley News

Hodgkins police Sgt. Michael Cimino recently ended his 12-year stint as the police department's DARE officer.

Cimino addressed the 2013 DARE graduates on April 24 in his last official act as the coordinator of the anti-drug program.

“It’s helped me to look at law enforcement through the eyes of sixth-graders, and how they view police officers,” Cimino said. “It’s made me more mindful and aware of our image in the community. 

"I’m proud that, as a DARE officer, I was able to be a positive adult figure, and in particular a positive law enforcement figure, in so many children’s lives.  Often, because I taught multiple siblings in succession over several years, and interacted with their parents and siblings over and over, I had the feeling of being a part of their family.”

Cimino will now assume other police duties as Officer Matthew Hosteny takes over as DARE officer.

“I think what I will miss most is seeing the enthusiasm of the kids when I would walk in.  Kids get very excited about DARE activities," Cimino said.

"I’m sure [Hosteny] will do a great job, as he’s young and he already has a good relationship with the kids,” said Cimino.

The Hodgkins DARE program was started in January 1991 by former Chief Phil Kringlie, who was then a youth officer, at the behest of Chief Rich Stewart.

A year later, Sgt. Chris Milojevich was invited to run the program, and did so for nine years. 

During his tenure as DARE officer, Milojevich started the practice of taking the kids on field trips and doing community service projects, such as raking leaves for the elderly and fundraising for flood victims and a children’s home for the abused.

He first contacted Cimino, who had already been a juvenile officer for two years at that time, about DARE in 2000, to see if he would be interested in becoming the new DARE officer.  He turned the program completely over to Cimino in 2001.

“I wanted him to run DARE as he saw fit, to make the program his own,” Milojevich said.  “I didn’t want to intrude on his ideas.  I was given free reign, and I wanted him to have the same opportunity.” 

Milojevich was pleased with the results. 

“I think Mike did a wonderful job,” Milojevich said.  “He was committed to making the program work, sacrificing a lot of time away from his family.  And the kids really loved him.”

Hodgkins Police Chief Ernest Millsap, who taught DARE in Countryside for 12 years, had modeled his own program in the much the same way as Milojevich, taking the kids on field trips, doing fundraisers, and participating in various community service projects. 

In addition, he started doing end-of-year video slideshows to highlight the activities of each graduating DARE class, and that was something Cimino incorporated as well. 

At the recent graduation, Millsap gave a public recognition of Cimino and expressed both his personal appreciation of the hard work Cimino has done, as well as the appreciation of the department for the many years of service given.

Millsap also relates to the sentiments Cimino expressed.  “The bonds you make with students are always there, as well as with parents,” he said. 

The Hodgkins Police Department is now at work developing further school-interaction programs, which Millsap will unveil in the coming months.

“We are in the process of developing DARE-type programs for some of the lower grades, which will cover anti-bullying, avoiding bad situations, and knowing who to call if help is needed,” Millsap said.