Just before midnight on February 7, a lucky Illinois Lottery player stopped into a convenience store in oak Lawn and hit the jackpot on Fast Play Twenty 20s, winning $902,096.

The ticket was purchased at 7-Eleven, located at 4501 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn.

The store will receive a selling bonus of 1 percent of the prize amount, or just over $9,000.

Twenty 20s is an Illinois Lottery progressive jackpot Fast Play game. The jackpot begins at $50,000 and grows with each ticket sold statewide -- in-store and online -- until the jackpot is won.

Already this month, the Fast Play Twenty 20s game has net Illinois Lottery players more than $1.48 million in prizes.

Fast Play is a quick and easy draw game that can be played at any time. There are no numbers to pick, no play slip to complete, no scratching, and no waiting for winning numbers. There are currently over 25 Fast Play games offered at various price points and play styles.

The Lottery announced Friday that a $90,000 Pick 4 ticket was also purchased in Oak Lawn on February 7. It was for 1-0-2-1 purchased for the Pick 4 evening draw. No sale location was announced.

Cook County Clerk seeks poll workers For Presidential Primary Election In March

Suburban voters can do their part for democracy and earn some cash in the process by registering to serve as an Election Judge for the Cook County Clerk’s Office in the March 19, 2024, Presidential Primary Election. 

Clerk Karen Yarbrough is encouraging all residents to consider serving as an Election Judge or Polling Place Technician to work on Election Day. 

The pay rate for poll workers has increased to $250 for Election Judges and $400 for Polling Place Technicians, and the Clerk’s Office provides training for both positions. 

The Clerk’s Office is also putting out a call to encourage high school and college students to consider serving as judges. 

“Our Judges are the gatekeepers for election operations and their work is critically important to keeping Election Day running smoothly,” said Yarbrough. “They are also the unsung heroes of our democratic process who provide a vital public service to voters leading up to and on Election Day.” 

The two poll worker positions available include: 

• Election Judge: These judges greet voters, sign them in, and work together to ensure the polling place is running smoothly and voters are properly served. This position earns $250. 

• Polling Place Technician: Technicians work with Election Judges to check supplies and equipment and assist with the setup, maintenance, and breakdown of election equipment. Due to the additional equipment responsibilities, Polling Place Technicians receive additional training and earn $400. 

Election Judges must be a registered Cook County voter or an eligible college or high school student (16 or older). The Clerk’s Office is also in need of bilingual Election Judges in many precincts with high concentrations of Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Tagalog, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Gujarati, Urdu, and Arabic-speaking voters who are not proficient in English and may need special assistance at the polls. 

Anyone who wishes to serve as an Election Judge is encouraged to apply online at cookcountyclerk.com/work.

Panda Express will be celebrating the grand opening of its newest location at 4801 W. 87^th St. in Oak Lawn with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, February 15, beginning at 9 a.m. (Supplied photo)

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Panda Express will be celebrating the grand opening of its newest location at 4801 W. 87^th St. in Oak Lawn with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, February 15, beginning at 9 a.m.

The first lucky 88 guests to receive a free Panda Express branded T-shirt.

The new location features an updated store design for the restaurant chain, known as Panda Home. The updated model incorporates design elements inspired by traditional Chinese architecture and traditions with modern motifs that tells the unique story of Panda Express. Panda recognizes consumer habits have changed over the last three years and to meet the needs of guests’ evolved lifestyles, the store design creates efficiencies for operators and diners to accommodate the increased demand for online ordering and drive-thru channels. 

“The opening of the new Panda Express location is an additional opportunity to give Oak Lawn residents access to enjoy their favorite American Chinese dishes,” the company said in a release. “We encourage everyone to stop by the restaurant to experience the new store design and taste Panda Express favorites, which are all freshly made with quality ingredients.”

The new Panda Express location offers Panda’s iconic dishes, including the world-famous The Original Orange Chicken, award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp and guest-favorite Broccoli Beef entrée. 

“Our entire Panda team is grateful to serve the Oak Lawn community by providing new jobs and supporting local organizations through fundraising opportunities,” said Nancy Diaz, Panda Express Area Coach of Operations. “We hope to be a lasting part of the community and welcome all guests into our doors to try our American Chinese favorites and discover their own.”    

In celebration of the upcoming Lunar New Year, guests who visit PandaLNY.com now until Feb. 10 may also play The Good Fortune Scratcher Game2 for a chance to win exciting prizes including an $888 Panda Express gift card, $88 Panda Express gift cards, $8 off any Family Meal, free egg rolls and more.    

Local store hours are Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (with drive-thru open until 10 p.m.); Friday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (with drive-thru open until 10:30 p.m.); Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (with drive-thru open until 10:30 p.m.)  

For more information on Panda Express, please visit Pandaexpress.com. 

Free Home Run Inn pizza

Home Run Inn, the family-owned pizza brand that has been dishing out pizzas in Chicago for more than 75 years, pays tribute to National Pizza Day on Friday, February 9.   Available at any one of its nine Chicagoland locations, for dine-in or carry out, guests will receive a free 12-inch frozen Classic Cheese or Sausage pizza (value $7.99 -10.99) with the purchase of any extra-large pizza (limit 2 free pizzas per guest).  

Home Run Inn is offering other specialty items for the month beginning on February 5, ranging from their chocolate swirled strawberry daiquiri to heart shaped pizzas to share A-Pizza your heart with your loved ones. 

“Home Run Inn is always looking to celebrate holidays with a fun twist,” says Gina Perrino Bolger, Senior Vice President of Home Run Inn and fourth generation family member.  

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.

Bedford Park buys Southern Belle restaurant

Southern Belle's in Bedford Park has been purchased by the village. (Supplied photo)

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

Southern Belle’s restaurant in Bedford Park closed for the last time on Sunday after more than two decades at 6737 S. Archer Ave.

The village has a contract to purchase the site for $2.5 million. Closing is expected in the first quarter. 

Bedford Park Mayor Dave Brady said a plan to move the restaurant to 65th Street and Central Avenue didn’t work out because of the cost. 

Southern Belle’s restaurant in Bedford Park closed for the last time on Sunday after more than two decades at 6737 S. Archer Ave.

The village has a contract to purchase the site for $2.5 million. Closing is expected in the first quarter. 

Bedford Park Mayor Dave Brady said a plan to move the restaurant to 65th Street and Central Avenue didn’t work out because of the cost. 

Southern Belle’s still has locations in Yorkville, Barrington, Plainfield, and Carpentersville.

Brady said the Bedford Park building needs work.

Brady said village officials have discussed four possible options for the property. One would be building a courtroom and police training facility. Another would be turning it into an outdoor recreation facility such as a synthetic skating rink. A third option would be to beautify the property. Brady said the village could also turn around and sell the lot.

He also said the village board would consider other options, if they are proposed.

Brady said the village board was committed to upgrading the property and improving the southwest entrance to the village.

In a related move, Bedford Park late last year annexed a parcel of land near the restaurant that had been within Bridgeview boundaries until it was de-annexed.

Brady said the parcel was missed by both Bedford Park and Bridgeview when they did a land swap involving the former 3M property.

Wright’s Furniture closing

Wright’s Furniture Warehouse at 2936 Wireton Road in Blue Island is in the final weeks of its closing sale.

The store, which has been selling furniture in the south suburbs since 1980, is closing because its owners are retiring after more than 40 years.

The warehouse will close by March 6. The store is open Thursday to Sundays.

For more information, visit their website at wrightsfurniturewarehouse.com.

Starbucks opens in Lansing

Starbucks is now open in Lansing. (Photo by Bob Bong)

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

Starbucks opened its newest standalone store in the south suburbs last month in Lansing.

The new store is at 18007 Torrence Avenue, at the intersection with Thornton-Lansing Road. The site was the former home of Artlynn Photography. That building and a few others to the north including Rosemoor Funeral Home were torn down and the land cleared for development.

The developer is Glazier Corporation, which developed a similar Starbucks at the corner of 103rd Street and Harlem Avenue in Chicago Ridge in 2019.

Glazier is not done in Lansing. There are plans to bring in a Taco Bell to the north of the Starbucks and a Chipotle across the street on Torrence, next to Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop.

The new Starbucks is accessible from both Torrence and Thornton-Lansing Road. The shop has a drive-thru. 

The building is a typical Starbucks with a dozen tables, free Wi-Fi and a small outdoor patio.

Although a date for a grand opening and ribbon cutting has not yet been set, the store will be hosting a promotion on Thursday, November 17, when 400 red reusable Starbucks cups will be given away while supplies last.

Hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Pizza Castle moves from Gage Park to new home in Hickory Hills

Co-owner Rich Jensen cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of Pizza Castle's new home in Hickory Hills.

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

After almost five decades of serving pizzas from a small storefront in Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood, Pizza Castle co-owner Richard Jensen had an opportunity to move into a bigger space and he jumped at the chance.

So, Jensen packed up the family business and made the move a few miles south to Hickory Hills. 

Pizza Castle held a grand opening November 17 at their new location at 7737 W. 95th St. in the Ricky Rockets plaza.

Rich Jensen and Kathy Jensen.

“The best news,” Jensen said. “Was that the pizzas are the same.”

He was worried because the pizza oven that he had been using since taking over the business in 1973 was too big to make the move to the new location and he had to buy a new oven.

“It was a great oven,” he said hinting that someone might want to move in and start up a new pizzeria.

“The oven is key to making good pizza,” he said. “So far, people are happy.”

Pizza Castle was already the name of the pizzeria when his brother Paul bought the place.

“We talked about changing the name, but decided to leave it be,” he said.

Pizza Castle was and remains a family business. Jensen’s wife, Kathy, and his sons Erik, Rick and Kris are all part of the staff. Kris is also a North Palos firefighter.

Jensen said the new location is about three times the size of the Gage Park location. “We went from about 750 square feet to 2,200 square feet,” he said. “We now have a walk-in cooler. Ten tables for sit down service. And we have outdoor seating.”

The new place also comes with a seven-seat bar that will allow Pizza Castle to offer gaming machines, as soon as their license is approved.

“We’ll have four machines, but we needed a liquor license. We only will sell beer and wine.”

Pizza Castle features very thin crust pizza. It has two house specialties: The King Arthur has sausage, mushrooms, green pepper and onion; the Pie by Di has sausage, mushroom, pepperoni and jalapenos. Pizza sizes range from 10-inch to 18-inch.

But pizza isn’t all they do at Pizza Castle. The menu includes sandwiches, pasta, wings, calzones and shrimp.

In addition to the new dine-in option, Pizza Castle offers catering, delivery and take out. 

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

For more information, call 708-930-5600 or visit eatatpizzacastle.com.

They are still hiring, if interested.

Amish pretzel shop opens in Homer Glen

The staff at Ben's Soft Pretzels in Homer Glen. (supplied photo)

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A new kind of soft pretzel shop opened last month in the Meijer store in Homer Glen.

Ben's Soft Pretzels opened Jan. 18 inside the store at 14169 S. Bell Road.

"We're up front on the grocery side of the store," said co-owner Lisa Brown, who lives in Orland Park.

Brown owns the 950-square-foot store with her neighbor Jim Alfini, his mother-in-law Arline Pearson, and her mother, Loma Hall.

The group had been wanting to open their own business together and unanimously decided on Ben’s Soft Pretzels after Brown discovered them while at a flower show in northwest Indiana.

"I couldn't believe how great they were," she said. "I had to have one every day I was there.

"When I got home, I hoodwinked my neighbors into getting the franchise," she said with a laugh.

Ben's Soft Pretzels is Amish and Dutch inspired. The pretzels are similar to shopping mall varieties but are nearly twice as big "and more delicious," she said. The pretzels are hand-rolled using a special proprietary dough and topped with imported German salt.

In addition to their signature jumbo pretzel, Brown said the bakery also offers pretzel bites called Buggy Bites, Pretzel Stix, all-beef Pretzel Dogs, and Pretzel Pockets with 11 different dipping sauces including cheese, mustard, marinara, and a variety of sweet options.

"We also have four shake options," she said, including parmesan, cinnamon and sugar, sour cream and onion and garlic.

The shop also carries specialty sandwiches such as meatball, Italian and ham and cheese.

Brown said the pretzels are great for noshing while walking around the store or for taking home. "They warm up really well," she said.

Brown said the staff is very friendly and interacts with the children who often stand outside the shop and watch as the pretzels are rolled and baked.

"We have such a good spot," she said.

If business is good, Brown said there may be additional ventures for her group.

"We might go mobile with a food truck in the future," she said. "To take to festivals and events."

She also didn't rule out a second bakery in the Meijer store that opened in Mokena on the same day the Meijer store opened in Homer Glen.

Brown said there are other Ben's locations in the Chicago area, including one in the Meijer in Flossmoor and another one in a Walmart in Forest Park.

Brown said her location has some daily specials including buy one, get one jumbo pretzels from noon to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, double dip Wednesdays and Photo Bomb Thursdays.

Store hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

For information, check out their Facebook page at Ben's Soft Pretzels (HG).

Raising Cane's opens in Oak Lawn

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Louisiana-based Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers will open its second Chicago-area restaurant in Oak Lawn on Valentine's Day. The first opened Jan. 31 in North Riverside.

The location at 11006 S. Cicero Ave. will open to the public at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14. The first 20 paying, dine-in customers 13 and older will receive free food for a year. The first 100 paying, dine-in customers will receive free T-shirts and vouchers for a free Box Combo (four chicken fingers, Texas toast, coleslaw, fried and a drink).

“The people of North Riverside welcomed our first area restaurant with open arms just a couple of weeks ago, and we can’t wait to start sharing our one love with Oak Lawn,” General Manager Melissa Cowell said in a release. “My awesome crew and I have already started partnering with the local community and we’re looking forward to opening our doors and showing our new neighbors just how great chicken finger meals can be.”

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

The eatery has about 75 employees.

The company was founded by Todd Graves in 1996 and named for his yellow Labrador. The Oak Lawn location will be the 311th in the chain.

A third Raising Cane’s is projected to open in Naperville in April.

Jeweler closes in Frankfort

Dreher-Weber Jewelers at 21116 S. LaGrange in the Frankfort Crossing shopping center closed recently after 33 years in Frankfort.