Half off barbecue in Burbank

Groupon is featuring $20 of barbecue at Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe for $10. Check out the Groupon deal here. As of this minute, you've got just four hours to snag the bargain.

Says Groupon:

Chuck's Southern Comforts Café bathes palates in sauces and spices with a menu emphasizing barbecue, Cajun, and Mexican flavors. Fire the opening salvo in the battle against hunger with an appetizer, such as the nachos topped with barbecue pulled pork and chicken ($8.25), or the shrimp-and-crab au gratin ($9.25), broiling the sea denizens in cheeses and a Cajun alfredo sauce and served with fresh bread for dipping. At Chuck's Southern Comforts Café, barbecue rules the roost—try a full slab of baby-back ribs ($21.25) or a heap of hickory-smoked pulled pork ($9.25). Cajun cuisine includes a seafood jambalaya ($11.95), while Mexican-inspired meals include the chicken enchiladas ($11.25). Additionally, breakfast fans can opt for pre-noon provisions.

Chuck Pine—owner, chef, and namesake of Chuck's Southern Comforts Café—spent several years working in the kitchen of superfamous chef Rick Bayless. Before opening his own restaurant, he toured the country, sampling the fare at barbecue joints through the Midwest and the South. Step into Chuck's Southern Comforts Café's easygoing hues of goldens, browns, and golden browns, and enjoy the results of Pine's research with a smoky and sweet-sauced meal.

Dunkin' Donuts donates books to libraries

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Aziz Nathani, who recently took over three Dunkin’ Donuts in Orland Park, Country Club Hills and Oak Forest, has donated 825 books he collected from customers to the libraries in those three communities. In exchange for the books, he gave each customer a donut or cup of coffee.

Now open
Health From Within Chiropractic Wellness Center opened recently at 10012 W. 190th Place in Mokena. For more information, call 708-478-0300 or visit http://www.healthfromwithin.net/.

Grand opening for OMG
OMG It’s Gluten Free, 19810 S. Harlem Ave. in Frankfort Square, is holding its grand opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Co-owner Julie Scianna says business has been great since the doors opened a few months ago (April 1 Southland Savvy).

Scianna also says she’s 99 percent sure Stefano Guandalini of the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center will be on hand for the opening.

For more information, visit http://www.omgitsglutenfree.com/ or check out their Facebook page.

Ribbon cutting in Frankfort
Gnade Insurance, 219 S. White St. in Frankfort, will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Thursday as part of its business after hours for the Mokena Chamber of Commerce.

Sox/Cubs deal of the weekend
Looking for a place to watch the Sox take on the Cubs? Popolano's, 17940 S. Torrence Ave. in Lansing and 225 S. Calumet Ave. in Chesterton, Ind., is offering 35-cent wings and $2 pints during the games. The eateries will continue the offer after the Crosstown Classic whenever either team is playing.

OMG It's Gluten Free is holding its grand opening on Saturday in Frankfort Square.

Bottoms Up to reopen in Lansing

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Bottoms Up, a popular late-night watering hole just outside of Lansing’s municipal limits at 1696 Thornton Lansing Road, is set to reopen its tavern and beer garden Wednesday after being closed for plumbing issues for a few months. The full kitchen is expected to be back online a few days later. For more information, visit http://www.bottomsuponline.com/.

Arby’s closes in HomewoodWith the recent closing of the Arby’s restaurant on Halsted Street in Homewood, Southland roast beef and potato cake junkies have to go east to the Arby’s on Calumet Avenue in Munster, Ind., or west to Tinley Park, which boasts three of the fast-food eateries.

Sisters to move into former Fox LumberIt’s official, My Sisters and Me boutique in Frankfort is taking over the recently remodeled Fox Lumber in downtown Frankfort. The village board Monday night approved a five-year lease with My Sisters, which will be doubling its size when it moves into the former lumber yard. For more information, visit http://www.mysistersandmeboutique.com/.

Papa Joe’s done in FrankfortPapa Joe’s has closed at 20531 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort, but the restaurant will not be dark for long. Something called Louie’s Pizza and Pasta has already taken a lease on the storefront and will be opening soon.

Tinley Park cleaners closes
Kleen Spot Cleaners closed recently at 16709 S. 80th Avenue in Tinley Park.

Home Werks opens in Orland
A home remodeling store called Home Werks opened recently at 7840 W. 159th St. in Orland Park. For more information, visit their website at http://www.homewerksinc.net/.

Now openMcDonald’s had the grand opening last week for its new restaurant at 7620 W. 95th St. in Hickory Hills, which has been open for several weeks. The new McDonald’s replaces one that was a few blocks away. The new restaurant has a double drive-through.

Ride the train at Chicago Ridge Mall
Junga Rides, a children’s train ride, is now open in the Kohl’s Court at Chicago Ridge Mall at 95th Street and Ridgeland in Chicago Ridge.

Free pizza toppings
Old Town Pizza, 11128 W. 179th St. in Orland Park, is offering Free Topping Tuesdays. The pizzeria is open for lunch and dinner and offers delivery and take-out service. For more information, call 708-478-7488 or visit their Facebook page.

'Summer Sol-a-Bration' at GSU

Wear your play clothes and bring the entire family out for the Summer Sol-a-Bration 2010, this Saturday, June 19, at the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park on the campus of Governors State University, just 40 minutes from downtown Chicago in University Park.

The Summer Sol-a-Bration will have all sorts of activities for children and adults to enjoy on this year’s summer solstice, from 2 to 5 p.m. The day is designed to celebrate the outdoors and the park’s sculpture collection.

Music will be provided by the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra's Brass Quintet, the Prairie State College Faculty Jazz Band, and the South Suburban Dulcimer and Folk Music Society.

Parking and admission is FREE. Some activities will have nominal fees. Shuttle carts are available for those with limited mobility. Mark your calendar and join the fun!

Activities include:
* Sculpture Trading Card Games!
* Online Drawing Exhibition!
* Online Photo Competition!
* Sno-cone Sculpting!
* Croquet!
* Sprinkler Sculptures!
* Kite flying!
* Kids build their own sculpture to take home!
* An opportunity to view over 25 unique works of art amidst the beauty of the prairie!

For more information or directions to the park and Governors State University, go to www.govst.edu/sculpture or call 708-534-4486.

You can also e-mail at: sculpture@govst.edu.

Programs and events presented by the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park are sponsored, in part, by Bimba Manufacturing Company and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Consumer column: New website helps control energy costs

By David Kolata

Executive Director of Citizens Utility Board

At the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), we've always said that it pays to be energy efficient – and our new online service proves it.

CUB Energy Saver is the nation’s first free online tool to connect to actual electric bills and, yes, pay people through a rewards program for documented reductions in those bills. The first 10,000 Commonwealth Edison households that sign up will qualify to earn points (two for every kilowatt-hour they cut their power bill) that can be redeemed for free or discounted items at hundreds of local and national businesses. You get 100 points just for signing up!

For months, a pilot version of CUB Energy Saver has been showing Illinois families how to cut their energy usage by an average of 6 percent, for savings of roughly $200 a year. Now, with the rewards program, that 6 percent could mean another $130 in buying power.

CUB teamed up with two companies, Efficiency 2.0 and RecycleBank, to offer rewards as extra incentive to cut power bills. Points can be redeemed for thousands of items, including free movie tickets, magazine subscriptions, a buy-one-get-one-free deal at a national restaurant chain, or a free child’s admission to a museum.

Just follow the directions to sign up for CUB Energy Saver, connect to your ComEd account (to document actual cuts to your electric bill) and join the rewards program. Even if you don’t sign up for those rewards, you can still get rewarded by saving money, thanks to the tool’s hundreds of energy-saving actions.

CUB Energy Saver uses millions of pieces of publicly available data — including your zip code’s energy-usage data, weather predictions, and property records — to develop a personalized plan to cut your home’s energy costs. The plan becomes stronger the more information you give about your home and energy use — but all you need is your e-mail and home address to get started. Regardless of how much you tell CUB Energy Saver, all your data is completely private — and you control it.

Because not everyone’s last name is Trump, CUB Energy Saver recommends many no-cost actions, such as washing your clothes in cold water or turning off the coffeemaker. A low-cost plan may include buying Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs. If you’re looking to make significant home improvements, CUB Energy Saver can tell you how much you’ll save by, for example, replacing your air conditioner with an efficient model.

Of course, not all actions will be right for you. That’s why you can edit your plan — adding new actions, removing old ones that don’t fit your lifestyle, or adjusting them so they do. Is CUB Energy Saver recommending that you wash larger loads of laundry? Tell it how big and how old your washer is. The tool will automatically adjust its estimates for how much money you could save and how many points you could earn.

Bottom line: Other online efficiency tools — with their vague estimates and generic tips — may be called "smart," but CUB Energy Saver is at the top of the class.

Join CUB Energy Saver now and get a free CFL. Plus, CUB will give up to 10,000 CFLs to the community with the largest percentage of energy saved in 2010.

Facing a tough economy, more and more Illinois families are turning to energy efficiency, which is about doing the same or more — but using less. What it’s NOT about is sacrifice. CUB Energy Saver is out to smash that myth, and save households lots of money — just in time for another expensive air conditioning season. Now that’s rewarding.

For money-saving advice and consumer tips, visit http://www.citizensutilityboard.org/!

Wynder's Hot Dogs opens in New Lenox

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

When Terry Johnson (above) scored the first hot dog for his daughter Kassee he never thought it would turn into a business let alone a restaurant.

Johnson says he got the idea of making slices in a hot dog before cooking it from his Mom, who used to fry bologna for him when he was a kid.

“Slicing the hot dog increases the surface cooking area and that allows for more carmelization of the hot dog’s juices,” Johnson says. “The same thing is what makes fried bologna so tasty.”

Johnson eventually created a gadget (that now comes in three sizes) that allows for even cuts on hot dogs and sausages.

“I got tired of trying to make the right cuts with a knife,” Johnson says. “So, I created the Wynder Spiral Hot Dog Cutter. We’ve been selling them online for two years.” http://www.wyndersspiralcuthotdogs.com/

A presentation Johnson made in January to potential investors led to his latest endeavor: restaurateur. Johnson opened his own eatery, Wynder's Spiral Cut Hot Dogs, a month ago at 1880 E. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox. It’s in the former Willie’s Wee-Nee Wagon and across the street from Lincoln-Way Central High School.

Business has been increasing at the restaurant since opened and Johnson says the idea for a spiral cut hot dog restaurant is catching on elsewhere.

“We’re looking at a franchise deal with a mall operator in south Florida who wants to open two prototype stores this summer,” says Johnson, 47, of Tinley Park. “And there s a group in San Antonio that also wants to open a chain of Wynder’s this year.”

Johnson himself is looking at expanding the concept. “We’re looking at locations in Joliet and Tinley Park.”

Johnson said the official grand opening and ribbon cutting for Wynder’s is at 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 18.

Store hours are daily 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. though Johnson eventually hopes to be open later in the evening. The phone number is 815-462-1100.

Lightning Motors opens second location
Ron Ski has opened a second location for his Lightning Motors used car dealership at 410 Vine St. in New Lenox.

Ski has operated Lightning Motors since 2007 at 21644 E. Lincoln Highway in Lynwood.
The phone number for the New Lenox car lot is 815-717-8338. You can also reach Ski at 219-306-6302.

Car detailer opens in Mokena
Train Stop Detail Shop has opened at 11020 Front St. in downtown Mokena. Hours are by appointment by calling 708-478-7480.

Villa Rosa opens in Mokena
Tony’s Villa Rosa pizzeria has just opened a second location in the former Enzo’s Pizza at 11004 Front St. in downtown Mokena. Enzo’s closed in February but is still open in Homer Glen.

Villa Rosa has another location at 7177 St. Francis Road in Frankfort Square that also has an ice cream parlor.

The phone number for the Mokena location is 708-478-6702 and 815-464-6700 for the Frankfort location.

Free fish this week
Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium is offering free general admission this week, which includes Waters of the World, Amazon Rising and the Caribbean Reef.

Savvy salutes the Hawks!

Oh, all right. We Southlanders agree to share this championship with North Siders (and everyone else in Chicagoland). I think there's consensus that the HAWKS ROCK!

Schilling Lumber to open in Mokena

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Schilling Brothers Lumber is expecting to open its new Mokena lumber yard by mid-July.

The company, which has operated a lumber yard for decades in St. John, Ind., acquired the former Hines site at 9900 W. 191st St. earlier this year.

The company is in the process of hiring for the Mokena location. Jobseekers can download an application at www.schillings.com and drop it off at the St. John location, 8900 Wicker Ave. (U.S. 41).

Malley’s Autocare opens in FrankfortMalley’s Discount Tire and Autocare opened last week at 9447 W. Lincoln Highway in Frankfort after relocating from 11460 S. Pulaski Road in Chicago. The new phone number is 815-277-2410. Store hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Lee Nails opens in MokenaLee Nails salon is offering grand opening specials at its newest location at 11343 Lincoln Highway in Mokena. The salon phone number is 815-464-3344.

Alsip Nursery opens in HobartAlsip Nursery, which has stores in Frankfort and St. John, recently opened its first satellite garden center at Southlake Mall in Hobart. The satellite center is located in the parking lot near J.C. Penney.

A summer deal
Odyssey Fun World, with locations in Tinley Park and Naperville, is offering $5 Go-Cart Thursdays all summer long.

Millie's Ice Cream Shoppe reopens as Cornerstone Cafe in Oak Lawn

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

It was a sad day when Chad Reno had to close Millie’s Ice Cream and Sandwich Shoppe in Oak Lawn after owning the business for about 18 months. Thankfully, the feeling didn’t last long.

Reno said that people immediately asked him to reconsider what was a hard business decision to make. So, he did reconsider and the result is the new Cornerstone Café, which opened on Memorial Day at 5172 W. 95th St.

“Business is slowly building,” Reno, 40, a lifelong Oak Lawn resident said Wednesday. “But so far it’s been good.”

Reno said he and his wife, Pam Reno, made a few changes in the transition from Millie’s to the Cornerstone Café.

“We tweaked the menu,” he said. “We kept the wraps and added a flatbread melt. We also changed ice cream to Sherman’s, which is a premium ice cream from Michigan.”

That wasn’t all that changed. “We dropped waitress service,” Reno said. “Now we have counter service like most sandwich shops. We also added some seating and hope to add more.”

Reno said he hopes to have a grand reopening in the next week or two.

Reno said his summer hours will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, call the Cornerstone Café at 708-423-9293. You can also visit their new Facebook page (a visit to Millie’s Facebook page will redirect you to the Café).

Grand Buffet Asian restaurant opens Tuesday in Tinley Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Tinley Park will be home to another Asian restaurant when Grand Buffet holds its grand opening tomorrow.

Grand Buffet, 18305 S. LaGrange Road, features Chinese and Japanese cuisine and sushi.

The lunch buffet is available from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and the dinner buffet is served from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. The weekend buffet is served all day Saturday and Sunday. Buffet is available for carryout.

Customers not interested in a buffet can order from the menu.

For more information, call 708-802-8908 or visit http://www.grandbuffettinleypark.com/.

Too Cool opens in OrlandToo Cool, a store that specializes in anime, Hello Kitty and other Japanese merchandise, just opened on the upper level at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park in the former Trade Secret location. The phone number is 708-226-8109.

Dionysos gone fishingNot sure what it means exactly, but the sign in front of Dionysos Greek Tavern at 10700 S. Harlem Ave. in Worth says “closed, gone fishing.” The phone number has been temporarily disconnected. We’ll keep an eye on this one and see if it reopens anytime soon.

Lockport hotdog stand closesFrom a reader, comes a tip that Kim’s Hot Dogs, 914 Garfield St. in Lockport, has closed. The eatery was a Boz Hot Dogs before becoming Kim’s. “It’s a sad, sad day in Lockport,” says the reader who now travels to Jr’s in Orland Park for her dogs.

Deal of the week
Movie fans who rent DVDs at Red Box can get a free rental by using the promo code DVDON ME at checkout. If you rent at a Red Box inside a Walgreen’s, use the promo code DVDATWAG. You can also find out more promo codes at http://www.insideredbox.com/.

Lockport in the NFL: Tony Pashos

Two Lockport natives, Tony Pashos and Eric Steinbach, finally play on the same team. Both are offensive linemen on the Cleveland Browns. Though they both grew up in Lockport, they didn't play football together. Pashos played for Lockport High while Steinbach suited up for Providence Catholic in New Lenox.

Says Pashos today on ClevelandBrowns.com, about joining the team this season: “I was really happy to be back in the Midwest, close to my family. I enjoyed all the parts of the country that I’ve been in, but growing up out here in the Chicago-area, the Midwest, it feels at home.

Connie's Pizza, Al's Beef close in Orland

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Connie’s Pizza closed recently at 16310 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

All other Connie’s locations remain open and the manager of the restaurant in Bridgeport said she had heard the Orland store was being remodeled. So, we’ll wait and see if it reopens.

You would think that it had a great location being right next to the Marcus Cinemas and all.

It’s not the only restaurant in that area to close, however, Al’s Beef across the street at 16255 S. LaGrange Road also closed recently.

But Al’s owners are planning on reopening later this year in a smaller location farther north on LaGrange, near Orland Park Place.

In the meantime, all other Al’s Beef locations remain open.

And the building won’t be vacant for long. Fat Ricky’s, a local Italian restaurant chain featuring pizza, burgers and sandwiches, is coming soon. “Hopefully, by Father’s Day,” said the manager at the Romeoville location.

The Orland location would be the fourth for the chain, which has eateries in Romeoville, Elmwood and Shorewood.

For an idea of what to expect when it opens, check out www.fatrickys.com

Shannon’s Landing to close
Shannon’s Landing, the pub at the Lansing Municipal Airport, 3820 Glenwood-Lansing Road, is closing this weekend. The pub will stay open until Sunday night or when the food and liquor runs out.
The Irish-themed pub is out of corned beef but has supplies of shrimp, burgers and beef. Drink specials in its final hours include $2 imported pints.

Village officials told the Times of Northwest Indiana that the closing had been planned, and that they want the pub to reopen after repairs are made to the building.

Party planner open house
Princess and Prince Parties, which opened last month at 6000 W. 159th St. in Oak Forest, is holding an open house from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. The shop plans parties for children and offers catering, character appearances, face painting and bounce houses. For more information, visit www.princessandprinceparties.com. The phone number is 708-532-0400.

Bowling deal of the summer
Kids Bowl Free is being offered this summer at Burr Oak Bowl in Blue Island, Castaways in Calumet City, Strike n Spare in Lockport, Thunder Bowl in Mokena, Oak Forest Bowl in Oak Forest and Orland Bowl in Orland Park. Sign your children up at www.kidsbowlfree.com. Each child will get passes good for two free games per day. There also is a family pass available for $24.95 that allows up to four adults two free games per day.

Jake Peavy to sign autographs in Frankfort

White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy will sign autographs from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at Phillips Chevrolet in Frankfort. There also will be registration for a chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the July 30 Sox vs. Oakland A’s game. The winning name will be drawn July 17 at the dealership.

Mercury demise should be no big thing

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Back in 1939, Ford decided it needed a brand to bridge the gap between its regular-guy Ford models and its luxury Lincoln models. Voila, Mercury was born.

Trouble was, with some notable exceptions over the years such as the Mercury Cougar XR-7 specialty coupe, most of the time Mercury models were fancified Fords rather than Lincoln wannabes.

Mercury sales have been declining steadily for almost 20 years. So it should come as no surprise that Ford announced this week that it is pulling the plug on Mercury and will stop production of Mercury models in the fourth quarter. Aside from the Grand Marquis (pictured) I couldn't name one of the four Mercury models being sold this year. I had to look them up on Google. The others are Mariner, Milan and Mountaineer.

Sad to say, but I doubt anyone will miss Mercury and certainly not for long. Ford has fiddled with Mercury enough over the years that the brand long ago lost whatever identity it might have had. Most Mercury models for the past 30 years or so were built on Ford platforms and except for minor changes and Mercury nameplates looked much like their Ford counterparts.

The Cougar started out looking like the Mustang and later looked exactly like a Thunderbird. The Bobcat was the same as a Pinto. The Comet first looked like the Fairlane and ended up looking just like a Maverick. The Sable was a Taurus. You get the idea.

The joke used to be that the car came down one assembly line and became a Ford or Mercury depending on what door it emerged from.

The good news is that the demise of Mercury should not lead to dealership closings. I don't know of any Mercury stores that don't also carry Lincolns or Fords and possibly other brands. They should be able to survive.

But it's sad anyway to think of another fabled American auto brand biting the dust.

New Polish deli closes in Frankfort

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Tasty Bites & Treats, a Polish bakery and deli that opened late last year at 47 E. Lincoln Highway in Frankfort, has closed.

Mattress Express moves
Mattress Express recently moved from its location next to the Frankfort Jewel-Osco store into new digs at 2571 W. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox.

Tan’s on vacation
Tan’s Chinese Kitchen, 321 N. LaGrange Road in Frankfort, will be closed until June 28 because the owners are on vacation.

Coming soon
A new restaurant is coming to the former Fiesta del Sol restaurant at 10211 W. Lincoln Highway in Frankfort. Not sure yet what kind of cuisine the eatery will have.

Oak Forest welcomes new bank
The Oak Forest Banking Center opened this week in its permanent facility at 5459 W. 159th St. in Oak Forest. It’s the first Southland branch for Carlinville National Bank in downstate Carlinville. The bank had been operating for the past few months out of a nearby temporary facility in Oak Forest.

EggCetera ribbon-cutting
Mokena Chamber members and village officials will celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony for EggCetera Café at 10120 W. 191st St. in Mokena.

Deals of the week
Shedd Aquarium fans can get a buy one get one coupon for a pass by signing up for the aquarium’s e-mail list at www.sheddaquarium.org. It’s part of Shedd’s name the baby beluga campaign. Coupons are good through June 13.

Dunkin’ Donuts will celebrate National Donut Day on Friday by giving away free donuts with any beverage purchase. The free donut deal is good all day.

Chamber news
Oak Lawn: The Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce will hold its fourth annual Shop Oak Lawn Sale, New Car Show and Pet Parade from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 12 at the Village Green, 95th Street and Raymond Avenue. For more information, visit http://www.oaklawnchamber.com/.

Mokena: The Mokena Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business After Hours from 4 to 6 p.m. June 8 at CD & ME at 23320 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort.

Lansing: The Lansing Chamber of Commerce will hold its 44th annual golf outing at 11:30 a.m. June 16 at Glenwoodie Golf Course, 19301 State St. in Glenwood. Cost is $100 for golf, lunch, drinks and dinner. Dinner only tickets are $40. For more information, call Kari Ann at 708-474-4170.

Five-Buck Club for movies will end

If you are a fan of the Five-Buck Club at Kerasotes Theaters in New Lenox or Bolingbrook, your special deal is going away next month. But AMC, the company that purchased Kerasotes, says you shouldn't worry. They are changing the price of all (well, most) movies to ... $5.

From AMC's web site:

Five Buck Club Members:

We’ve heard your love of the Five Buck Club and your concerns for our current titles. Just to clarify, all previous Five Buck Club movies are still available at $5 at the participating theatres below.

Additionally, we believe in offering movies at a variety of pricing options and we will continue to offer all our guests many opportunities to see $5 movies. Starting June 18, our normal price for all movies, all day, any time Monday through Thursday* will be $5 – no club or cards necessary. You will be able to see the latest movies for $5 and we’re happy to make this pricing available to all our guests. On weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday and some holidays) before noon, you will also be able to see $5 movies at most theatres. The Five Buck Club will no longer be available or necessary after June 18.

For the time being AMC will continue to offer the Five Buck Club for CURRENT FBC members only. The process for purchasing a ticket for a movie in the Five Buck Club will not change. Just present your Five Buck Club card at newly acquired AMC Theatres locations to receive the special pricing. At this time AMC Theatres is not accepting new members into the Five Buck Club.

Thank you for your patience during this transition. We love your passion and enthusiasm for your theatre and we truly are honored to have you as our guests at AMC.

Fuller's to remodel Orland Park carwash

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Fuller’s Carwash at 15610 S. Harlem Ave. in Orland Park, formerly Classic Car Wash, will be closing in early to mid-June for remodeling. Fuller’s is adding a coin-operated car wash (the driver stays in the car while it is washed) to go along with the full wash and detailing service now available. Anyone who still has coupons issued by Classic Car Wash can use them until the carwash closes. Classic coupons will not be honored when the carwash reopens.

Nicks Gyros opens
Nicks Gyros opened its third location this week at 420 W. Lincoln Highway in Chicago Heights. The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call 708-503-2000 or visit http://www.nicksgyroschicago.com/ Owner Nick Spinos owns two other gyros restaurants on Chicago’s South Side.

Relocating
The Dance Company is expecting to move by late summer from its current digs at 47 E. Lincoln Highway in Frankfort to 332 N. LaGrange Road in the Frankfort Crossing Shopping Center. The dance school is moving into the southern corner space in the strip center, which is anchored by a Jewel-Osco store. The school has about 300 students and has been teaching dance for more than a decade.

Big Tuna eyes Frankfort
Big Tuna, a Japanese restaurant at 13137 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park, is planning on opening a second location this summer at 19951 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort. The restaurant features sushi, teriyaki and tempura dishes. It will be open for lunch and dinner.

A new Walmart opens
A Walmart store opened earlier this month at 9450 Joliet Road in Hodgkins.

Movado closing retail stores
Movado Group, the Swiss watchmaker, is closing its retail division by June 30. The decision affects stores at Woodfield Mall, Oakbrook Shoppingn Center and Water Tower Place in Chicago. The company will continue to sell watches and other jewelry through independent retailers.

Deals of the weekend
Buy one milkshake, get one free at Sonic restaurants in Lockport and Country Club Hills. Offer runs through June 27. You can get the free one when you order the first one or receive a coupon.

Barnes & Noble is offering a 15 percent discount at BN.com by June 1. Just type in J4D4Y3C at checkout.

Sports Authority is offering $25 off online orders of more than $100 and free shipping on online orders of more than $49. Just type in MEM25 at checkout. Offer is good through June 5.

Glenwood Oaks offers $10 off dinner

MarketSavvy

Glenwood Oaks Rib and Chophouse is offering $10 off a dinner for two with this coupon. Sink your teeth into a mouthwatering feast with a discount courtesy of the Jarosky Family and Southland Savvy.

In Blue Island, seeing the recession's toll

"If south suburban Blue Island long ago was a geological mix of boulders and other debris dropped by a glacier, the Illinois Department of Human Services office there now is a moraine of human travail deposited by the recession," writes Jim Warren in a column on the Chicago News Cooperative.

"A parking lot the size of a football field was jammed Tuesday, and caseworkers laughed about my three-minute search for a space. This was a slow day, they informed me; show up on the first of the month, when various benefits are due, and you would think the Rolling Stones were in town. Lines form outside shortly after sunrise.

"By 10 a.m., about 150 people of diverse economic strata were applying for, or seeking urgent counsel about, welfare, food stamps, and Medicaid and disability payments, among other matters. They were in financial, social, mental and physical distress, and this office — whose budget-stressed staff deals with 81,000 cases in a suburban area up to the Will County border — is a lifeline."

With all the talk of a recovering stock market and the beginnings of an upswing in the economy, this is what the Great Recession still looks like in the Southland.

New bevy of benches in Tinley

We hear the weather's going to warm up this week, so we'd like to recommend a stroll down Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park. You'll get some exercise, and you can exercise your appreciation of fanciful works of art.

Tinley Park's "Benches on the Avenue" program is back with a new collection of artfully crafted benches on both sides of Oak Park Avenue (between 172nd and 176th streets). The theme that local artists worked from is "When I Grow Up." The 21 benches are scheduled to be on display through October 1.

Photos by Chuck Ingwersen/
Southland Savvy

New business review: Half Price Books in Orland Park

By Chuck Ingwersen
Southland Savvy
My wife and I love book stores, so we spent part of our Saturday checking out Half Price Books, which opened May 13 in Orland Park (as announced by Savvy's own Bob Bong). The Half Price Books moniker is a bit misleading, since the store sells not only books but CDs, vinyl albums, DVDs, video games, board games and more. Plus, there are many items than go for considerably less than half the original retail price. There's a selection of paperback books for a buck, and a good-size clearance section of both fiction and non-fiction books for $2 and $3.

We brought about a dozen of our own old books to trade in, and got a receipt for $24 that could be used as store credit or could be cashed out. I had hoped to get a better price for our books, but wasn't too surprised by the offer. To be sure, a few of the books we brought in were real clunkers. We bought six books and a DVD ("The Graduate") that totaled $22.54, so we left with cool new merch and a bonus $1.46 to boot.

We were surprised the store is so big and the selection so wide ranging. Can't help but wonder how many customers of the nearby Borders and Barnes and Noble will make Half Price Books their first stop. I plan to continue shopping all three, because each offers its own unique bargains, and each has inventory that can't be found in the competitors.

Half Price Books is located at 31 Orland Square Drive (just off LaGrange Rd.). Store hours after this weekend will be 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Click Half Price Books, Orland Park for the website.

Half Price Books opens in Orland Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy
Half Price Books opened its sixth Chicago-area store Thursday at 31 Orland Square Drive in Orland Park.

The 8,580-square-foot store is celebrating the opening by offering free tote bags and $5 gift cards to the first 100 customers Saturday and Sunday.

As an added bonus, “One of the first 100 shoppers each day will find a $100 gift card in the tote bag,” says Rebekah Gannaway, public relations specialist for Half Price Books.

The store carries new and used books, magazines, comics, records, cassettes, videos, DVDs, CDs and collectibles. The store also buys the same materials from shoppers who can take store credit or cash.

Store hours after this weekend will be 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

The phone number is 708-403-4589. Its website is http://www.halfpricebooks.com/

New management
The Dunkin’ Donuts at 20551 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort is under new management and is hiring. For more information, call 815-469-3303.

Quick Mart closes
The Vollmer Quick Mart and Deli closed recently at 5605 Vollmer Road in Matteson.

Boz closes in Lynwood
The Boz Hot Dogs restaurant at 20513 S. Torrence Ave. in Lynwood closed recently after the owners lost their lease. A second store remains open at 2513 Ridge Road in Lansing.

Quiznos opens in Orland Park
The Quiznos sandwich shop reopened recently at 11247 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Orland Baby’s coming soon
A Baby’s Steak and Lemonade franchise is opening soon in the former Long John Silver’s/A&W Root Beer restaurant at 15828 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

New gas stations in Bridgeview
A Citgo gas station opened in mid-April at 8301 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview and a Marathon sister station is expected to open next week across the street at 8258 S. Harlem Ave. Both stations have car washes and convenience stores.

Peavy in Frankfort
White Sox hurler Jake Peavy will sign autographs from noon to 1 p.m. June 5 at Phillips Chevrolet in Frankfort. There also will be registration for the chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the July 30 Sox vs. Oakland A’s game. The winning name will be drawn July 17 at the dealership. For more information, visit the Phillips fan page at Facebook.

Deal of the week
Popolano’s at 17940 S. Torrence Ave. in Lansing and 225 S. Calumet in Chesterton, Ind., is offering half-price pizza for dine-in customers on Tuesdays.

Mobility Mart closes store in Frankfort, will remain an online business

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Alan Villani has closed the Mobility Mart store at 7234 W. Benton Drive in Frankfort Square but will continue to sell scooters, powerchairs and lift chairs through his website at http://www.mobilitymartinc.com/.

“We closed last week after a year,” Villani said. “But I still have six scooters and ramps and other equipment available.”

Villani said that without the cost of a storefront, he would be able to offer even bigger discounts.

Villani’s phone number remains 815-469-3800.

Wendi’s House of Balloons opens
Wendy Boston-Robinson has turned her home-based balloon business into a full-fledged gift shop with the opening last week of Wendi’s House of Balloons at 7236 W. Benton Drive in Frankfort Square.

Boston-Robinson said she had been selling balloons out of her Matteson home and decided it was time to open a store.

“I added party supplies, cards and gifts because I figured if someone was buying balloons they might need party supplies as well.”

Wendi’s House carries air-filled and helium balloons for every occasion in latex and Mylar.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday. The phone number is 815-277-2380. A website at www.windisballoons.com is under construction.

Unemployed group to meet at St. Peter’s
Frankfort Square resident Dennis Gravitt has formed a support group for unemployed and underemployed men and women.

The group will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, 12 W. Sauk Trail in Frankfort. Future meetings will be on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.

For more information, call Gravitt at 815-469-7249.

Deal of the week
El Famous Mexican restaurants with locations in Orland Park, Tinley Park and Summit are now offering $1 tacos on Mondays and Tuesdays.

On-Time Design opens in Mokena
Below, Mokena village officials, Mokena Chamber members and company officials take part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony April 1 for On-Time Design Inc., 9400 Bormet Drive in Mokena.

Saint's Golf now open in Tinley Park

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Some golfers love the game so much, they wind up working at golf courses or golf stores.

That’s not the case for George Siekierzynski (pictured). He’s running Saint’s Golf at 16706 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park as a favor to his partner and because as the Glenwood resident says, “It’s something to do.” He can’t remember the last time he hit the links.

His partner is Mark St. Ledger, of New Lenox, who is passionate about the game. He’s had one version or another of Saint’s Golf for the better part of three decades, most recently in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood community.

The store has been open for a few weeks and response has been good, says Siekierzynski.

Services include regripping clubs, repairing clubs and making clubs at substantially discounted prices.

“Mark makes most of the clubs,” says Siekierzynski. “I just made my first one the other day.”

Saint’s will fit a golfer to the proper club length and then custom-make the clubs right there in the store.

For more information, call 708-342-1111. A website is in the works, says Siekierzynski.

In-Site opens in Frankfort
In-Site Computer Solutions has just opened a second location at 7238 Benton Drive in Frankfort Square. The company develops websites for businesses. The phone number is 815-573-0190. The website is http://www.in-sitecs.com/

Salvation Army opens community center in Blue Island
The Salvation Army opened a community center a few weeks ago at 2900 W. 127th St. in Blue Island. The center services Blue Island, Merrionette Park and Chicago’s Mount Greenwood community. The phone number is 708-332-0100. Its website is http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/

Mother’s Day deals
Palermo’s, 11255 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park is opening at 11 a.m. Sunday for Mother’s Day and the restaurant is offering a $15 three-course meal special. That includes appetizer, main course and dessert. For more information, call 708-364-6700 or visit the website http://www.palermochicago.com/ to see the choices and make reservations.

Visit the Denny’s Facebook page and create a Mother’s Day card for Mom and each of you will receive a free Pancake Puppies Sundae.

If you know of any other Mother’s Day specials, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com

Bank of America payment charges irk Illinois homeowner

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

I bought my home 23 years ago with help from the Illinois Housing Development Authority, which financed my mortgage through a first-time home owners program.

The mortgage was issued through a bank in Bolingbrook that no longer exists. No surprise there, given the way big banks have gobbled up little banks in recent years.

The mortgage was first taken over by Hemlock Bank, another institution that no longer exists.

Then the mortgage passed on to Marquette Bank, which was the gobbler of Hemlock Bank.

Paying the mortgage was nice and easy. If you didn’t want to drop it in the mail, you could drop the payment off at the bank. Hemlock was in Oak Forest and Marquette was in Orland Park.

In all of those years, the mortgage was serviced by a locally-owned bank.

All of that changed last month when Bank of America took over as servicer of the mortgage. The same Bank of America that needed a government bailout of $45 billion in cash and $100 billion in bad-asset guarantees to stay afloat.

After one month as an unwilling customer, I can understand how Bank of America was able to repay the bailout in September.

Bank of America is based in California. The coupons I received to pay the mortgage are to be mailed to California. Questions about why I should be paying an Illinois-backed mortgage to a bank in California aside, I wanted to know my payment options. I used to be able to drop my Marquette payment in the mail on Monday and have it accredited to my account by Wednesday. Knowing the mail from here to California is not so timely, I called the 800 number listed.

I won’t even guess where the call was routed to, but I’m guessing it wasn’t Simi Valley, Ca., Bank of America’s home loans headquarters.

Here’s what I found out. Payments should be mailed a week before the due date. That should get the payment there in time. But there is no guarantee it will arrive and be posted in time.

Failing that, I could drop off the payment at a Bank of America location near here. But it won’t post to my account for two to three business days.

In the words of my 800 number operator Zulfi, “Banks are not payment centers.” My argument that my check in their hands in one of their banks should mean something didn’t seem to win her over.

I also could pay by phone, the payment posts the same day as long as received before 3 p.m. Chicago time. The catch is that there is a $15 charge for using the automated system and $20 charge for having someone such as Zulfi handle the transaction.

What about the Internet? “Sure, you can pay at our website,” Zulfi said. I signed up. I’ll get my temporary password to establish my online account in seven to 10 working days. Oh, yes, there’s a $6 charge for paying online. I didn’t have the strength left to ask how long it would take for a payment to be posted to my account.

My daughter, wise one that she has become, said I should open a Bank of America account and put enough money in every month to cover the mortgage and set up an automatic payment. I just wonder how much that costs?

New clients get a deal at Apeeling Faces

MarketSavvy

Apeeling Faces in Tinley Park offers you the full feel-good treatment.

Visit Apeeling Faces on the Web.

A Savvy coupon for Zappas in Tinley Park

MarketSavvy

Check out a great money-saving deal from Zappas Salon on West 171st Street in Tinley Park for a free color or partial highlights.

Visit Zappas on the web.

Byron's Cycling to move this weekend

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Byron’s Cycling & Fitness is expected to begin moving Saturday into its new digs at 2125 W. 183rd St. in Homewood from its longtime home at 18424 Governors Highway.

Clerk Matt Kelley said the store would be open during the transition and the phone number would remain 708-957-9888. Hours will remain 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The store is closed on Sunday.

The store has been a fixture in Homewood for more than 30 years. It recently was taken over by Jane, Derek and Graham Bolkema.

Budget Golf closed
Budget Golf closed recently at 14426 John Humphrey Drive in Orland Park. The store had been serving Southland duffers since opening in 1993. A sister store is still open at 1508 Essington Road in Joliet.

Smoker's Haven moves
Smoker's Haven moved recently from 15806 S. Harlem Ave. in Orland Park to new digs at 7956 W. Lincoln Highway in Frankfort, where tobacco taxes are substantially lower. The phone number is 815-469-6360. Hours are daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Lansing holds annual Good Neighbor Day parade on Saturday

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Lansing celebrates its annual Good Neighbor Day celebration with a host of events on Saturday.

Kick off Good Neighbor Day from 7 a.m. until noon at the Lansing Kiwanis pancake breakfast at T.F. South High School.

If you're a runner, try participating in Just a Little Run, sponsored by the Lan-Oak Park District. Doors open at 8 a.m., with walks and runs starting between 8:40 a.m. and 9 a.m. For more information call 708-474-8552.

The Good Neighbor Day Parade starts at 2 p.m. This year's theme is Lansing Rocks Around the Clock and there are approximately 110 parade entries.

During the parade you can purchase the Lansing Chamber's cookbook and Chamber Cards at the judge's station. The cost of the cCookbook, which features over 65 recipes of all types and which features many different coupons is $12. The Chamber Cards, which offers a host of discounts from local merchants, is $10. Or, you can get both for only $20!

Cap off the day by bowling for a good cause. From 6:30 p.m. until 10 p.m., the Success Center will be hosting a fundraiser at Lynwood Bowl. For only $20 per person and only $15 for those 11 and under, you get three games, shoe rental and light refreshments.

Ivory Rose piano bar opens in Frankfort

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The owners of the Ivory Rose piano bar at 17 Old Frankfort Way in Frankfort have a nice business plan.

“We are bringing downtown Chicago to Frankfort just without the prices,” says co-owner Bill, who along with business partner Jim, prefer to just use their first names.

Ivory Rose opened earlier this week but is having a grand opening weekend starting at 5 p.m. Friday.

“Friday we have Greg Rini who does a nice tribute to Dean Martin,” says Bill. “Then on Saturday Peter Oprisko will do a Frank Sinatra tribute.”

Bill says Ivory Rose will serve higher end appetizers such as Italian meat plates and flatbreads. “We’ll have an Italian feel,” says Bill.

The bar will serve an extensive selection of martinis and wines.

Bill says they did a lot of changes to put their own mark on the former Bella Martini bar.

Ivory Rose hours are 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The piano bar is dark Sundays and Mondays.

Creamery to open in ManhattanThe Frankfort-based Creamery chain will open its newest location at 11 a.m. Friday at 525 W. North St. in Manhattan. Creamery locations serve fast food sandwiches, ice cream, the Original Rainbow Cones, 99-cent hot dogs on Weenie Wednesdays and 99-cent shakes on Milkshake Mondays. For more information, visit http://www.mycreamery.com/

Mexico Chiquito opens in Chicago HeightsA new Mexican restaurant, Mexico Chiquito, opened recently at 2316 Chicago Road in Chicago Heights. The restaurant is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The phone number is 708-755-9750. The restaurant offers 99-cent tacos on Mondays.

DeSoto Villa Pizza closes in Tinley Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

DeSoto Villa Pizza at 17801 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park, which for years was known as Serio's Italian Villa Pizza, has closed and the building has a "for sale" sign posted over the restaurant's name.

The pizzeria's phone has a message that the restaurant is closed but it promises to reopen in the future. I wish them the best but the track record is not good for businesses that promise to reopen.

Budnik's closes in Lemont

Budnik's convenience store closed last week at 400 Main St. in Lemont. The former pharmacy had been a convenience store and lottery outlet for the past two decades, but the state recently cut the store out of its lottery network. Owner Sue Little told the Lemont Reporter she was not planning on selling the building and would be seeking a tenant. The pharmacy opened in 1922 and moved to its Main Street location in 1927.

Insurance agency to open in Hickory Hills

The Mark Skorusa Insurance Agency is expected to open Saturday at 7667 W. 95th St. in Hickory Hills. Skorusa is moving from Palos Heights. He is a Country Insurance agent. The phone number will be 708-598-3030. The website is www.1800getmark.com/

Derby Day deal

This offer is strictly for the ladies. All three Charley Horse restaurants in Tinley Park, New Lenox and Munster, Ind., are offering free meals from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday to ladies who show up wearing a Derby Day Bonnet. Saturday is the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The Race for the Roses will start about 5:25 p.m. CST. The race will be televised on Channel 5. Now, ladies, to qualify your chapeaux has to be something special. A Sox baseball cap just won't cut it.

Lansing, Frankfort insurance agencies merge

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Kotecki-Turek insurance agency in Lansing has merged with Shanahan insurance agency in Frankfort in what Dick Turek called a “win-win situation” for both offices.

Turek said the April 1 merger essentially doubles the marketplace for the agencies, which will be known as Kotecki-Turek-Shanahan Agency.

Kotecki-Turek has been selling insurance in Lansing since 1962. Its office will remain at 3330 E. 181st Place in the Clock Tower Building. Its phone number remains 708-895-0300.

Shanahan has been selling insurance in Frankfort since 1917. Its office remains at 237 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort. Its phone number remains 815-469-4545. Its website is www.sldins.com

Dragon Inn moves to Dyer
Dragon Inn, a Chinese restaurant specializing in Mandarin cuisine, moved recently from its longtime home at 18431 S. Halsted St. in Glenwood to new digs at 275 Joliet St. in Dyer, Ind.

When the restaurant opened 46 years ago it was the only Mandarin restaurant on Chicago’s South Side.

Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Monday. The new phone number is 219-864-3400 and toll free 888-699-1013. Its website is www.dragoninndyer.com

The new delivery area is Munster, Dyer and Schererville in Indiana and Crete, Lynwood and Lansing in Illinois.

Gumption Gifts closes
A retail store operated by the CARC to give developmentally disabled people a chance to get retail experience has closed after 3 ½ years at 1814 W. 103rd St. on Chicago’s Southwest Side. The economy doomed the store, which started out with eight employees but had been reduced to two when it closed last week.

Horton’s opens in Orland
Hortons Lighting Outlet has opened its newest store at 15846 S. Wolf Road in Orland Park. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and closed on Monday. The phone number is 708-403-9172. Its website is www.hortonshome.com
To celebrate its grand opening, the store is giving away $25 gift cards to restaurant.com for every purchase of $50.

New showroom open
Granite Transformations has opened a new showroom at 15890 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park. The phone number is 708-444-8350. Its website is www.granitetransformations.com

Ice cream deal of the week
Baskin-Robbins ice cream parlors are serving 31-cent scoops (limit of three 2.5-ounce scoops) from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, and the corporation is making a $100,000 donation to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Baskin-Robbins ice cream parlors can be found throughout the Southland. To find the one closest to you, visit www.baskinrobbins.com

New Mexican restaurant in Tinley Park serves a 5-pound burrito

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Arturo Lamas always wanted to open a Mexican restaurant and his dream came true Monday when he soft opened Asado Mexican Grill at 9516 W. 179th St. in Tinley Park.

The specialty of the house? Would you believe a five-pound burrito, with sides of rice and beans, of course. It’s as big as the tray it’s served on, says Lamas.

“You can have it with steak, chicken, pork or ground beef,” says Lamas. “If you eat the whole thing, it’s free.”

“Nobody has dared to order one yet,” Lamas said with a laugh this afternoon. “The next best thing are the steak tacos.”

Lamas said he wanted to do a soft opening this week to make sure everything was working smooth before the grand opening next week. “It’s amazing. We’ve been busy all week.”

Lamas grew up in Calumet City with his wife, Sarah, who owns Fudgi Island Cookie Co. in Tinley Park. Both shops are offering a 10 percent discount to anyone who brings in a receipt from the other store.

“We want to drive traffic from each store to the other,” says Lamas, who adds that anyone who mentions reading about Asado Mexican Grill in Comings & Goings can also get a 10 percent discount.

Restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday but may change. “It depends on our customers,” he says. “Ideally, I’d like to be open from 10 to 10.” The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

The phone number is 708-970-8787 but it’s a recorded message until Monday. A website is also in the works at www.asadomexicangrill.com

Mokena ribbon cuttings on Saturday
Two new businesses in Mokena will hold ribbon-cutting ceremonies Saturday.

First up is The Little Guys home technology store, which will hold its ceremony at noon at its new location at 19031 S. Old LaGrange Road. The store recently completed its move from its longtime home in Glenwood.

Next up is the Spin Club at 2 p.m. at 9960 W. 191st St. Spin Club is a fitness center that utilizes indoor cycling.

Finally Fajitas
Fajitas Mexican Restaurant finally opened its doors this week at 167th Street and Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park. There's a second location in Countryside.

Meijer job fair continues next week
Meijer will continue its job fair Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Ave. The supermarket chain is hiring more than 100 people for its new store near 159th Street and Harlem Avenue in Orland Park. Jobseekers should first visit www.joinmeijer.com to fill out an application before attending the job fair. The store is expected to open this summer.

Pierzynski Shoes closing after more than 100 years on Southwest Side

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A store that shares its name with White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski is closing after more than a century of covering feet on Chicago’s Southwest Side.

Pierzynski Shoes, 6910 W. Archer Ave., is holding a going out of business sale. The store was founded by A.J. Perzynski in 1904 but is currently owned by Mike and Mindy Czerniak.

Store hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The sale will last until all merchandise is sold. The phone number is 773-586-1205.

An employee said there is still plenty of footwear available. She attributed the closing to changes in the way people buy shoes.

“Discount shoe stores and the Internet have killed us,” she said.

Chick-fil-A breaks ground in Orland Park

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Chick-fil-A, a fast-food staple throughout the South, is finally answering the pleas of its Chicagoland fans and is breaking ground this week on the chain’s first two locations near the Windy City.

Ground was broken today at 156th Street and LaGrange Road in Orland Park for what will be the chain’s second restaurant in the Chicago area when it opens in September. A groundbreaking ceremony is set for tomorrow in Aurora at what will be the chain’s first Chicago-area eatery when it opens in August. A third restaurant is planned to open in October in Wheaton.

“Our fans in Chicago have been vocal about wanting Chick-fil-A here,” said Dan Cathy, president and chief operating officer of the chain. “Fans here have even posted videos on YouTube as part of their campaigns for us to open in Chicago.”

Kevin Bulmann, of Cincinnati, who will be the owner/operator of the Orland Park restaurant when it opens, is no stranger to Orland Park.

“I have lots of family in Orland Park,” Bulmann said, pointing out his aunt who attended today’s groundbreaking. “It’s her birthday.”

“I spent most of my summers as a youth in Orland Park,” Bulmann said. “I cut a lot of grass here.”
Bulmann said he will turn over his Cincinnati store to Chick-fil-A when the Orland Park store is ready to open.

“I’m going to move here and be a part of this great community,” he said.

Bulmann said the Orland restaurant would be about 4,600-square-feet, and have 122 indoor seats, half-a-dozen outdoor patio seats, and a playland for children.

The restaurant will bring 60 to 80 jobs to the area, he said. Hiring will begin in early August. “We’ll have a trailer on site for applications,” he said.

Chick-fil-A’s Brenda Green said the chain is planning an aggressive push into the Chicago area in 2011. The chain plans to open 20 to 25 restaurants in the Chicago area over the next five years.

“We’re planning 10 percent of our new restaurants in 2011 will open in the Chicago area,” she said.

The chain is opening 78 restaurants this year and has nearly 1,500 locations in 38 states.

Lika's Restaurant opens in Burbank

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Daci Lika is continuing a family tradition with her new restaurant, Lika’s, at 6814 W. 87th St. in Burbank. It’s located in the former Sagil’s Restaurant.

She is the third generation of her family to operate a restaurant in the Southland. The family has had a restaurant open somewhere in the Southland for more than 30 years.

Restaurant hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Daily specials are posted about 9 p.m. the night before at the restaurant’s Facebook page.

For more information, call 708-599-5452.

Now open
Once Upon A Child opened recently at 9990 S. Ridgeland Ave. in Chicago Ridge. The resale shop specializes in children’s clothing. Owner is Marcia Hite. Store hours are Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Napleton Honda moving
Napleton Honda at 6701 W. 95th St. In Oak Lawn will be moving to the former Napleton Dodge dealership at 5800 W. 95th St. The deal was sealed when the Oak Lawn Village Board approved a sales tax rebate plan with Napleton. For the next decade, Napleton and the village will split sales tax revenue to a maximum of $2 million. The move will follow some renovations at the Dodge dealership.

Napleton Dodge moved last year from Oak Lawn to new digs at the former River Oaks Chrysler dealership at 17225 S. Torrence Ave. In Lansing and is now called Napleton’s River Oaks Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge.

PSC job fair
Prairie State College will hold a job fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Business and Community Education Center of the college, 202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights. The event is free and open to the public. Jobseekers should wear business attire and bring plenty of resumes.

Deal of the week
Fatburger at 15110 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park is offering a Medium Fatburger and a Fry for $5 after 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. For more information, call the restaurant at 708-364-8380.

Meijer to hold job fair next week for new Orland Park store

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Meijer will be taking applications from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Ave. in Orland Park, to fill more than 100 part-time and full-time positions at the new store under construction near 159th Street and Harlem Avenue in Orland Park. All positions provide basic health insurance. Complete an online application at www.joinmeijer.com before attending the job fair.

Now open
United Liquors Marts has opened at 11318 W. Lincoln Highway in Mokena. Hours are Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. The phone number is 815-464-0526.

Pebble Creek Nursery closingConstruction on Southwest Highway and the recession combined to force the closing of the retail center at Pebble Creek Nursery, 13901 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park. The nursery is holding a 50 percent off blowout sale, cash and carry. The owners will continue their landscaping, lawn maintenance and snow removal operations after the retail center closes. For more information, call 708-403-0033.

Trailer repair opens
All Trailer Repair opened recently in the Blackhawk industrial complex at 8508 W. 193rd St. in Mokena. The phone number is 815-806-3030.

Sears closing Ford City store Sears has begun a liquidation sale at its store at Ford City Shopping Center, 76th Street and Cicero Avenue on Chicago’s Southwest Side. The store is scheduled to close by July 14. There are about 100 workers at the store, who can apply for jobs at other Sears stores.

Specially priced White Sox tickets

If you're a Facebook Fan of the White Sox, you might be able to nab some reduced-price tickets. Here are the details from the Sox on Facebook:

For the games against the Tampa Bay Rays on 4/20-22, Regular game tickets normally priced at $39, $35, $34, $24, and $20 are $29, $25, $24, $19 and $15.
For the games against the Seattle Mariners on 4/23-25, Regular game tickets normally priced at $24 and $20 are $19 and $15.
*Lower Level seats are extremely limited, so act quickly!*

Click here for ordering info:
http://whitesox.mlb.com/cws/ticketing/groups/gsg/facebook.jsp?partnerId=facebook_cws_facebookGrandSlam_041610

Fireball over Illinois

Video of fireball that lit up the sky Wednesday night from Wisconsin to Missouri.

From Dolton to Vogue: Jane Lynch

We just love Glee's Jane Lynch. She cracks us up. And you know she picked up these moves from her Dolton days, right? (15 seconds of commercial before the vamping commences.)

Fajitas opening delayed in Tinley Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Another delay has kept Fajitas Mexican Restaurant from opening as expected at 16703 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park.

The eatery had expected to open the past two Mondays and is now shooting for next week. Delays in opening are common for new restaurants, but we'll let you know when Fajitas opens its doors.

Blue Fox remains closed
The Blue Fox at 6820 W. 179th St. in Tinley Park remains closed. There is a message on a pizza plate in the front window saying the restaurant is temporarily closed and will reopen April 13, yesterday. The Web site has no future events listed and there have been no Facebook entries since March 27. Not sure what all that means, but we'll let you know if we get any more information.

Debo's Dogs adds drive-through
Debo's Dogs at 19866 S. Harlem Ave. in Frankfort Square opened a drive-through lane a few weeks ago.

Arnie Salerno's opens
Arnie Salerno's on Ridgeland has opened at 13440 S. Ridgeland Ave. in Palos Heights. The restaurant features pizza, pasta, sandwiches and other Italian food. The phone number is 708-293-1100.

Businesses offer April 15 freebies to help take the sting out of tax day

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The tax man cometh on Thursday but all is not lost. Several businesses are offering freebies to take away some of the sting, including:

Dunkin Donuts shops at 4152 W. 167th St. in Oak Forest, 4021 W. 183rd St. in Country Club Hills and 11309 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park will be giving away free small iced coffees from midnight to midnight April 15. Owner Asif Nathani said the offer is good for one per customer but no purchase is required.

“You don’t even need a coupon,” says Nathani, who took over ownership of the three shops recently. “It’s a get acquainted offer.”

Starbucks is giving away free 20-ounce coffees to anyone who brings in a travel mug from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. April 15. http://www.starbucks.com/

IHOP is letting kids under 12 eat for free throughout April. Deal runs from 4 to 10 p.m. daily. Deal is for one free child’s meal with every paid adult meal. http://www.ihop.com/

Cinnabon is offering two free cupcake bites from 6 to 8 p.m. http://www.cinnabon.com/

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro is offering a 15 percent discount on all orders on Thursday. Non-alcoholic drinks are included in the offer as are take-out orders. http://www.pfchangs.com/

Jamba Juice is offering a buy one get one coupon at its Web site www.jambajuice.com through April 25. This one is tied to the company’s 20th anniversary rather than tax day but what the heck.

Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream Treatery is giving away free slices of its ice cream pizza from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday. http://www.maggiemoos.com/

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants are offering $10.40 tax day dinner specials with the added bonus of a gift certificate good for a $10.40 dinner special on your next visit. The restaurant also has a tax preparer’s dessert special for Friday. http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/

These two are unconfirmed but possible. Subway has given away free cookies on tax day in the past, while McDonald’s restaurants have offered tax day specials such as buy one get one for a penny in the past. There’s no harm in asking.

While we’re on the subject of freebies, national parks across America will offer free admission from April 17 to April 25 in honor of National Parks Week. Just in case you find yourself next to the Grand Canyon or Appomattox Court House.

What Donovan McNabb oughta say

Courtesy of The Onion, here's the press conference we'd like to see from Donovan McNabb, the Dolton native and 1994 Mount Carmel High School graduate, four-year starter at QB for the Caravan, 1991 state title game winner, Big East player of the decade and six-time Pro Bowler.

"I'd like to thank all the Eagles fans who were always there to demand the whole world from me every week, who expected me to do everything with almost nothing, and who blamed me for the team's every failure."

The Little Guys now open in Mokena

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

The Little Guys home electronics store has completed its move to new digs at 19031 S. Old LaGrange Road in Mokena. The store, which moved from its longtime home in Glenwood, is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and is closed on Sunday.

The store’s new phone number is 708-754-8844. The Web site is http://www.thelittleguys.com/

Chicago Ridge churros
Fans of the Churro Factory, a Pilsen-based bakery that produces the Mexican pastries, can now get their fill at Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall. The company opened a shop in the mall late last year. The shop is open during mall hours. The phone number is 708-424-3026.

Now open
Factory Outlet Center, which features flooring and cabinets wholesaled priced for the public, is now open at 13019 U.S. 41 in Cedar Lake, Ind. Phone number is 219-374-7360.

Blue Fox closed againThe Blue Fox 6820 179th Streetin Tinley Park is scheduled to reopen Tuesday after again being temporarily closed for a few days last week. The restaurant was closed for a few days last month to make repairs. Blue Fox celebrated its second anniversary on March 17.

CUB energy seminar
The Citizens Utility Board will hold a free seminar on saving energy costs at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Tinley Park Library, 7851 Timber Drive.

The session will touch on energy efficiency incentives, CUB’s free online service at www.cubenergysaver.com and ComEd’s smart-grid pilot program. All participants will receive a free CFL bulb.

To sign up for the seminar, call the library at 708-532-0160.

Out of gas
The Speedway gas station at 15301 S. Harlem Ave. in Oak Forest has closed. The former SuperAmerica station shut its door last week.

Verizon calling
Verizon Wireless has opened a new store at 7854 S. Cicero Ave. in Burbank. The phone number is 708-346-6115.

Papa Russo’s opens in Hickory HillsPapa Russo’s Pizza opened recently at 8609 W. 95th St. in the Hill Creek Shopping Center in Hickory Hills. Hours for Papa Russo’s are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. The phone number is 708-233-9999. They also have a fan page at Facebook.