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I have more than 40 years in the news business and have successfully evolved into an electronic journalist. Comings & Goings and Southland Savvy track news about businesses in Chicago's Southland.

New Eva's Bridals opens in Tinley Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Eva's Bridal International now open in Tinley Park.


A new store for brides opened about a month ago at 18219 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park in the former Le Spose Di Angela Bridal Boutique.

Eva’s Bridal International is a couture salon with higher end wedding gowns from national and international designers, according to store manager Brianna Jackson.

Although Eva’s of Tinley Park is not affiliated with Eva’s of Oak Lawn, which was devastated by a fire back in November, the new store is helping brides whose wedding plans were affected by the fire.

“We are taking care of brides for Eva’s of Oak Lawn,” said Jackson. “Until they have their new store ready.”

On its website, Eva’s of Oak Lawn’s promises an announcement soon about its new home in Oak Lawn and recommends its brides visit Eva’s of Tinley Park in the meantime.

Eva’s of Tinley has been holding trunk sales, and offers bridal parties, said Jackson.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, call 708-444-4370 or visit their website at http://www.evasbridalsoftinleypark.com/ or their >Facebook page.

Funeral home open house
Van Henkelum Funeral Home, which recently opened a new facility in Palos Heights after being without a permanent home in the village for a few years, is holding an open house from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday at 13401 S. Ridgeland Ave. in its new home in a strip center. The public is invited and there will be light refreshments. For more information, call 708-448-3530 or visit their website at http://www.vanhenkelum.com/.

Grocery store opens in Chicago Heights
Kroger opened one of its Food 4 Less discount grocery stores last month at 1333 S. Western Ave. in Chicago Heights in a former Dominick’s Finer Foods. The new store is open 24 hours daily and is one of its larger locations.

Deal of the week
Here’s a great deal if you’re a golfer. Tuckaway Golf Club in Crete is celebrating its 50th anniversary by offering two special two-year memberships. The first one costs $198 and lets you golf free Monday to Friday until Dec. 31, 2012. The second one costs $398 and lets you golf free seven days a week and holidays until Dec. 31, 2012. For information or to get in on this deal, call 708-946-2259.

Sullivan's Irish Pub has timely opening on St. Patrick's Day

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Sullivan’s Irish Pub & Eatery opened today just in time for St. Patrick’s Day at 4660 W. 147th St. in Midlothian.

The Irish pub is in the former Papa T’s nightclub.

Owner Danny Kelly has moved the stage to accommodate more diners but still plans to offer music later in the evening.

Hours will be noon to 1 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. to midnight on Sunday. The pub is closed on Mondays.

For information, call 708-385-9200 or visit their Facebook page.

Sub shop sinks in New Lenox

Quiznos sandwich shop closed recently at 1872 East Lincoln Highway in New Lenox, across the street from Lincoln-Way Central High School.

Creamery open for season

Creamery locations in Mokena, Homer Glen and Frankfort reopened last week, the locations in New Lenox, Manhattan and Orland Hills are reopening tomorrow and the Manteno location reopens next Friday.

Back again this season is Weenie Wednesday with jumbo hotdogs going for 99 cents, Turtle Tuesdays with special prices for Turtle sundaes, and Rainbow cones. Milkshake Mondays have been canceled for this season, unfortunately.

For information, visit their >Facebook page.

Qdoba opens in Oak Lawn

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Qdoba Mexican Grill opened its second south suburban restaurant at 5137 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn starting with breakfast burritos at 7 a.m. today.

There also will be prizes galore for opening day customers who will get the chance to spin a prize wheel during lunch.

“We thought Oak Lawn had the right kind of mix for Qdoba,” said company spokeswoman Lauren Glatthorn. “There are lots of families with kids. The community appreciates homemade food, which is what we offer.”
“Chicago is a great market for us,” said Glatthorn. Oak Lawn will be Qdoba’s 21st location in Illinois including one in an outlot at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park.

There will be a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday.

The new eatery features Mexican cuisine including burritos, tacos, quesadillas, tortilla soup, nachos and taco salad.

The Oak Lawn location is about 2,300 square feet with seating for about 95 people. The new eatery will have between 20 and 30 employees, almost all from the Oak Lawn area.

Glatthorn said there will be lots of offers when the restaurant opens, especially online. The Denver-based chain also has a rewards program for frequent customers.

“We definitely do a lot of social media,” said Glatthorn. “We will have lots of offers including buy one, get one free deals at our Facebook page.”

Regular hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. For information, call 708-422-0336 or visit the company website at http://www.qdoba.com/.

House of Hughes closes in Crestwood

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The House of Hughes, which had been going by Hughes since its original owners sold a few years back, closed its doors recently at 14300 S. Cicero Ave. in Crestwood.

A second location at 201 Maple Street (Lincoln Highway) in New Lenox is still open under the name The Station House, but its future is uncertain.

House of Hughes once was a premiere dining establishment in the Southland. My aunt and uncle celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary there a few years ago and the place was beautifully decorated for the Christmas holidays and everyone had a great time.

Service and the quality of food had been going downhill in recent years and there are dozens of negative reviews posted at online sites such as Yelp.

There used to be several of these kind of restaurants in the south suburbs. You could go there with the family or on a date or for a birthday or graduation celebration. But they are disappearing. So sad.

Qdoba coming to Oak LawnQdoba Mexican Grill is scheduled to open next week at 5137 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn. It will be only the second Qdoba in the Southland, joining one in an outlot at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. The Denver-based company is planning a series of grand opening specials. For more information, visit their website at http://www.qdoba.com/ or visit them at Facebook www.facebook.com/qdobachicago.

Sbarro’s open again in Chicago RidgeSbarro’s is open again inside Chicago Ridge Mall after undergoing a face-lift.

New name for Mexican grillAsado Mexican Grill, which opened last year at 9516 W. 179th St. in Tinley Park with the promise of a 5-pound burrito, changed hands recently and is now known as Speedy Mexican Grill. The phone number is still 708-429-9100 and the hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, but the menu has changed and the monster burrito is no more.

Japanese restaurant opens in Mokena


By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Another restaurant that combines steak and sushi opened last week in Mokena.
Zuki Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi opened Feb. 20 at 11230 Lincoln Highway in the former Blockbuster store across the street from the JC Penney.

Manager Amy Ni said the restaurant features hibachi-style cooking at your table as well as sushi. There also is a full-service bar. She said there was seating for 90 at the hibachi tables and 60 at the sushi tables.

Ni said the restaurant is planning a grand opening with the Mokena Chamber of Commerce.

Ni said the eatery is not part of any chain.

Zuki is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and for dinner from 4:30-9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 2:30-10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and for dinner only on Sunday from 1-9 p.m.

For information, call 815-806-1888 or visit their website at http://www.zukiteppanyaki.com/. Teppan Yaki means hibachi in Japanese, Ni said.

Gas City update
Bids were due Wednesday for the first round of the bankruptcy auction for Gas City stations and convenience stores. The second round of bids is due March 23. The final auction is scheduled for April 4.

And in a new development, the Wall Street Journal reported this week that William A. McEnery, whose father William J. McEnery owns Gas City, Green Garden Country Club and the Creamery ice cream parlors, has offered almost $3 million to buy the Creamery chain out of bankruptcy. Bids are due by March 25 with an auction for the ice cream parlors scheduled for March 28.

A sign at the Creamery on Wolf Road in Mokena says it is taking applications tomorrow, so someone is anticipating the chain reopening this spring.

Green Garden Country Club is a mess. The dome was knocked down in early February and is out of action until the fall. The course’s website says the course is closed until April 1 while a message at its phone number says the course is open for walkers. Calls to the pro shop went unanswered.

The message also said the restaurant is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.