Plaza Cafe to Close Wednesday in Orland Park

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The Plaza Café will become the latest business to leave Orland Plaza when it closes its doors at 143rd Street and LaGrange Road in Orland Park at the end of business on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

Owner Tom Demacopoulos said he was “99 percent certain” the café would relocate, but didn’t want to say more until it was a certainty.

Book and Bean Opens in New Lenox Library

The New Lenox Library is going to try again with a coffee shop inside the library at 120 Veterans Parkway.

Kim Stoltz, who runs the Book and Bean café at the Joliet Library, has opened Book and Bean Too inside the New Lenox Library.

The café is now open and serves beverages, soup and sandwiches from 10 a.m. to about 4 p.m.

Its official opening is Monday, Sept. 12, and its hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The library will start being open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays on Sept. 1, but Stoltz is holding off on Friday hours for Book and Bean for the time being.

Stoltz eventually will offer coffeehouse events such as open mic nights, artist receptions and poetry slams.

Pompei Little Italy Opens in Orland

Pompei Little Italy had its grand opening on Monday in the former R.C. Mulligan’s location at the Riviera Country Club and Sports Center at 8801 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park. For information and hours, call 708-349-1100.

Orland Mall Demolition

Work began Monday on the demolition of the former movie theaters at 49 Orland Square Dr. in Orland Square Mall, which will be the site of a Dave & Buster’s adult arcade, bar and restaurant sometime next year. The mall also started repaving the parking lot last week as part of its renovation.

Francesca’s Collections

Francesca’s Collections had its grand opening on Saturday in their new location in the lower level Macy’s Court at Orland Square Mall.

New Sugar-Free Bakery to Open Saturday in Mokena

Richard and Marie Martinez are opening a sugar-free baker in Mokena on Saturday.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Sugarless World Bakery, a new bakery that specializes in sugar-free pastries and desserts, will hold its grand opening at 6 a.m. tomorrow at 19458 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena.

Owner Marie Martinez said the first 50 people through the doors tomorrow will each get a special treat.

Martinez, who is opening the business with her father, Richard Martinez, said the shop is catering to diabetics, senior citizens and anyone who is conscious about how much sugar is in their diet.

Sugarless World Bakery will initially be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and closed on Sundays.

“We will be closed on Sundays for at least the first couple of months,” Martinez said. “After that we may add some Sunday hours.”

For information, call Sugarless World Bakery at 708-995-5923 or visit their Facebook page.

Wendy’s Opens in Orland
A new Wendy’s restaurant has opened in the former Boston Market at 7360 W. 159th St. in Orland Park. It is the second Wendy’s in Orland Park and is around the corner from the site of a Wendy’s that was closed years ago and converted into a bank. The phone number is (708) 444-0565.

Pompei Pizza Open in Riviera Country Club
A grand opening is scheduled for Monday for the new Pompei Pizza at the Riviera Country Club and Sports Center at 8801 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park. For information, call 708-349-1100.

New Pharmacy Opens in Lansing
Quik Scripts held its grand opening today at 3330 Ridge Road in Lansing. The business promises to offer old fashioned prescription service including free delivery to your home or office. For information, call 708-474-9540 and ask for Dave the Pharmacist.

Free Gyros on Tuesday
Our deal of the week comes from Kronos, the purveyor of meat and other foods to many Greek restaurants in the Southland, which is again offering free gyros on Tuesday, Aug. 30, from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. You have to download a coupon and indicate the restaurant you will be visiting for your free sandwich.

Participating restaurants can be for at the Kronos website but they include Antoni’s in Lockport, Baby’s Steak & Lemonade in Orland Park and Joliet, Cyprus in Tinley Park, Goody’s & Gyros in Homer Glen, Johnny’s Wee-Nee Wagon in Markham, Nick’s BBQ in Palos Heights, Burbank, Homer Glen, Romeoville and Tinley Park, and Pop’s in Lockport, Crown Point, Dyer, Tinley Park, Romeoville, Orland Park, Mokena, Homewood and Palos Heights.

Warm Reception for Five Below in Tinley Park

Becky Harrison and her daughter Brianna at the new Five Below store in Tinley Park.

Margaret DeRe and her daughter Catharine shop at the new Five Below store.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Area moms and daughters welcomed the new Five Below discount store to Tinley Park with open arms on Friday at Brookside Marketplace at 191st Street and Harlem Avenue.

“I’m a little excited,” said Catharine DeRe, 11, of Mokena, while shopping with her Mom, Margaret, a couple of hours after the store opened. “I like it.”

Mom was excited about the prices at the store that caters to teens and pre-teens, “A backpack and T-shirts for $5, that’s a great price. And it’s a fun atmosphere.”

“I love it,” said Becky Harrison, of Tinley Park, who was doing back-to-school shopping with her daughter Brianna, 10.

“There’s something for everyone, and they have great prices,” she said. “I’ve been waiting for this store to open after I went a couple of times to the store in Orland Hills.”

“We’ve had a steady stream of customers,” said Sandy, the store manager, who added the store has about 25 employees.

An employee on loan for a few days from a store in New Jersey said the Tinley Park store was just over 7,500 square feet. “All of the stores are about that size,” he said.

Another employee who was handing out free T-shirts to customers said she had already given away more than 300 in the first two hours the store was open.

Five Below is the first of three new stores coming to Brookside Marketplace. A HomeGoods store is set to open next month and is hiring for the Tinley Park store, and work is under way on an Old Navy store, but no opening date has been set yet for that site.

Parmida Opens at Orland Park Crossing
Parmida Home Store held a grand opening recently for its eighth store at 14225 S. 95th Avenue at Orland Park Crossing in Orland Park.

The store, which specializes in home living and entertainment merchandise, is the chain’s second store in Illinois.

Store manager is longtime Orland Park resident Monica Rose.

For information, call 708-226-6680.

New Home for Pedigree Junction
Pedigree Junction, a dog and cat grooming spa, moved recently from one strip center to an adjoining one at 7659 W. St. Francis Road in Frankfort Square in the former Susan's Accessories store. The hours remain the same as does the phone number 815-464-4404.

Five Below to Open In Tinley on Friday

Five Below will open at 9:30 a.m. Friday at 191st and Harlem in Tinley Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Five Below will open at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Brookside Marketplace in Tinley Park.

Five Below, a national discount retailer that caters to teens and tweens, will open five new stores in the Chicago area at 9:30 a.m. on Friday including one in the Brookside Marketplace at 191st Street and Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park.

Store hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Each day during opening weekend, the stores will be giving away free Five Below T-shirts with any purchase to the first 300 customers. The stores will also offer 5-cent hot dogs, and other giveaways including a $100 Five Below shopping spree. In addition, Benny the Bull from the Chicago Bulls, Southpaw from the Chicago White Sox, and Staley Da Bear from the Chicago Bears will make special appearances at the stores throughout the weekend.

The new store is part of an expansion of the mall between Kohl's and Dick's Sporting Goods. Also opening soon will be an Old Navy and HomeGoods stores.

The opening is part of a surge of Five Below stores into the Chicago market. A store opened earlier this year at 94th Avenue and 159th Street in Orland Hills.

Other stores opening Friday include Woodfield Village Green, 1465 East Golf Road in Schaumburg; Woodgrove Festival, 1001 W. 75th St., Suite 171 in Woodbridge; Oakridge Court, 802 Randall Road in Algonquin; and North Riverside Mall, 7501 W. Cermak St. in North Riverside.

A sixth location, in Kennedy Plaza in Chicago, will open this fall, bringing the total number of Five Below stores in the Chicago market to 16.

“We took Chicago by storm this year,” says David Schlessinger, co-founder of Five Below, in a news release. “Never before have we opened so many stores in one region in such a short period of time. In 2012, we’re going to continue to penetrate the marketplace, and give even more Chicago customers access to our product offerings.”

The opening of these stores is part of a rapid growth initiative that will see Five Below open 50 new stores in 2011, increasing its total number of stores to just under 200 by year-end.

Zante Lounge Holds Anniversary Party
Zante Lounge will celebrate its second anniversary at 8888 W. 159th St. in Orland Hills with a party starting at 3 p.m. Sunday featuring the music of Maggie Speaks, a $1,000 bean bag tournament, a free pig roast, a dunk tank, burger eating contest and a chance to win a 9-day trip to Jamaica. For information, call 708-364-0100.

Breakfast Nook Now Open in Mokena

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Daniel Luna recently decided the time was right to stop cooking for other restaurant owners and took the plunge to open his own eatery.

The result is The Breakfast Nook, which opened three weeks ago today at 19140 S. 80th Avenue in Mokena. The location has been home to at least two other restaurants, Dragon Palace 2 and Sicilian Joe’s.

Its name is appropriate, too. The space is small but cozy with a handful of booths and tables.

Luna, 34, was the chef at Mary Todd’s in Frankfort and Egg Cetera Café in Mokena and has brought his culinary skills with him to The Breakfast Nook, which has an extensive menu ranging from skillets and omelets for breakfast to wraps and burgers for lunch. Tea drinkers take note, the teapots are enormous.

While Luna lords over the kitchen, Christina Billings – who worked with Luna at Egg Cetera – runs the dining room with one other waitress, who knew Luna from their days at Mary Todd’s.

“We were leaving Egg Cetera about the same time and he asked me if I wanted to come with him,” she said.

As for business?

“So far, so good,” Billings said, noting they haven’t even done much advertising yet.

The Breakfast Nook is open for breakfast and lunch from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day. The phone number is 708-478-0908.

Five Below to Open Friday in Tinley Park
Five Below, a retailer that caters to the teen and tween market with everything priced from $1 to $5, will open Friday morning in Tinley Park’s Brookside Marketplace at 191st Street and Harlem Avenue.

The chain carries an assortment of merchandise including sporting goods, games, fashion accessories, jewelry, candy and snacks, books, DVDs, room décor and school supplies.

The chain was founded in 2002 by David Schlessinger, who also founded Encore Books and Zany Brainy.

Bayberry Pantry to Reopen Soon
Bayberry Pantry, 8004 W. 171st St. in Tinley Park, looks to be reopening soon under new ownership. The convenience store closed some time ago in the Bayberry Plaza at 171st and 80th Avenue.

CJ Frank Grand Reopening
CJ Frank & Son, a tax and accounting firm, is celebrating its reopening on Friday, Aug. 19, with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. at 18610 Burnham Ave. Suite A in Lansing. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Dominick's to Close in Orland Park

Dominick's is closing its store in Orland Park in early October.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Orland Park's supermarket scene, which took a hit earlier this year when Green Food and Produce closed in the former Bobak's Plaza at Wolf Road and 159th Street and then was rocked when Randy's Market shut down a couple of weeks ago, will suffer another blow on Oct. 2 when Dominick's closes its store at 15080 S. LaGrange Road.

"It was a business decision made by the company," Dominick's Director of Public Affairs Lauri Sanders said Wednesday.

"The Orland Park store is a casualty of not being able to be a part of a profitable business," she said.

Sanders did know how many workers would be affected by the shutdown, but said Dominick's was committed to helping them during the transition.

"Our goal is 100 percent transfer or absorption into the company," she said.

An employee at the Merrionette Park store on 115th Street said some workers there are afraid they will get bumped from their positions by workers with more seniority transferring from the Orland store.

A spokeswoman for Local 881 of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union said all non-management workers at the Orland store are members of the UFCW and by contract are allowed to transfer to other stores in the chain.

"Usually, transfers are done regionally," she said. "Workers from Orland Park most likely would transfer to nearby stores such as Palos Heights or Frankfort."

The Orland store was older and slightly smaller than newer stores and did not have some of the latest features such as a Blockbuster Express machine, Starbucks and an in-store Chase Bank.

Despite those losses, Orland Park grocery options are still plentiful with Aldi's, Jewel-Osco, Trader Joe's, Costco and Meijer stores open for business in the village.

Five Guys Opens Today in Orland Park, Sports Authority Open in Orland Hills

Sports Authority is holding its grand opening on Saturday.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Sports Authority welcomed its newest and biggest store at noon on Friday when the sports retailer opened its store at 9231 W. 159th St. in Orland Towne Center in Orland Hills.

The 56,000-square-feet store is in the former location of Circuit City and Office Max.

Mall owner Tony Youshaei told the Orland Patch in January said the new store would be a “flagship” for the chain.

The store will hold its grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 13, starting at 8 a.m. The first 250 people in the store will receive mystery bucks with a chance to win a $500 shopping spree. The store also will have hourly drawings for a $100 gift card.

All next week, customers will be able to register to win a $1,000 shopping spree.

Helping celebrate the new store will be former Bears great Gary Fencik at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14, and Cubs closer Carlos Marmol at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18.

Hours for the new store will be 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

A website has specifically been made for Sports Authority Orland Hills. For information on the new store, call 708-226-5602.

New Five Guys Opens Today
Workers were being trained Sunday at the new Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant that will open Monday at 11 a.m. in the former Ginos East at 15840 S. Harlem Ave. in Orland Park (next to the Home Depot). It will be the second store location in Orland Park for the burger chain, and is affiliated with the Five Guys that has been open for a few years now at the entrance to the Target Greatland at 158th Street and LaGrange Road. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The phone number is 708-444-1140.

Super Fade Now Open
A new salon called Super Fade opened recently at 16709 S. 80th Avenue in Tinley Park. The salon is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The phone number is 708-429-5034.

Johnny's Char-House Now Open in Orland Park in former Canoe Club

Johnny's Char-House is now open in Orland Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

The giant aquarium is gone but the waterfall remains at Johnny’s Char-House, which opened a few weeks ago in the former Canoe Club at 15200 S. 94th Avenue in Orland Park.

Owner Jonathan Mantas is no stranger to the Southland. Johnny’s Char-House is his 17th restaurant venture. He also owns the Kingsberry restaurants in Oak Forest and Flossmoor and used to own Jonathan’s in Palos Heights.

Hours at the Char-House are Tuesday to Friday 4-11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday noon to 11 p.m.

For information, check out the Facebook page for Johnny's Char-House.

Silver Cross Encore Shop Open for Fall
The Encore Shop, Silver Cross Hospital’s resale store, is hosting its fall opening today and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shop is located on Walnut Street in Joliet just north of the Keck Emergency Pavilion. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations are welcome. For information, call the hospital’s Volunteers Services at 815-740-7117.

Open for Lunch
JH Sweis Catering, which has been offering catering for about two years, opened a Bistro a few weeks ago that serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 10110 W. 191st St. in Mokena. The lunch menu includes salads, sandwiches and sides. The phone number is 708-478-7230. For information, check out the Facebook page for JH Sweis Catering.

That strip center has become something of a foodies paradise. Besides JH Sweis there is 191 South with Joe’s Italian Villa, EggCetera Café and El Cortez Mexican restaurant.

Catching up
The Hairspray Salon opened a few months ago in the Vineyards Plaza at 20491 S. LaGrange in Frankfort. The salon is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number is 815-469-8998. For information, check out the Facebook page for Hairspray Salon.

Pet Deal of the Weekend
Pet owners can get free samples of natural pet foods and treats from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Joy’s Best Friends Best Bites at 13034 S. LaGrange Road in Palos Park. Joy’s is definitely pet friendly.

Pepper Mill Now Open in Mokena

Pepper Mill opened recently in Mokena.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

A new restaurant called Pepper Mill opened recently at 19137 S. Wolf Road in Mokena in space that has had its share of unsuccessful restaurants in recent years.

Manager Raul Angel, brother of owner Alfonso Angel, said he and his brother have had restaurants before and he likes Pepper Mill’s chances to succeed in Mokena.

“This is a good town to be in,” he said. “We’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, which a lot of restaurants in Mokena are not.”

The casual, sit-down restaurant has an extensive menu and is open until 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and until 8 p.m. on Sunday.

For information, call 708-478-8748.

Pompei Pizza to debut at Taste of Orland
Visitors to this year’s Taste of Orland Park, which starts Friday in the parking lot of the Orland Park Civic Center, will get a sneak preview of the fare offered by Pompei Pizza, which is set to open Aug. 22 at the Riviera Country Club, 8801 W. 143rd St. Pompei, which has been remodeling the space formerly occupied by RC Mulligans, will be serving Egg Plant Parmesan Sandwiches, Meatball Sandwiches, Melrose Pepper Strudel and Ravioli Pasta, all for $4.

Dee’s Creative Cookin’ Now Open
Danette Richardson, a cook and kitchen supervisor at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, recently opened her own restaurant across the street from the school. Dee’s Creative Cookin’ is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner at 525 Ashland Ave. Richardson had a similar business in Blue Island for four years before opening earlier this year in Chicago Heights. My colleague Mary Compton recently sat down with Richardson. You can find her story in the Chicago Heights Patch.

Country Charm Grows Again
The patio experiment is over at the Country Charm restaurant in New Lenox, which recently enclosed the outdoor space and turned it into another new dining room at Lincolnway Drive and U.S. 30 in New Lenox.

Catching Up
Irene’s Bakery (formerly Jean’s Bakery) in Harvey closed its door at the end of January after 63 years. The bakery was always a popular choice for pre-Lenten paczki.

Deal of the Heat Wave
Country Charm in New Lenox is selling 8-pound bags of ice for $1.

Ed and Joe’s Closes Mokena Location

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Ed and Joe's in Mokena closed last week.

Ed and Joe's Pizza owners Michael and Ellen Clark announced last week in their email newsletter that they were closing their restaurant at 19901 S. Wolf Road in Mokena.

Here’s what they said: We will no longer be operating at our Mokena location. We want to thank all of our wonderful customers for 3 great years. We will honor any coupons or gift cards here at our Tinley Park store. Please continue to visit our Tinley Park location as we transition through this process.The Mokena location was carryout and delivery only and lacked a dining room, which means it could never match the Tinley Park’s location for events such as visits from the Grinch or offer live music.

Thai Eatery Opens
Pad Thai, a new restaurant that features Thai cuisine, opened recently at 7301 W. 183rd St. in Tinley Park. It has another location in Lexington, Ky. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The eatery’s phone number is 708-532-3939.

Bath and Body Works to Reopen This Week
The Bath and Body Works store at 16035 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park Plaza is scheduled to reopen Wednesday, Aug. 3, according to an email I received from the company last month. The store was closed about a month ago for remodeling.

Stoney Point Grill Expands
Stoney Point Grill is holding a grand opening this week for its new outdoor seating area at 19031 Old LaGrange Road in Mokena. The festivities climax with a Party on the Patio on Friday, Aug. 5, with drink tastings, bags tournament, free appetizers from 8-10 p.m. and live entertainment from 8-11 p.m.

Deal of the Week
Speedway has extended its gas discount at former Gas City locations to Aug. 14. Customers who use Speedy Rewards cards get 5 cents off a gallon of regular and mid-grade unleaded fuel while customers who opt for premium get 10 cents off a gallon. The company also has begun a Random Rewards program at those same stations. Customers who use their Speedy Rewards card inside the stores at those stations have a chance to win prizes including $10 gas cards, drinks, candy bars and snack bags.