Radio Shack to Reopen in Oak Lawn

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy 

Radio Shack plans to reopen in downtown Oak Lawn in the first week of August after being closed for more than 18 months since it was knocked out of action by a horrendous fire on Nov. 17, 2010.

“It was always our intention to rebuild and get that store open again,” said Radio Shack south suburban district manager Reggie Weekly.

Weekly said the retailer is shooting for an opening date of Aug. 4. He said the company is planning some grand opening events.

“It’s going to be a good location again,” said Weekly. “We had a lot of loyal customers at that store. I think a lot of residents will be happy to see us return.”

The store at 4819 W. 95^th St. suffered serious smoke and structural damage in the fire that also devastated Eva’s Bridals, Mattress Express, Chiro-Med and Miss Fantasia Boutique.

Weekly said the retailer had to wait for insurance issues to be settled and the landlord to give his OK before they could start rebuilding the store.

“Once we got the OK, everything came together quickly,” he said.

The new store will be the same size and layout as the previous store. It will have two full-time managers and four or five part-time associates, said Weekly. Applications are being taken at www.radioshack.com.

The store’s summer hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the rest of the year.

Victoria’s Secret to Reopen After Remodeling

Victoria’s Secret/PINK, the women’s lingerie store that has been closed for remodeling, will reopen today at Chicago Ridge Mall.

Former Bank Purchased

A group called Sass Orland LLC has purchased the former Amcore Bank building at 16057 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park for $810,000. If anyone knows what’s planned for the 5,928-square-foot free-standing building, please let me know.

Quick Mart Opens in Flossmoor

A Quick Mart convenience store opened earlier this month at 2747 Flossmoor Road in Flossmoor. It is the second location for owners Mike Amawi and Moe Omari.

Ridgeway Chevy 16^th Annual Car Show and Sock Hop

Ridgeway Chevrolet, 17730 S. Torrence Ave. in Lansing, is hosting its 16^th annual Car and Truck Show and Sock Hop from 5-10 p.m. on Saturday. Vehicle registration starts at 4 p.m.

There will be hot dogs and root beer, dash plaques, goodie bags, trophies and a Hula Hoop contest.

Guests are asked to bring a can of soup for the Lansing Food Pantry.

For information, call 708-474-3563.

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

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

Athletes and sports are the stars in films about Olympics

British athletes train on the beach for the 1924 Games in the opening scene from "Chariots of Fire."

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Few sporting events capture the world’s attention as do the Olympics, and few have its international flavor.

That makes sense considering 10,490 athletes from 204 countries are expected to compete in 26 sports for a chance to win one of 302 medals that will be given out at the London Games, which kick off Friday.

London is the first city to host the Games three times since they were revived in 1896. The British capital hosted the Games in 1908 and again in 1948.

Although the Olympics have not inspired filmmakers the way sports such as baseball or football have, there have been plenty of movies made about the Games and the athletes.

Cary Grant stars in “Walk, Don’t Run,” about a race walker at the Tokyo Games in 1964. “Wee Geordie” is about an undersized Scottish athlete training for the hammer throw at the 1956 Games in Melbourne. “It Happened in Athens” is a film about the effort to bring back the Olympics.

Many movies have focused on individual athletes and their lives or accomplishments. “The Bob Mathias Story” was a bio-pic about the 1948 and 1952 decathlon champ. He starred as himself. “Berlin 36” is a film about Gretel Bergmann, a female Jewish German athlete trying to compete in the 1936 Games in Berlin. “Forever the Moment” is a film about the South Korean women’s handball team that lost to Denmark in a shootout at the 2004 Games in Seoul.

Some movies about the Olympics are just plain silly or stupid. Chinese detective Charlie Chan uncovers a spy ring in Berlin while watching No. 1 son compete in the 1936 Games in “Charlie Chan at the Olympics.” Susan Anton is the daughter of an ex-Nazi scientist who has been pumping her full of secret drugs to make her an Olympic hero in “Goldengirl.” Dolph Lundgren portrays an American penthathlete who foils bad guys at both the 1992 and 1996 Games.

Here are six films about the Summer Olympics available on video, DVD, on demand and streaming that can get your juices flowing until the real Games start on Friday, or that can get you through the lean days of canoe slalom and synchronized swimming over the next two weeks.

Chariots of Fire (1981) – This is an epic film about two British track stars – one a Jew and the other a devout Christian – who take different paths to the 1924 Games in Paris. Stars include Ben Cross as Harold Abrahams, Ian Charleson as Eric Liddel, Ian Holm, Alice Krige and John Gielgud.

Running Brave (1983) – A heartwarming film about the shocking upset by U.S. Marine Billy Mills in the 10,000 meters race at the 1964 Games in Tokyo. Robbie Benson stars as Mills, a Sioux who must fight prejudice and his own coach to be a champion. Other stars include Pat Hingle, Graham Greene and Claudia Cron.

Without Limits (1998) – Billy Crudup stars as the University of Oregon track star in this film that traces his life leading up to the 1972 Games in Munich and his untimely death in 1975 at age 24 in a car crash. Other stars include Donald Sutherland as his college coach Bill Bowerman, Monica Potter and Jeremy Sisto. “Prefontaine” is another bio-pic starring Jared Leto as the runner.

Personal Best (1982) – Mariel Hemmingway stars as a talented but naïve pentathlete in this film about two young women fighting for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team leading up to the 1980 Games in Moscow. Complicating matters is that both her teammate and coach fall in love with her. Other stars include real-life pentathlete Patrice Donnelly and Scott Glenn.

The Jesse Owens Story (1984) – Dorian Harewood stars as the African-American athlete who demolished Hitler’s notion of Aryan superiority with a string of track victories at the 1936 Games in Berlin. Other stars include Levar Burton, Tom Bosley, Georg Stanford Brown and Norman Fell.

Jim Thorpe – All American (1951) – Burt Lancaster stars in this bio-pic of Native American athlete Jim Thorpe, who won both the decathlon and pentathlon at the 1912 Games in Sweden and then had his medals stripped when he was discovered to have played semi-pro baseball. Thorpe is considered one of the greatest athletes of the 20^th century. He went on to play college and pro football as well as pro baseball and basketball. In 1983, the International Olympic Committee restored his Olympic medals. Other stars include Charles Bickford as Pop Warner, Steve Cochrane and Phyllis Thaxter.

For more on movies, visit What to Watch.

Matt’s TV to Hit Milestone this Week

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Matt’s TV at 17236 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park is expected to service its 100,000^th customer this week.

“Based on our typical week, we should hit 100,000 by the end of this week,” said store manager Walter Jones.

Jones said the lucky customer will receive prizes and lots of recognition.

The store has been around for more than 50 years and has been in Tinley Park since 1971. The store has been owned by Jim Fuentes, known as the Mayor of Oak Park Avenue, for the past eight years. He also runs his State Farm Insurance Agency from inside the store.

For information and to maybe be the lucky 100,000^th customer, call 708-532-4626 or visit Matt’s TV & Electronics.

Root Studio Moves

Root Studio in Mokena moved recently from 10100 W. 191^st St. to new digs at 18811 S. 90^th Avenue. For information, call 708-390-2990.

Wireless, Resale Shop Closes

Universal Wireless and Frankfort Resale closed recently at 7222 W. Benton Dr. in Frankfort Square.

Chick-fil-A, Bridge Teen Center to host Car Show

Chick-fil-A in Orland Park and the Bridge Teen Center in Orland Park are teaming up to host a Car Show at the restaurant, 15605 S. LaGrange Road, starting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25.

Antique and classic cars are expected to fill the restaurant’s parking lot. There is no charge to participate in the show.

Guests are being asked to park in the nearby Lowe’s parking lot.

Guests will be able to vote for their favorite car as well as enjoy music and food. A percentage of the night’s proceeds will go to the Bridge Teen Center to help fund its free programs.

For information, call Rob at 708-532-0500.

Children’s Museum Hosting Business After Hours

The Children’s Museum of Oak Lawn, 5100 Museum Drive, is hosting a multi-chamber Business after Hours from 5:30-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25. Orland Chamber members can RSVP by today to Tracey at 708-423-6709 Ext. 206 or via email to tracey.barattia@cmoaklawn.org.

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

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

New Owners Take Over at Dickey’s Barbecue in Orland Park

Sonny DeWitt (left) and Joe Pirelli prepare ribs at Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Orland Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Sonny DeWitt and Joe Pirelli have taken over as owners of the Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Orland Park.

DeWitt and Pirelli took ownership of the restaurant at 15110 S. LaGrange Road on July 6. It is the second location for them. They have owned a Dickey’s in Schererville, Ind., for three years.

“He’s a Chicago guy and I’m from northwest Indiana,” he said. “Joe is the meat guy and I take care of the rest of it.”

“We always knew we were going to open another Dickey’s,” said DeWitt, 46, who lives in Highland, Ind. 

“We just didn’t know it would be so soon.”

DeWitt and Pirelli bought the Orland location from brothers John and Joseph Bak, who opened the smokehouse in January. The Texas-based chain is noted for its beef brisket, pulled pork, smoked chicken, smoked turkey, smoked ham, ribs and sausage.

“They had decided to sell the restaurant and asked if we wanted to buy it,” said DeWitt. “They closed on Thursday and we opened on Friday. No one even noticed the change it was that smooth.”

DeWitt said he and Pirelli are hands on owners and added customers should expect to see either one of them at the Orland location.

“We will walk the floor and make sure everybody knows who we are and make sure they are having a great experience,” DeWitt said.

DeWitt said while he is concentrating efforts on the Orland location, he knows the Schererville location is in good hands: his cousin’s.

DeWitt, who also is Midwest Area Manager for the Texas-based chain, said one of his jobs is talking with prospective franchisees about Dickey’s.

“That’s how I got to know the Bak brothers,” he said.

Hours will remain the same from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and the food will meet Dickey’s highest standards, DeWitt said. The Orland location has seating for about 55 people.

For information on the Orland location, call the restaurant at 708-226-3090 or visit its Facebook page. For information on Dickey’s, visit the company’s website Dickey’s Barbecue Pit.

Family Fun Night at Odyssey

Members of the Mokena, Orland Park and Tinley Park chambers of commerce are invited to a multi-chamber Family Fun Night from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, at Odyssey Fun World, 19111 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park. For information, call 708-429-3800. Members should RSVP to their respective chambers.

Library Names New Director

Oak Lawn resident Jim Deiters took over this month as new director of the Oak Lawn Public Library replacing longtime director James Casey, who retired on June 29.

Deiters was appointed to the post last month and moved over from a similar position at the Blue Island Public Library.

Deiters has a Master of Library and Information Science degree from Dominican University and has worked in public libraries for the past 16 years.

Jump Zone Opens

Jump Zone, an 11,000-square-foot indoor party and play center, has opened at 10140 Virginia Ave. in Chicago Ridge. For information, call 708-572-0155 or visit Jump Zone.

Credit Union 1 Opens

Lombard-based Credit Union 1 has opened a branch at 5535 W. 95^th St.

The credit union began in 1958 as the Chanute Military Credit Union at Chanute Air Force Base in downstate Rantoul. It changed its name in 1982 after the Air Force closed the base. In 1999, it merged with Paysaver Credit Union.

The credit union has more than 87,000 members, mostly in Illinois and Indiana.

For information, call 708-422-0124 or 800-252-6950 or visit Credit Union 1.

Special of the Weekend

You can save $3 off each adult brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday at 94 West Steak & Seafood in Orland Park if you mention you saw their ad in an email on Friday.

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

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

Graystone Golf Course to Close

Graystone Golf Course in Tinley Park will close at the end of the season.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

If you’re a fan of Graystone Golf Course at 7600 W. 191^st St. in Tinley Park, you better make your tee times soon.

The nine-hole layout will end its run as a golf course at the end of its current season.

Owners of the course, which was built by Jim Gray and opened in 1995, want to turn the 48-acre site into either a sod farm or soybean farm. Odds favor a sod farm as there is already an irrigation system in place to water the grounds.

Karen Gray, one of three owners and the person who has operated the course since Mr. Gray’s death in 2009, did not return phone calls.

Village records indicate the course has been for sale since Mr. Gray died but there has been little real interest in buying the land, which is zoned for office and restricted industrial use.

The village board has to approve a special use permit to allow the farming, but that shouldn’t be a problem. There are farms all around the course and the Plan Commission has endorsed the permit.

As part of the special use permit, the folks who own the course have to keep trying to sell the land.

That’s no problem. The site is currently being advertised – as a former golf course – with the price listed as negotiable.

Wrestling Show at Convention Center

Purely Obsessed Wrestling World is bringing pro wrestling to the Tinley Park Convention Center on Saturday, July 21.

Former WWE stars “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn and Bob “Hardcore” Holly highlight the night’s action.

Doors open at 5 p.m. for a meet and greet with Gunn and Holly. General admission starts at 6 p.m. and the action starts at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

For information, visit POWWEntertainment.

Oak Ridge Family Dental Grows

Dr. Meghan E. Gaffney recently joined the staff at Oak Ridge Family Dental, 4445 W. 95^th St.

Dr. Gaffney grew up in Lemont and graduated cum laude in 2008 from Creighton University in Omaha with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. In 2012, Dr. Gaffney graduated with a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Creighton’s School of Dentistry. She is an active member of the American Dental Association, the Illinois Dental Society and the Chicago Dental Society.

While living in Nebraska, Dr. Gaffney was a dance instructor at Craio na Tire Studio of Irish Dance.

Bookworm Café Drops Expansion

Plans have been dropped for the Bookworm Café to open a second location inside the New Lenox Public Library, but it remains business as usual for the location inside the Oak Lawn Public Library, which celebrated its first anniversary in May.

The café is located on the library’s first floor near the Raymond Avenue entrance. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1-4 p.m.

The café offers free wireless Internet access.

For information on daily specials, call 708-357-9676.

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

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

South Holland Bounce House Business Has its Ups and Downs

Mimi the Clown is one of the party offerings
at Bounce n House in South Holland.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Sandre Crane liked inflatable bounce houses so much that she kept renting them for family parties.

One day she decided to stop renting and bought one.

That fateful decision in January 2009 has turned into a home-based business for the South Holland mother of two that features 15 inflatables, three concession machines (snow cones, cotton candy and popcorn popper), magicians, clowns, face painting and characters such as Elmo, Dora the Explorer, Sponge Bob, Hello Kitty, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

“I got into this because we kept renting one for my niece’s birthday party,” said Crane, who has been known to do some face painting when she’s not studying to be a nurse.

“It’s been pretty good to me,” she said. “It has its ups and downs.”

She now has three employees who drop off and pick up the equipment and a fourth who drops off and picks up as well as cleans the equipment.

“We clean all of the inflatables at least once a week,” she said.

She said the most popular inflatable right now is a two-for-one combo that is a bounce house with a 13-foot-slide.

Storage is not a problem, she said.

“I store all 15 of them in my garage,” she said. “They roll up pretty small.”

She said she will continue the business even after she graduates from nursing school.

For information, call 708-516-4727 or visit Bounce n Houseat Facebook or on the web.

Regus Grand Opening

Regus Orland Executive Pointe will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday at 15255 S. 94^th Avenue in Orland Park.

Mayor Dan McLaughlin is expected to cut the ribbon.

Appetizers and beverages will be served.

RSVP to Joanne Sicher at 708-428-6200 or joanne.sicher@regus.com.

Elite Windows Closes in Mokena

Elite Windows closed recently at 19138 S. 88^th Avenue in Mokena.

Tinley Chamber to Tee Off

The Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual golf outing on Wednesday, July 18, at 8 a.m. at the Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park. Golf begins with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m.

Cost is $125 per golfer for 18 holes of golf, cart, continental breakfast prior to start, complimentary beverages and lunch on the course and dinner buffet with open bar. Dinner only tickets are $40 per 

person.

For information or to reserve a tee time, call the chamber office at 708.532.5700 or email info@tinleychamber.org.

Tinley Hosts GSU Workshop on Starting a Business

CenterPoint at Governors State University is sponsoring a free Starting a Business in Illinois workshops from 9-11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 18, at Kallsen Center in the Tinley Park Village Hall.

The workshop will focus on personal, financial and legal aspects of starting a business. Participants will learn what steps to take and what resources are available to assist new business owners succeed.

Dan McAllister, Regional Representative for GSU CenterPoint, will present the program, sponsored by the Village of Tinley Park.

For information, contact CenterPoint at (708) 534-4927.

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

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

Iron Horse Saloon Replaces Fat Sam’s in Lockport

Fat Sam's in Lockport was sold and renamed Iron Horse Saloon.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Fat Sam’s at 1225 E. Ninth St. in Lockport was recently sold and renamed the Iron Horse Saloon.

Iron Horse features a sports bar, restaurant and Trackside OTB. It was purchased in April by a consortium from longtime owner Sam LaRocco, who opened Sam’s Triple Crown in Orland Hills in May. Fat Sam's in Orland Park was not affected by the deal and remains open.

The consortium includes local partners Paul Roebuck and Angelo Amaro. The other four members wished to remain anonymous.

About the only thing that has changed since new owners took over has been the menu.

“We have gotten some newer items and removed some unpopular items from the old menu,” said Megan Kozina, restaurant manager, who made the transition from Sam’s to Iron Horse.

Newer items include prime rib and ribs, said Kozina.

“We’ve had a lot of customers who said they liked the new items,” she said.

There are also daily food and drink specials, she said.

Iron Horse hours are from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays.

For information, call 815-838-4420 or visit Iron Horse on Facebook or online at Iron Horse Saloon.

Ross Dress for Less to Open in Northwest Indiana

Ross Dress for Less, a discount apparel and home fashion chain, will open a new store this weekend in the Crossings at Hobart plaza at U.S. 30 and 80^th Avenue in Merrillville. It will be chain’s first store in the Hoosier State. 

The grand opening will be at 9:15 a.m. Saturday at the store, 2550 E. 79^th St.

California-based Ross entered the Chicago market last fall when it opened a dozen stores including locations in Matteson and Orland Park. It has since added stores in Calumet City and Bolingbrook.

Ross stores typically carry brand name products priced 20 percent to 60 percent less than at department and specialty stores.

“We started in California and are working are way east,” said Mary Walter, senior vice president of stores, during last year’s opening in Orland Park. “Customers in Chicago will respond to our great products at great prices.”

Ross has more than 1,000 stores in 27 states. Each store employs about 50 associates.

Store hours will be Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

For information, call the store at 219-942-2681 or visit online at Ross Dress forLess.

Quinlan Elected VP for Clerk’s Association

Oak Lawn Village Clerk Jane M. Quinlan was elected last month to a one-year term as vice president of the South and West Municipal Clerks Association, which represents more than 75 municipalities in south and west Cook County.

The association meets monthly to conduct business pertaining to the needs of municipalities and their residents. The association also promotes continuing education for clerks and the betterment of the profession of municipal clerks.

Tinley to Host Caribbean Beach Block Party

 

Oak Park Avenue will resemble Margaritaville from noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 15, when the annual Caribbean Beach Block Party takes over downtown Tinley Park.

The popular event offers live music on two stages, activities for the whole family, a mini-Taste of Tinley Park and much more.

North Stage
The Walk-Ins-Noon to 3 p.m.
The Associates-4 to 7 p.m.

South Stage
Billy's Boys-Noon to 3 p.m.
Mr. Myers-4 to 7 p.m. 

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

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

Arena Lanes to Reclaim Family Bowling Center in Oak Lawn

Arena Lanes is reclaiming its family bowling center in Oak Lawn.
Courtesy of Let's Bowl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Effective next Tuesday, Arena Lanes will replace the Brunswick Zone Oak Lawn as the name of the bowling center at 4700 W. 103^rd St.

Longtime proprietor Bill Bard is taking back his family’s bowling alley that he leased to Brunswick Corp. in 2001.

The Bard family opened the bowling alley with 24 lanes in 1956 and added 16 lanes in 1962 and ran it until they leased it to Brunswick. Bard said in February that he decided to resume running the alley after Brunswick opted to let its lease expire.

The closing of Brunswick Zone leaves a Brunswick Zone XL in Homewood as the company’s only location in the south suburbs. The other closest Brunswick locations are in Woodridge and River Grove.

DePaulo Travel Relocates in Frankfort

DePaulo Travel, which was displaced when the Village of Frankfort approved plans for a Mariano’s Fresh Market on LaGrange Road, has found a new home in the former Riley’s Trick Shop at 103 Bankview Dr., next door to Heartland Blood Center.

The travel agency has been in Frankfort for 32 years.

Tinley Chamber to Tee Off

The Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual golf outing on Wednesday, July 18, at 8 a.m. at the Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park. Golf begins with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m.

Cost is $125 per golfer for 18 holes of golf, cart, continental breakfast prior to start, complimentary beverages and lunch on the course and dinner buffet with open bar. Dinner only tickets are $40 per person.

For information or to reserve a tee time, call the chamber office at 708.532.5700 or email info@tinleychamber.org.

Two new mattress stores open in Orland Park.

Discount Mattress USA opened earlier this year at 14700 S. LaGrange Road and Chicago Mattress Outlet opened recently at 15567 S. 94^th Avenue.

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

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

Ernest Borgnine, From Heavy to Funnyman

Ernest Borgnine won an Academy Award in 1955 for "Marty."

By Bob Bong
 Southland Savvy

Ernest Borgnine spent the better part of six decades as an actor and was performing almost to the end.

He died last week of kidney failure. He was 95 and had recently finished work on “The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez,” a film about a bitter old man who finds fame among the Latino workers at a nursing home.

Perhaps best known as the conniving skipper of PT-73 in television’s “McHale’s Navy,” Borgnine had no trouble finding work in films and on television.

He moved back and forth between TV and film with relative ease.

He was often cast as a movie villain in his early years, but managed to take home the Best Actor Oscar for his performance as an Italian butcher who somehow finds love in “Marty” in 1955.

His TV career included “McHale’s Navy,” “Airwolf” and “The Single Guy.” He also lent his voice to animated shows including “SpongeBob Square Pants.” In 2009, at age 92, he was nominated for an Emmy for his performance in the final two episodes of “ER.”

Borgnine’s personal life was almost as remarkable as his film career. He was married five times including a 38-day marriage to Ethel Merman in 1964. Other wives included actress Katy Jurado.

Among his film roles was Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi in “Legend in Granite.” He also appeared as a general in all four “Dirty Dozen” films. Didn’t know there were three made-for-TV sequels, did you?

Other performances included “Bad Day at Black Rock,” “Johnny Guitar,” “Emperor of the North,” and “Ice Station Zebra.”

One of his funnier roles was as the cabbie that chose to stay in New York in the Kurt Russell adventure film “Escape from New York.”

He also appeared in a bit part as the record keeper in Bruce Willis’ spy adventure “Red” in 2010.

You can see how good an actor he was by checking out these six movies available on video, DVD, on-demand and through streaming services.

“From Here to Eternity” (1953) – Borgnine is a brutal MP who beats Frank Sinatra’s character to death in the stockade in this film about military life in Hawaii in the days leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Other stars include Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Montgomery Clift, Donna Reed and Jack Warden.

“Marty” (1955) – Borgnine took home the Academy Award for his performance as an Italian butcher who unexpectedly finds love in this wonderful film, beating out Frank Sinatra, James Dean, James Cagney and Spencer Tracy. Other stars include Betsy Blair and Jerry Paris.

“The Wild Bunch” (1969) – Borgnine stars as one of the title bunch who find themselves hunted after a robbery in this Sam Peckinpah Western bloodbath. Other stars include William Holden, Robert Ryan, Warren Oates, Ben Johnson, Strother Martin and L.Q. Jones.

“The Vikings” (1958) – Borgnine stars as Viking king Ragnar in this epic film about two brothers fighting each other as much as the English. Other stars include Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and James Donald.

“The Poseidon Adventure” (1972) – Borgnine is one of the survivors trying to find a way out after a luxury liner hits a tidal wave and capsizes in this epic disaster film. Other stars include Gene Hackman, Red Buttons, Jack Albertson, Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters and Pamela Sue Martin.

“A Grandpa for Christmas” (2007) – Borgnine stars as former song-and-dance man who discovers he has a granddaughter when he must take care of his estranged daughter after she’s in a car accident right before Christmas in the made-for-television Hallmark movie. Other stars include Tracy Nelson, Jamie Farr, Katherine Helmond and Juliette Goglia.

For more on movies, visit What to Watch.

Caribou Coffee Closes Tinley Location

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Caribou Coffee abandoned the Southland when it closed its Tinley Park location on Sunday with little notice. 

The company closed its shop in Homewood last month in much the same way. 

The closest locations for the nation’s second largest coffee chain are now Willowbrook and LaGrange.

Calls and an email to the company offices in Minnesota were not returned but speculation has been that the locations were closed because neither one had a drive-up window.

Calls to the management team at the Tinley Park Plaza shopping center also were not returned.

A few years ago, Starbucks closed a nearby similar retail strip location after opening a new location – with a drive-up window – across the street.  

Sears opens Scrubology store in Orland Square Mall

Sears has opened a Scrubology store inside of the retailer’s anchor store at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park and Chicago Ridge Mall in Chicago Ridge.

Scrubology stores specialize in work apparel and uniforms for professionals in the industrial, service and health-care fields.

The retailer now has 91 Scrubology stores in Sears and Kmart stores nationwide.

For information, visit Scrubology.

Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A in Orland Park is again offering free meals to customers of all ages who dress up like a cow on Friday, July 13. You can find detailed plans for cow costumes and otherinformation at Cow Appreciation Day.

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

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

Red Mango Yogurt Coming to Orland Park

Red Mango Yogurt is coming to Orland Park.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Red Mango Yogurt is coming to Orland Park this summer.

The Texas-based smoothie and frozen yogurt chain will be opening next month at 31 Orland Square Drive in the Shops of Orland Square near Orland Square Mall.

Red Mango has more than a dozen locations in the Chicago area, but it will be the chain’s first location in the Southland.

The Orland Park store will be the fourth Red Mango location for owners Trisha and Jeff Fendt, who opened their first store just more than a year ago in LaGrange. They also have a Red Mango in Chicago and will open one in McHenry on July 14.

“What we really love is the product,” said Trisha Fendt. “We love the taste and the health benefits.”

“Orland Park is a perfect fit for us because I grew up around there and know the area,” she said.

Fendt said she and her husband opted for Red Mango because they were both changing careers. She had been a social worker and her husband had been a union plumber.

“We opened our first store in June 2011 in LaGrange and it exceeded our expectations,” she said.

Fendt said the Orland location will be about 1,300 square feet, which will be the biggest one for them, so far.

She said the store will be managed by her brother, Travis Toumey, and will have from 12 to 15 employees.

She said they are hoping for a mid-August opening.

She also said they were looking for more locations.

“We sure do plan for new stores,” she said without divulging where they might be looking.

Red Mango has more than 180 locations and features more than 50 flavors of frozen yogurt. For information, visit the company’s website at Red Mango Yogurt.

Chicago Ridge Mall Dumps Westfield Name

Now that the deal has closed for Starwood Capital Group to purchase Chicago Ridge Mall from Australian-based Westfield Group, the mall has officially dropped the word Westfield from its title.  Not that many people around here ever called it anything but Chicago Ridge Mall anyway.

Connecticut-based Starwood paid $1 billion to buy seven malls from Westfield, including Louis Joliet Mall in Joliet. Westfield will retain a 10 percent stake and continue to manage the 838,608-square-foot mall at 95^th Street and Ridgeland Avenue.

Gyros Express Closes in Tinley

Gyros Express closed recently at 7108 W. 171^st St. in Tinley Park. The restaurant specialized in Middle Easter cuisine and opened last fall. Its website is still active though its Facebook page has been taken down. There is a “for lease” sign in the window.

Techno Wizard to Address Southland Chamber

Howard Tullman, who is the face and mind behind Chicago-based Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy, possibly the most ultra-techno-wizard college anywhere, will headline the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce Regional Consensus Luncheon on Monday, July 9, at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive, at 11:30 a.m.

Tullman will discuss “Current Trends and New Technology Developments in Social Media.”

Tickets for the lunch and program are $30 for members and $40 for non-members. Reservations can be made at the chamber website, www.ChicagoSouthland.com, in person at 920 W. 175th St., Homewood, or by telephone, (708) 957-6950.

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

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

Tinley Hotels Finish Major Renovations

Comfort Inn and Suites in Tinley Park recently renovated its rooms.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Comfort Inn & Suites and the Sleep Inn, both in Tinley Park’s hotel complex near Interstate 80 and Harlem Avenue, each recently completed $750,000 in renovations.

Comfort Inn’s renovation included an update of the interior of the building at 18400 Spring Creek Dr. with a more modern style. Visitors will also find a variety of upgraded amenities including free wi-fi in guest rooms and throughout the hotel, LCD televisions, miniature refrigerators and microwave ovens.

Comfort Inn offers 65 rooms with 17 suites including one Jacuzzi suite. The hotel offers an indoor heated swimming pool, business center, fitness center, and a complimentary shuttle within five miles.

Sleep Inn’s renovation also updated the interior of the building at 18420 Spring Creek Dr. with a more modern style. Visitors will also find a variety of upgraded amenities including free wi-fi in guest rooms and throughout the hotel, LCD televisions, miniature refrigerators and microwave ovens.

The Sleep Inn has 73 rooms with a variety of double, queen and king beds. The hotel offers a business center, fitness center, and a complimentary shuttle within five miles.

“Significant renovations have had great impact in helping us give the feel of luxury at an economical price to our guests" said Karla Ruzich, general manager of both hotels. “Our visitors notice the improvements and appreciate the work to create a warm and inviting atmosphere where they feel comfortable.”

Fringe Boutique Moves in Frankfort

The Fringe Boutique is closed while the clothing store makes its move from its original home at 20529 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort to its new home at 27 Ash St. in downtown Frankfort.

The store is scheduled to reopen in its new digs on Thursday.

For information, call (815) 469-0607 or visit the store’s Facebookpage.

Party City Now Open in Mokena

Party City opened last month at 11375 W. Lincoln Highway in Mokena, next to the J.C.Penney store.

The store, which carries party and seasonal supplies, is open Monday to Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, call the store at 815-464-0970.

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

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.