Landek helps cut ribbon on remodeled McDonalds

Bob Bong on Business

By Bob Bong

Bob Bong

Salvation Army store closed in Bridgeview

The Salvation Army Family Store and Donation Center in Bridgeview remains closed after the front façade of the building came crashing down early last month.

The store at 9000 S. Harlem Ave. has been closed since the façade fell off of the building on June 4.

Nobody was injured in the incident, village officials said.

The store was ordered closed until further notice because structural damage in the incident left the building unusable until necessary repairs are made.

The donation center in the rear of the building is open for people wishing to make donations.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store at 9000 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview remains closed after the façade fell off the front of the building earlier this month. (Photo by Bob Bong)

Applebee’s locations close

A dozen Applebee’s locations in Illinois closed earlier this year as part of the chain’s announced plan to shutter from 60-80 locations nationwide this year.

Three of the locations are in the south suburbs including 2400 W. Jefferson in Joliet, 4029 W. 167^th St. in Country Club Hills and 7519 S. Cicero Ave. near Ford City Mall on Chicago’s Southwest Side.

Applebee’s is owned by Dine Brands Global Inc., which also owns IHOP and announced it would close up to 40 IHOP locations this year. No locations were announced.

Applebee’s closed 99 locations in 2017 and 46 locations in 2016. IHOP closed 23 locations last year and 16 the year before.

Both brands said they planned new openings as well this year, but announced no specifics.

Palos Park takes over Metra café

The Village of Palos Park has taken over operation of the coffee shop at the Metra station at 123^rd Street and 82^nd Avenue.

Palos Perk is open from 5-9 a.m. on days the Metra line is running, Village Manager Rick Boehm said. The café serves coffee and juices, sweet rolls and other breakfast items.

Boehm said the village resumed running the café on June 6. It had been operated by Doughs Guys Bakery in Palos Heights since March 2016.

Newly Remodeled McDonald’s opens

The newly remodeled Bridgeview McDonald’s at 8611 S. Harlem Ave. celebrated its grand reopening last month.

McDonald’s owner operator Johnny Tom was joined by Bridgeview mayor Steven Landek, Bridgeview Trustees, members of the Bridgeview Chamber of Commerce, special guests and family and friends to help cut the ribbon in celebration of this beautiful McDonald’s.

Bridgeview McDonald’s owner operator Johnny Tom (holding scissors), Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek, Bridgeview trustees, Bridgeview Chamber of Commerce members and restaurant staffers celebrate the grand reopening of the remodeled location at 8611 S. Harlem Ave. (Supplied photo)

The newly remodeled restaurant opened June 19 and features a new dining area, state of the art kiosks for ordering, and the area’s newest and largest indoor Playplace.

The restaurant’s grand reopening celebration continues until July 15, with daily menu specials, featured giveaways and raffles.

On hand for the grand reopening were owner operator Johnny Tom, Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek, Bridgeview trustees, members of the Bridgeview Chamber of Commerce, special guests and family and friends.

Banks holds ribbon cutting in Tinley

CNB Bank held a ribbon cutting and multi-chamber business after hours event on June 26 at its newest location at 9400 W. 179^th St. in Tinley Park.

Members of the Tinley Park, Orland Park Area, Mokena, and the Oak Forest-Crestwood chambers of commerce helped celebrate the opening.

Granite Mountain grand opening in New Lenox

Granite Mountain, a home improvement store that specializes in granite countertops throughout the south suburbs, held its grand opening June 27 at 14027 W. Illinois Highway in New Lenox.

For information, call 708-774-1442 or visit www.granite-mountain.com

Oak Lawn barber shop expands

Style 95 Barber Shop, an Oak Lawn barber shop owned by Mike Abdallah, last week opened its second location in La Grange.

The new barber shop is a 1040 S. LaGrange Road. It opened June 20.

The new location provides men’s haircuts, straight razor shaves and facial services.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

TCBY now available at Mrs. Fields

Mrs. Fields Cookies stores in Chicago Ridge Mall in Chicago Ridge, Louis Joliet Mall in Joliet and Southlake Mall in Hobart, Ind., have all recently added TCBY offerings to their menus. The two brands are owned by the same parent corporation.

Iconic restaurant closes

New Pindos restaurant served its last meal last month on Mother’s Day.

The restaurant opened in 1949 as Mount Pindos restaurant at Archer and Pulaski avenues in Chicago’s Archer Heights community and featured ice cream made on location.

That building was razed in 1986 and the New Pindos opened in a larger facility and bigger parking lot.

Owners Donna and Adam Brenski said they were hoping to stay open a few more years but decided to retire when the landlord would offer only a five-year lease.

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 track business openings and closings at http://bobbongonbusiness.com/

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Bob Bong

Bob Bong is a veteran newspaper reporter and columnist.

He is the author of "Bob Bong on Business"

Bong has covered the south suburbs and South Side of Chicago for more than 40 years. He was editor of The Daily Calumet until 1987 when he moved over to the Daily Southtown after the Cal was acquired by Pulitzer. Since 2013, he has been editor of the Desplaines Valley News based in Summit. He has been writing Comings & Goings for more than 15 years. Comings & Goings also appears in the Southtown, the DVN, the Reporter and Regional newspapers, as well as on the Tribune website.

Comings & Goings tracks new businesses coming to the Southland as well as those that are leaving.

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 track business openings and closings at http://bobbongonbusiness.com/