Comings & Goings: Starbacks to open in Chicago Ridge

By Bob Bong

A Starbucks coffee shop is coming to Chicago Ridge later

this year.

The Seattle-based chain will be built at the site of the

former Nikobee’s restaurant at 103^rd Street and Harlem Avenue by

Glazier Corp.

“They should have a shovel in the ground in the next three

weeks,” said Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar. “It should probably be done by

mid-September.”

Tokar said he was “very excited” about the development. The

land has been vacant since Nikobee’s was torn down a few years ago. The

restaurant had been closed for several years before coming down.

“The people doing the project are the same ones working on a

project in Crestwood on old MWRD property. (Crestwood) Mayor (Lou) Presta put

us in touch.

They said they were hoping to secure more property in

Chicago Ridge for additional projects.”

Chicago Ridge has been working to develop property along

Harlem Avenue, including the former freight trucking site south of 103^rdStreet.

“It’s been rezoned for mixed use from industrial and it’s

not going back,” Tokar said.

Tokar also said a craft brewery is in the works for a site

just north of Glendora House, a block north of the Starbucks site.

“We expect to see that craft brewery open in the next few

months,” he said.

Indian-American restaurant closes in Hickory Hills

Greece Shawarma Philly’s Gyros & Beef has apparently

closed just a couple of months after opening in Hickory Hills.

The eatery at 9348 S. Roberts Road has not been open for

several weeks and its phone number is not accepting calls.

It replaced Aladdin’s House, a fast-food Indian-American

restaurant that opened with much fanfare in Hickory Hills last April.

Ronald McDonald House expands in Oak Lawn

Five new guest rooms are now available at the Ronald

McDonald House near Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn.

Ronald McDonald Houses allow families with

sick children to stay close to the hospital as the child gets treatment.

The expansion of the House at 4410 W. 93rd St. was made

possible by a donation from AbbVie, a research-based global biopharmaceutical

company headquartered in North Chicago.

AbbVie donated $100 million to Ronald McDonald

House Charities in August and the new rooms in Oak Lawn are a result of that

donation.

The five completed bedrooms, plus a

reconfigured kitchen and expanded dining spaces, were unveiled at a ribbon

cutting ceremony last week followed by a reception for AbbVie representatives

and RMHC-CNI families, volunteers, supporters and staff.

Pop-Up Challenge returns to Chicago Ridge Mall

Have a great business idea? Chicago Ridge Mall

has just the opportunity for you! Back by popular demand, the Battle of the

Pop-Up challenge gives one lucky entrepreneur a chance to test that great idea

Ñ rent free!

“We are thrilled to support established and

budding entrepreneurs who have great ideas,” said Sandy Maldonado-Martinez,

Chicago Ridge Mall’s marketing director. “This is the third time we’re offering

the Battle of the Pop-Up. We’ve had amazing ideas every time, including De Mi

Tierra Natural Bath and Body, which was a winning concept from Evelia

Aguirre-Torres. We can’t wait to see what people submit this time.”

Designed to support local businesses, startups

and entrepreneurs; the Battle of the Pop-Up winner receives four months

rent-free, use of existing mall or store fixtures and free utilities. The

winner also receives a $500 merchandising package that includes interior

signage, table-printed displays and graphic design services.

To enter, participants must be prepared to

obtain a business license by Monday, July 1, and operate their business during

mall hours from Monday, July 1, through Thursday, Oct. 31. Entries will be

judged on business strategy, concept creativity, and likelihood of

profitability, among other criteria.

The contest is currently open and the deadline

for entries is Friday, April 19. There is no cost to enter. Applicants may

enter one of three ways: on the mall’s website, drop off an entry at the mall’s

management office email a PDF to [email protected]

Winners will be contacted via email or phone

on Monday, May 6.

For information, call 708-499-0840.

Speedy Burritos closed in Tinley

Speedy Burritos Mexican restaurant in Tinley Park remains

closed by order of the Illinois Department of Revenue.

Green stickers issued by the Department of Revenue stating

that the restaurant’s certificate of registration had been revoked are on the

door and windows of the eatery at 7108 W. 171^st St. The notice also

says that anyone found conducting business could be subject to criminal

prosecution and a fine.

A hand-written sign that said the establishment was to

reopen on March 11 have been taken down.

The restaurant opened in 2013.

Calls to the restaurant and the Department of Revenue were

not returned.

Crafted Bottle to add wine, spirits

Crafted Bottle Shop in Mokena has received

permission from the village to add craft wines and spirits to their offerings.

The shop at 19200 S. LaGrange Road has been

selling craft beers in bottles and operating a tap tasting room since 2017.

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened

to an old favorite, drop me a line at [email protected] You can track

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

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