Comings & Goings
Panda Express opening new concept location next week in Oak Lawn
By Bob Bong Panda Express will be celebrating the grand opening of its newest location at 4801 W. 87th St. in Oak Lawn with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, February 15, beginning at 9 a.m. The first lucky 88 guests to receive a free Panda Express branded T-shirt.…
Read MoreBedford Park buys Southern Belle restaurant
By Bob Bong Southern Belle’s restaurant in Bedford Park closed for the last time last Sunday after more than two decades at 6737 S. Archer Ave. The village has a contract to purchase the site for $2.5 million. Closing is expected in the first quarter. Bedford Park Mayor Dave Brady said a plan to move…
Read MorePace debuts inaugural electric bus route in south suburbs
By Bob Bong First it was electric cars, then trucks, and now, buses. Pace, the suburban bus transit agency, last Friday introduced its first electric bus at its Southwest Division station in Bridgeview. The state-of-the-art Gillig bus is now operational on Route 381 95th Street serving riders in the southwest suburbs, including Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Chicago Ridge,…
Read MoreComings & Goings: End of year brings end of 4 south suburban businesses
By Bob Bong The end of 2023 also brought the end to four longtime businesses in the south suburbs. The Tender Trap First to close was The Tender Trap in Chicago Heights, which shut its doors for the last time on December 23 after more than four decades in business. The former sports bar and…
Read MoreSubaru opens new dealership in Evergreen Park
By Joe Boyle Officials with Subaru had been eyeing the possibility of bringing a dealership to Evergreen Park for a long time. Now, the wait is over. The ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening officially took place on Dec. 7 at Subaru Evergreen Park, 3101 W. 95th St. “Evergreen Park has been great to work with,” said…
Read MoreMidnight Terror serves up a different kind of spirits at Christmas Fear
By Bob Bong The Halloween fans at Midnight Terror in Oak Lawn have decided to extend the haunted house season into the holidays with their eighth annual Christmas Fear weekend in December. Savage Santas, eerie elves, and sinister snowmen will be running amok and showing off their own kind of Christmas spirit at the haunted…
Read MoreComings & Goings: McCord Gallery Holiday Shoppe opens tonight
By Bob Bong As the Christmas shopping season gets closer, McCord Gallery readies its annual Holiday Shoppe. The holiday spirit will be flowing when McCord holds the grand opening of its annual Holiday Shoppe tonight, Friday, November 17, from 6-8 p.m. The gallery is filled with hand-crafted artisan gifts for family, friends or yourself. On…
Read MoreBlueberry Hill Cafe continues breakfast, lunch tradition in Oak Lawn
By Joe Boyle Breakfast and lunch are ready for customers who want to be served at the new Blueberry Hill Cafe that has opened in Oak Lawn. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on the morning of Nov. 1 as local officials, members of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce, and owners were on hand for the event.…
Read MoreComings & Goings: Repair Café held at Lyons Township
By Bob Bong Five La Grange teenagers have opened a new venture inside Lyons Township Hall in Countryside that aims to cut down on the number of household appliances and other items that people mostly throw out when they break. The Repair Café will be held in the township community room, 6404 Joliet Road in…
Read MoreComings & Goings: Wyndham breaks ground on new Bedford Park hotel
By Bob Bong Development in Bedford Park is in high gear and a new hotel broke ground earlier this month adjacent to the Wintrust Sports Complex on 65th Street, which opened in 2021. The importance was not lost on Bedford Park Mayor David Brady who, moments after his shovel dug into dirt on October 6, rattled…
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