Business Comings & Goings: Harold's Chicken Shack Coming to 95th Street

Singer Kanye West’s failed Fatburger empire was replaced in Orland Park by a Dickey’s Barbecue Pit restaurant earlier this year and looks to soon be replaced in Beverly by another Harold’s Chicken Shack restaurant.

The Homewood-based Harold’s has signs proclaiming a new location is coming soon to 2341 W. 95th St. in Beverly.

A call to Harold’s corporate office on Tuesday was not returned.

New Dunkin' Donuts Opens in Oak Lawn

A new Dunkin’ Donuts has opened at 10301 S. Central Ave. in Oak Lawn in the former Buscemi’s Beef restaurant.

The new doughnut shop offers the usual Dunkin coffee and doughnuts and also has a drive-up window.

Except for a coin-laundry, the rest of the retail strip is vacant, which may be the result of a lengthy foreclosure case that dates back to February 2011.

Fairplay Foods Nears Opening

Though the company says no opening date has been set for the new Fairplay Foods store at 87th Street and Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn, employees say they have been working inside the store this week and were told the store will hold a soft opening starting Thursday, Oct. 11, with the official grand opening to occur a week later on Thursday, Oct. 18.

Employees could be seen entering and leaving the store and working inside on Tuesday, so it looks as if the opening is imminent.

Sara Lee Outlet Store Safe through Halloween

The Sara Lee Outlet Store at 5711 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn will be open through October.

“We’re safe through Nov. 1, but after that I just don’t know,” said the store manager Peter, who referred other questions to Hillshire Brands spokesman Matt Pakula.

Hillshire Brands is the successor to Sara Lee, which split into two companies earlier this year.

A call to Matt Pakula, senior manager for corporate communications for Hillshire, was not returned Tuesday, but earlier had said the company’s outlet stores would close by the end of November.

Pakula said Hillshire Brands after the split would not be able to devote the “attention required for success in stand-alone retail operations.”

Nine of Sara Lee's outlet stores are in Illinois, including another Southland store in Homewood. Each store employs about seven people.

Classic Car Show This Friday

The annual Evergreen Park Classic Car Show is coming up on Friday, Oct. 12, at Yukich Field. The show features classic cars, an old-fashioned Good Humor Ice Cream Truck, music and refreshments. Do you have a classic car to show?  Visit Evergreen Park Classic Car Show to download an entry form!

Franconello Nears Completion

Owners of Franconello’s Italian Restaurant at 10222 S. Western Ave. in Beverly said on their Facebook page last week the eatery is aiming to reopen at the end of October or beginning of November. The restaurant has been closed for more than a year since a fire devastated the restaurant on Labor Day 2011. Calls and emails for information have not been returned.

Business Open House in Evergreen Park

Marquette Bank will host a business open house from 5-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at the branch located at 9335 S. Kedzie Ave. There will be refreshments, a prize drawing and networking opportunities. To register, call 708-857-1313.

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

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