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Business & Tech

Business Comings & Goings: Retired Evergreen Cop Opens Smokehouse

The Saloon, a new country and western bar, is now open at 115 Bourbon Street.

After Brian Yates retired from the Evergreen Park Police Department he did what many former officers do and looked around for a new career.

He settled on becoming a restaurateur with his wife, Mary, and earlier this year opened Smokehouse at 15020 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

“I kinda like it out here,” he said explaining why he chose to locate his eatery in Orland Park. “The area has a little bit of everything.”

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The restaurant features burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, barbecued chicken and ribs.

Hours for Smokehouse are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The eatery is closed on Sunday.

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“I need a day off once in a while,” Yates said with a laugh.

Yates, who still calls Evergreen Park home, said business has been slow over the summer but is hopeful things will pick up.

“It’s been a little slow,” he said. “But business should get better with the holidays.”

For information, call 708-403-9500.

Old Navy On the Move at Chicago Ridge Mall

Old Navy moves to its new digs inside Chicago Ridge Mall next to Carson Pirie Scott on Oct. 31. The store is one of hundreds of Old Navy stores across the country currently undergoing a facelift in an effort to redesign, retool and rejuvenate the 18-year-old national clothing retailer’s brand as “The New Old Navy.”

Store management is closing out the current standalone location in The Commons at 238 Commons Drive. Late summer and early fall merchandise is on clearance and some good deals are being offered. An employee said that the new location would debut Old Navy’s winter collection when it reopens inside the mall around Halloween.

Chicago Ridge Mall is located at 95th Street and Ridgeland Avenue. For more information, visit the mall's Facebook page. -- Contributed by Oak Lawn Patch editor Lorraine Swanson

New Cowboy Bar in Town

Country and western music fans have a new place to wet their whistle now that The Saloon at 115 Bourbon Street has opened at 3359 W. 115th St. in Merrionette Park.

Bourbon Street turned its former Nightclub into The Saloon last week and will feature live country acts, country DJs, dance hits and line dance lessons on Thursday nights.

For information, call 708-388-8881 or visit The Saloon on Facebook.

Fairplay Grand Opening Thursday

In case you missed the update, Fairplay Foods will hold its official grand opening on Thursday for its newest store at 87th Street and Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn. The store opened to the public on Sunday.

For information and to see its weekly ad, visit Fairplay Foods Oak Lawn.

Final OL Market Features Complete Vision Care

The final Oak Lawn Farmers Market for this year is featuring Complete Vision Care.

Oak Lawn Business Showcase on Saturday

Oak Lawn Community High School PTSA and the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce will hold their annual Business Showcase and Fall Arts & Crafts Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, at

Charter Fitness employees to aid CureSearch

Charter Fitness Centers' Director of Sales Dan Collins and Director of Personal Training Roger McGreal will participate in the Ultimate Hike benefiting CureSearch for Children's Cancer on Saturday, Oct. 20.
 
The Ultimate Hike is a 30-mile trek on the Tecumseh Trail in Yellowwood State Forest located in Nashville, Ind., and will raise money for CureSearch for Children's Cancer, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to fund and support children's cancer research.

"I am a father of two beautiful girls.  I know what it is like to worry, fret, and protect as a parent,” said Collins.  “I wanted to do something that could help children and parents in need in any way, no matter how small."
 
So far, Collins and McGreal have raised more than $2,500 toward their $5,000 goal. To make a donation, visit the Charter Fitness blog.

Visit Collins' and McGreal's blog to follow their journey every step of the way.

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 www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

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