Business Comings & Goings: Calabria Imports Working on Lease Dispute

A co-owner of Calabria Imports in Evergreen Park said the deli's Beverly location at 1905 W. 103rd St. hopes to reopen by Thursday after closing Tuesday over what she said was a "leasing issue."

"The Beverly location was closed (Tuesday and Wednesday) because the owner is working out some leasing issues with the landlord," said Victoria Barajas, a co-owner of the Evergreen location with Pat Roberto, who owns the Beverly location.

"He hopes to reopen by Thursday," she said.

She flatly denied the Beverly location was closed for good.

"That's just not true," she said. "Pat is working on the lease."

There was no mention of the closing on either the deli's website or Facebook page.

Final days for Fashion Bug

The Fashion Bug store at 8735 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview’s Southfield Plaza will close by the end of the month unless it runs out of inventory before then.

A store on 115th Street in Merrionette Park has already closed, a store in Homewood is closing Jan. 16 and a store in Orland Hills has the same closing timetable as the Bridgeview location.

The retailer, which caters to plus-size women, announced last year it would be shutting down in early 2013.

Employees have been told they can apply to transfer to a sister store including Lane Bryant, Catherine’s, Maurice’s, Dressbarn and Justice, but no jobs are guaranteed at those stores.

Mesirow economist to address chamber lunch

Adolfo Laurenti, deputy chief economist at Mesirow Financial, will be the first speaker of the year for the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce Regional Consensus Luncheon on Jan. 14 at the Tinley Park Holiday Inn, 18451 Convention Center Dr.

Laurenti will discuss “Risks in 2013: The Upside and Downside.”

Reservations for the 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. event can be made online at www.ChicagoSouthland.com and by telephone at 708-957-6950. The cost is $35 for members, $45 for non-members.

Funeral home lights up a winner

Thompson and Kuenster Funeral Home, 5570 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn, was voted the Best Business in the Oak Lawn Chamber’s “Light Up Oak Lawn 2012” Christmas lights contest.

Aldi holding job fairs today

Aldi Foods, the discount cousin of Trader Joe’s, is hosting job fairs from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following area stores: 7545 S. Western Ave., Chicago; 14529 S. Western Ave, Dixmoor; and 9930 Joliet Road, Countryside.

The grocery store chain is looking to hire full-time and part-time cashiers, shift managers and part-time stockers.

Hourly rates at the company’s Chicago-area stores start at $13 per hour.

McDonald’s starting to sell wings

McDonald’s this week began offering Mighty Wings at nearly 500 Chicago-area locations.

The chicken wings are available in 3-, 5- and 10-piece portions with ranch or buffalo sauce. Orders start at $2.99.

The Oak Brook-based fast-food chain said the wings would be available for a limited time. I’m guessing the NFL Super Bowl in early February.

Last Call at Limestone

Limestone City Grill and Lounge at 13415 S. Ridgeland in nearby Palos Heights gave its last call Saturday night.

An employee who answered the phone Sunday said there was a private party going on but confirmed the business had closed without any warning.

“I’m just here to answer the phone,” he said. “We’re closed. I don’t know why.”

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