Business Comings & Goings: Peppo’s Opens in Tinley Park

“I’ve been looking forward to this for years,” said Mike Houston, 46, of Palos Hills, after he was the first customer at Peppo’s Dili-Deli in Tinley Park when it opened at 9:30 a.m. Friday at 6905 W. 159th St.

“I thought they should have expanded years ago,” said Houston who added he was carrying on a family tradition regarding Peppo’s, which opened in Palos Hills in 1976.

“I’m standing in for my brother Dan,” said Houston. “He was the first customer in 1976. He would have been here for this today but he had to work.”

“I plan on being the first customer at their next location, too,” he said.

So what makes Peppo’s so great.

“The guts,” said Houston echoed immediately by the three other people sitting at his table.

“You have to eat the sub with a spoon, so you can scoop up all the bits that fall off,” said Houston.

“It’s so good you could eat it by itself, like a salsa,” said his mom, Rita Houston.

“My dad invented the guts back in 1976,” said co-owner Robert Peplowski. “It’s what makes our subs unique. It’s a blend of fresh vegetables, 35 seasonings, herbs and spices, and our homemade oil and vinegar.”

Peplowski said his dad, Jim Peplowski, opened the sub shop after people who attended motorcycle races at a nearby track complained there was no nearby place to eat.

The track is long gone, but Peppo’s is alive and well and in expansion mode.

“If it works out in Tinley, we’ll open more,” Peplowski, of New Lenox, said. “We’ll continue to move south.” 

The Tinley location has seating for about 30 and offers dine-in, carry out, catering and delivery. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday

For information, call 708-237-1755, visit online at Peppo’s Dili-Deli or check out the sub shop’s Facebook page.

Imagine That Opens in Downtown Tinley

A new home décor and gift shop called Imagine That opened last month at 17036 S. Oak Park Ave. in downtown Tinley Park. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, closed Sunday and Monday. For information, call 708-468-8921 or visit the company website at Imagine That.

Farmers Markets Closing for Season

The Orland Park Farmers market made its final appearance on Friday while the Tinley Farmers Market will close at the end of business this Saturday at Zabrocki Plaza.

Reptile Show at Convention Center

The North American Reptile Show returns to the Tinley Park Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 14.

The show is open to the public. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for kids 5-12. Kids 5 and under enter for free.

For information, visit their website at North American Reptile Show.

Orland Chamber Community Expo is Saturday

The 23rd annual Community Expo starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13, at Carl Sandburg High School, 13300 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

The show features raffles, clowns, face painting, a classic car show and a special appearance by Ronald McDonald.

Look for Orland Park Patch Editor Ben Feldheim and Ad Manager Drew Richards at the expo. They'll have prizes and information about the site.

Admission is free.

For information, call 708-349-2972 or visit the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce website.

Gap is Moving at Orland Square Mall

The Gap is relocating and remodeling at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. The new store is expected to open in January. The existing store will remain open through the holidays across from H&M in the lower level Sears Court. PIX

Simon to Address Southland Chamber

Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon will discuss job training programs at the Chicago Southland Regional Consensus Luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the Tinley Park Convention Center. The lunch is delayed a day this week because of Columbus Day.

The luncheon starts at 11:30 a.m. and Simon should speak about 12:15 p.m.

Cost is $30 for members and $40 for non-members.

Tickets are available at 708-957-6950 or online at Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce.

Carol’s Travel Fest is Sunday

Carol's Travel Service will present its annual "Carol's Travel Fest" from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 14, at the Tinley Park Convention Center. More than 30 cruise lines, tour operators, hoteliers and tourist boards will be in attendance.

There will be 15 seminars on different destinations and modes of travel including "How to Be a Group Leader.”

Admission is free.

For information, call 708-532-5450 or visit Carol’s Travel website.

Marquette Supports Breast Cancer Research

Orland Park-based Marquette Bank held its seventh annual Marquette Bank Employee PINKnic to raise money for breast cancer research and the American Cancer Society and helped kick off Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk happening 9 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 14, at Centennial Park in Orland Park.

”We’d like to thank all of our local vendors, our employees and their family members who contributed to this year’s PINKnic fundraiser benefiting breast cancer research ,” said George Moncada, bank president and CEO.

The PINKnic was attended by more than 195 Marquette Bank employees, family members and vendors and collected more than $9,200.

Marquette Bank would like to thank the following businesses for donating prizes for the 2012 Marquette PINKnic fundraising event: Airport Electric, American Sealcoating, ATMI, Chicago Office Products, Corrigan Heating & Cooling Company, Fitzgibbons & Associates, Inc., Holcer & Company, Inc., Independent Forms, J. Britis Lanscaping, Jones & Cleary Roofing, Kris Keuch, Kwasigroch Electric, MIDCO, Northstar Group, Ozmin & Associates, Inc., Rainbow Cleaning, Red Cap Cleaning, Tom Micetic, Trinity Roofing Service, Inc., Tylka Printing and White Way Sign.

Marquette Bank encourages neighbors and local businesses to participate in the walk or make donations to the American Cancer Society online at www.cancer.org/stridesonline.

If you're interested in more local happenings, check out Orland Park business news andTinley Park business news.

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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