A Sneak Peek at the Tinley Park Menards Expansion

Here's a glimpse through the front doors of what used to be the old Daily Southtown and Star Newspapers building (which used to be the old Gately's Department Store). 

Part of the second story was knocked out to create a balcony that overlooks a new checkout area. Shelves are going up and part of the parking lot has been fenced in to create the new lumber yard.

Menards purchased the property in 2011 from the Sun-Times Media Group, which went into bankruptcy in 2009, to expand the hardware retailer's neighboring 159th Street store into the nation's largest Menards.

The Southtown and Star moved to a small office condo in a business park on 183rd Street in Tinley Park in 2011, but the newspaper staff didn't stay there long. The company closed its local office earlier this year.