Business Comings & Goings: Gyros Express Opens in Tinley Park

Gyros lovers in Tinley Park have another reason to salivate with the recent opening of Gyros Express at 7108 W. 171st St. across the street from the Jewel-Osco store. The store is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and delivers. It has the standard gyros joint fare. For information, call 708-444-2100.

Spirit Halloween Moves into Borders

Spirit Halloween has opened Halloween stores in the former Borders book store at 15260 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park and the former Borders Express book store inside Chicago Ridge Mall. There also is a Spirit store in the old Walgreens at 14726 S. Cicero Ave. in the Mid-Oak Plaza in Midlothian. For information and a complete list of stores, visit http://www.spirithalloween.com/.

Chrysler’s 1 Millionth Used Car Sold in Tinley

Jessica Taskay, 21, a kennel manager from Lockport, last month became the 1 millionth customer to purchase a Chrysler Group LLC Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle when she bought a 2010 Jeep Patriot Sport from . in Tinley Park.

Eric Swanson, head of Chrysler Group CPOV, presented Taskay with a gift package valued at $9,500 in honor of her milestone purchase. It includes a lifetime warranty, $2,500 gas card, and a check for $2,000.

Free Beetles in Orland Park

Twenty one Southland winners of free Volkswagen 2012 Beetles descended on Volkswagen of Orland Park on Thursday to pick up the free cars they won almost a year ago during a taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Of the more than 250 people who won the cars during a taping of Oprah’s Ultimate Favorite Things episode last November, 21 were being given away by Volkswagen at the Orland Park dealership. That was the largest single group at any one dealership and prompted a visit by Jonathan Browning, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, who handed out the keys.

Baby Loves Disco at Orland Mall

An afternoon dance party called Baby Loves Disco will be rocking on Friday, Oct. 21, from 5-8 p.m. in the lower level Sears Court. Young ones will be groovin’ to real tunes from the disco era on records spun by a DJ.

There is no admission fee, but guests must have a wristband and children must be accompanied by an adult. Wristbands are available at in the mall.

For information, visit http://babylovesdisco.

Neat Repeats Business After Hours

will hold a grand opening ribbon cutting and Business After Hours on Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 4-7 p.m. for the Tinley Park and Orland Area Chambers of Commerce. For information, call the store at 708-364-7605.

JJC to Host Mature Worker Event

Joliet Junior College’s Plus 50 Workforce Center presents the Mature Worker: Re-hired and Re-inspired event on Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon at JJC’s City Center Campus, 214 N. Ottawa St. in Joliet.

The recession has not been easy on low-income Americans 50 and older. The unemployment rate for older Americans has reached a level not seen in the past 60 years, says Kelly Lapetino, JJC workforce development manager.

Lapetino said approximately 60,000 more people ages 55 and over were unemployed in June 2011 than in May.

To help address these issues, the event will offer several presentations including “Tips for Mature Job Seekers: Transitioning from Getting Back on the Bus to Driving the Bus,” by regional recruitment coordinator Siggy Letheby, U.S. Department of Labor.  And “Myths of Maturity: Overcoming Age Discrimination,” presented by Dick Gaither, owner, of Job Search Training Systems Inc.

For information, contact Mary at (815) 727-5670 ext. 3 or mgajcak@willcountyillinois.com.

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.