Jim Saplis has been involved with cycling since he was old enough to reach the pedals.
“I managed bike stores and turned several stores around on other people’s dimes,” he said. “So, I decided the time was right to do it for myself.”
To that end, Saplis bought Orland Park Cyclery at 14445 John Humphrey Dr. in Orland Park, earlier this month.
The shop will celebrate its reopening with Saplis as owner on Saturday, Nov. 3, and Sunday, Nov. 4.
“Everything in the store will be on sale,” he said. There also will be vendor exhibits, giveaways, food and fun, he said.
Saplis, 47, said Orland Park Cyclery will be a lot different under his ownership.
“I have expanded the number of high-end bikes,” he said. “We now have bikes that run up to $7,000.”
The shop also is now a sponsor of its own bike racing team, Apache Racing.
The Oak Forest resident has been a cyclist for years and even competed in the Little 500 bike race as a student at Indiana University.
For information, call 708-460-2999 or visit Orland Park Cyclery online.
Whole Foods opens Friday
Whole Foods will celebrate the grand opening of its new store at 15260 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park with a bread breaking ceremony at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 2. There will be live entertainment, sales and giveaways. For information, visit Whole Foods on Facebook.
Red Mango opens Thursday
Red Mango has scheduled its grand opening for Thursday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m. at 31 Orland Square Dr. in Orland Park. The shop sells yogurt and smoothies. For information, visit Red Mango Orland Park on Facebook.
Central Collision Thanksgiving Food Drive
Central Collision Center, 18040 Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park, is hosting its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit Alicia’s House Food Pantry from Nov. 1 to Nov. 20. Suggested donations include canned soup, canned vegetables, canned fruit and traditional holiday foods. Central Collision will match all food donations.
National Career Fair coming to Tinley
The Chicago South National Career Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5, at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18501 S. Harlem Ave. For information or to register, visit National Career Fair online.
The date has been erroneously reported as Nov. 6 in some outlets.
Marquette Bank sponsors Adopt-a-Soldier
Marquette Bank is inviting customers and neighbors to participate in its sixth annual Adopt-a-Soldier Program, which sends care packages to U.S. soldiers serving overseas.
Now through Nov. 2, Marquette Bank will be accepting personal care, entertainment and food items for the holiday care packages.
Along with donations, Marquette Bank will be also accepting names of Chicagoland soldiers who will be sent the care packages.
Collection bins and a list of acceptable donation items are located at all 23 Marquette Bank branches.
For information, visit Adopt-a-Soldier or call 1-888-254-9500.
Tinley Chamber seeks tree sponsors
The Tinley Park Chamber is looking for tree sponsors for its annual Trim-a-Tree program. Sponsors can decorate the tree or have a community group decorate the tree for them.
Decorating will take place on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Zabrocki Plaza. The trees will stay on display through Jan. 4.
Sponsorships cost $150.
For information, call 708-532-5700 or send an email to info@tinleychamber.org.
Chicago Blu closes
Chicago Blu Grill and Bar closed earlier this month at 19917 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort.
If you're interested in more local happenings, check out Orland Park business news and Tinley 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.
