Business Comings & Goings: Warm Reception for Five Below

Area moms and daughters welcomed Five Below discount store to

“I love it,” said Becky Harrison, of Tinley. She was back-to-school shopping with her daughter Brianna, 10, at the new Brookside Marketplace store at 191st Street and Harlem Avenue.

“There’s something for everyone and they have great prices,” she said. “I’ve been waiting for this store to open after I went a couple of times to the store in Orland Hills.”

. A store is set to open next month and is hiring for the Tinley Park store, and work is underway on an Old Navy store, but no opening date has been set yet for that site.

“I’m a little excited,” said Catharine DeRe, 11, of Mokena, while shopping with her Mom, Margaret, a couple of hours after the store opened. “I like it.”

Mom was excited about the prices at the store that caters to teens and pre-teens, where merchandise costs no more than $5 apiece.

“A backpack and T-shirts for $5, that’s a great price," Margaret said. "And it’s a fun atmosphere.”

“We’ve had a steady stream of customers,” said Sandy, the store manager, who added the store has about 25 employees.

An employee on loan for a few days from a store in New Jersey said the Tinley Park store was just over 7,500 square feet. “All of the stores are about that size,” he said.

Another employee who was handing out free T-shirts to customers said she had already given away more than 300 in the first two hours the store was open.

Parmida Opens at Orland Park Crossing

Parmida Home Store held a grand opening recently for its eighth store at 14225 S. 95th Avenue at Orland Park Crossing.

The store, which specializes in home living and entertainment merchandise, is the chain’s second store in Illinois.

Store manager is longtime Orland Park resident Monica Rose.

For information, call 708-226-6680 or visit their website at http://parmidahome.com/.

Chamber President Has Baby

Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce President Amy Coghill and her husband, Mariano Sanchez, welcomed Grace Emma Sanchez into the world on Aug. 11. Grace Emma weighed in at just over 7 pounds and was 19.5 inches long.

Marquette Bank Launches Adopt-a-Classroom

Marquette Bank, with locations at 9612 W. 143rd St., 9533 W. 143rd St., 7560 W. 159th St. and 17865 S. Wolf Road in Orland Park, recently kicked off its third annual Adopt-a-Classroom prize drawing. Through Sept. 16, customers, teachers and parents can enter for a chance to win a $200 gift card that can be used to purchase school supplies for a school of their choice. There will be one winner per location.

Business After Hours at The Body Shop

Join The Body Shop and Lia Sophia Jewelry for a joint Business After Hours event at The Body Shop's Orland Square Mall location on Saturday, Aug. 27, from noon to 4 p.m. For information, call Lori at 708-460-0499.

Charley Horse Cruise Nights

The Tinley Park Charley Horse is sponsoring Cruise Nights from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. every Monday night at 9501 W. 171st St. (corner of 171st and LaGrange Road).

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.