Business Comings & Goings: Wingstop Expansion Spreads to Tinley

Wingstop, a fast-growing national chain based in Texas that specializes in chicken wings, opened a store last week at 15960 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park.

“We have both classic and boneless wings in 10 different flavors,” said store general manager Ben Gonzalez. “We also have chicken strips and gliders, which is a chicken sandwich, and five different sides and three kinds of dips. Everything is fresh and made to order.”

Gonzalez said business has been improving every day since the restaurant opened on Dec. 9. Hours are from 11 a.m. to midnight daily.

“Every day has been better and better,” he said.

The Tinley location is the second for franchise owner Paul Proano, who also has a Wingstop in Chicago.

“The goal is to open more in the future, maybe one in Orland Park,” said Gonzalez, who came over from the Chicago location to run the Tinley restaurant.

The restaurant was the chain’s 21st location in the Chicago-area, and the opening was part of an aggressive expansion into the Chicago marketplace.

“The company plans to have 36 in Illinois by the end of 2013,” Gonzalez said.

The restaurant is open for dine-in and carry-out orders and might add delivery in the future, Gonzalez said. Orders can be placed online, and there is an order app that can be downloaded to smart phones.

For information, call 708-468-8653, visit Wingstop online or check out the Tinley location’s Facebook page.

Southtown Paint Consolidates in Orland

Southtown Paint and Wallpaper, which has been in the painting business for more than 70 years, will be closing its Evergreen Park store at the end of December and moving employees and operations to the Orland Park store as of Jan. 1.

Evergreen Park store manager Mark Keele said the Evergreen location, 3401 W. 95th St., will be consolidating with the company’s Orland Park store at 11951 W. 143rd St.

Keele, who has been with the company for 11 years, said all five employees at the Evergreen store would be transferring to the Orland store.

“We are holding an inventory reduction sale,” he said to pare down the amount of painting supplies the company will be moving to the Orland store.

“We will still deliver to the Evergreen Park area, like we have for the past 50 years,” he said. “The Evergreen store phone number will still work.”

Both stores are open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily and are closed on Sunday.

For information, call 708-424-1800 or visit Southtown Paint and Wallpaper.

Tinley to Vote on Tax Break for Duvan Park

Tinley officials are expected to vote Tuesday on extending a real estate tax incentive to help revitalize businesses within the Duvan Industrial Park just west of Harlem Avenue and 175th Street.

Trustees are expected to approve seeking a Class 8 designation for businesses within the industrial park, which would encourage new construction, substantial rehabilitation and filling unoccupied spaces by lowering the improved property’s tax assessment for the next 12 years. If the property is found to qualify, it will be assessed at 10 percent during the first 10 years, 15 percent during the 11th year and 20 percent during the 12th year.

The property has had such a Class 8 designation from Cook County since 2008.

Mobil Station Goes Citgo

Motorists on Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park may have noticed the station at 16701 S. Oak Park Ave. has taken down the Mobil signage. The station has new owners and is expected to convert to a Citgo station.

Nothing has changed for Diana’s Kitchen, which occupies the adjoining restaurant space and runs the morning diner at the 80th Avenue Metra station in Tinley Park.

Billiards Parlor Closes

Pro-Tyme Classic Billiards closed recently at 15605 S. 94th Avenue in Orland Park.

New McDonald’s to Present Site Plan

Orland officials are expected to hear site plans and other proposals regarding the new McDonald’s restaurant planned for a 1.5-acre site at the southeast corner of 179th Street and Wolf Road in Orland Park.

Ma/GMX Orland Park LLC has proposed demolishing a building at 11111 W. 179th St. and replacing it with a 3,911-square-foot McDonald’s with double drive-through lanes and parking for 39 cars.

The move would displace a Great Clips hair salon and a former Blockbuster store.

Panera to Donate Food for Every Baguette Sold

For the next week, when you buy a baguette at Panera Bread, three people will get a free meal.

Through Dec. 23, Panera will donate the equivalent of three meals to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana for every baguette purchased in one of its 88 Chicago locations. The loaves of French bread range in price from $2.79 to $3.39.

Charter Fitness Annual Toy Drive

Orland Park-based Charter Fitness is collecting new, unwrapped toys through Dec. 21 at participating locations. Toys will be donated to Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army and Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn.

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.