Business Comings & Goings: MetroSouth Opens Med Center in Orland; Sears Outlet on its Way to Tinley

Blue Island-based MetroSouth Medical Center recently opened a facility at 15614 S. Harlem Ave. in Orland Park. It’s the hospital’s 10th such community medical center.

The center is staffed by family practice physician Dr. John Curtin, DO, who merged his practice with MetroSouth to create the MetroSouth Health Center at Orland Park.

For information on office hours, call 708-342-1860.

The hospital is hosting a business after hours through the for the new health center on Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at , 15608 S. Harlem Ave. RSVP to the chamber so they know how many to expect. Or call 708-349-2972.

Pita Oven Closes

Pita Oven, a Mediterranean restaurant that featured Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine, abruptly closed last week. A reader said she went there on Monday and saw employees carting equipment out of the store. The phone number is out of service, which doesn’t suggest they were just moving.

One Sears Closes, Another Coming

The Sears Essential experiment is over in the Southland.

Shortly after Kmart and Sears merged in 2005, the Kmart store at 15830 S. Bell Road in Homer Glen was converted into what was supposed to be the first of many new Sears Essential stores. It was to be a kind of hybrid store with the best of Kmart and Sears under one roof.

The idea didn’t catch on and the store has recently been converted back into a Kmart store.

The store had a soft opening on Halloween and a grand re-opening on Saturday.

Hours are Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

While the Sears Essential store is disappearing, a Sears Outlet store will be opening in in early December in the former Bally Total Fitness, 16040 S. Harlem Ave., Sears spokeswoman Kimberly Freely said Friday. 

The 24,000-square-foot store will carry some new merchandise as well as discontinued, used and scratched or dented merchandise.

Hanania Back on the Air

Orland Park’s Ray Hanania, who dropped his weekday radio show earlier this year after a health scare—and to concentrate on his weekly newspaper columns and weekly radio show—is back on the air from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sundays on time-brokered WSBC-AM (1240).  

Hanania decided to wind down after having heart surgery last December to repair damage caused by a heart murmur.

Susie’s Trunk Show Celebrating Anniversary

Susie’s Trunk Show and Emporium, 9959 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park, is celebrating its second anniversary on Friday, Nov. 18, from 5-9 p.m. There will be shopping specials, raffles, refreshments and more. This is open to the public and also is an Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce event.

Marquette Employees Donate Halloween Treats

Employees of Marquette Bank filled more than 200 Halloween bags and more than 50 treat boxes with candy and small toys for Port Ministries. The bags were handed out by the Port Ministries’ Bread Truck and delivered to less fortunate children in the Chicagoland area.

Entrepreneurial Boot Camp for Veterans

on Wednesday, Nov. 16, will host a full day of business-focused activities developed by veterans for veterans to promote veteran-owned business start-ups and to learn about veteran financing options.

The boot camp is free to veterans and includes a breakfast and lunch. Cost is $25 for business partners of veterans and family members.

Registration starts at 7:45 a.m. The program runs from 8:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

For information, visit Veterans Entrepreneurial Boot Camp.

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.