Comings & Goings: Ruby Tuesday and Potsy's Pizza Close

Christmas shoppers hoping for something to eat or drink at will be disappointed now that the restaurant has closed abruptly.

According to a message on the mall’s Facebook page, Ruby Tuesday closed Dec. 9 without advance notice.

Meredith Hammond, a spokeswoman for Ruby Tuesday, said the restaurant closed Dec. 8 because the franchisee was not renewing the lease. She did not know the franchisee’s name.

In 2009, the franchisee was Peoria-based R.T. Midwest Holdings LLC, which appears to have gone out of business. That same year, Simon Property Group, which owns Orland Square Mall, sued Ruby Tuesday for $69,000 in back rent.

The closest Ruby Tuesday to Orland Park is now in Bourbonnais, according to the company’s website.

Potsy’s Pizza Closes

Tinley Park pizza lovers have one less place to choose from with the closing last week of at 16661 S. 80th Avenue.

Calls to Potsy’s are being forwarded to over on 175th Street, which bought the rights to the phone number. Owner Neal Hummitsch said Salina's is now making "cheese nugget pizza" that Potsy's Pizza promoted. It's a kind of pan pizza with garlic butter and mozzarella.

Gas Stations Rebranded

The deal for Circle K to acquire the gas stations and convenience stores in the Chicago-area has closed and the stations at 159th Street and 94th Avenue and 179th Street and Wolf Road in Orland Park are now sporting Shell gas signs and the stores have been rebranded as Circle K.

Synergy Salon Closes

has apparently closed at 11310 Southwest Highway in Orland Park. Its website is still up but the phone number has been disconnected.

Main Street Relocations

, which is moving in January to the Dania plaza at 14250 S. Ravinia Ave., will receive $196,519. , which is moving to Willowbrook, will receive $63,345. Lang Lee II, a Chinese restaurant that closed in October and that may not reopen, will receive $219,739.

The biggest loss will be if Lang Lee II doesn’t reopen. My wife loved their chicken wings.

Charter Fitness 5th Annual Toy Drive

centers in the Southland are accepting new and unwrapped toys through Tuesday that will be distributed through local charities including Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army and Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn.

"Anybody is encouraged to drop off toys at a Charter Fitness near them. There are a lot of children in need in our communities. We want to help them have the best holiday possible," said Dan Collins, Director of Sales.

Marquette Bank Donates Winter Coats

recently held its Neighborhood Coat and Clothing Drive, an employee-driven effort to collect coats and clothing to give to local organizations.

Throughout September and October, employees donated more than 120 new or gently used coats and other clothing items.  Employee volunteers then sorted all of the donated clothing and distributed them to five neighborhood organizations including: Englewood Cares in Chicago, Metropolitan Family Services in Chicago, Southwest PADS in Chicago, Supportive Services Development Corp. in Chicago and in Tinley Park.

Prior to distribution, all of the coats were dry-cleaned free of charge by .

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.

If you're interested in more local happenings, check out Orland Park business news and Tinley Park business news.