Business Comings & Goings: New Bookstore Opens At Chicago Ridge Mall

Books-a-Million opened its third Chicago-area bookstore last week inside the former Borders Express store at Chicago Ridge Mall.

Store manager Brandon Wolak said the retailer has been successful in the South and decided the recent demise of Borders gave it an opportunity to expand in the North.

The retailer opened a store in Southlake Mall in Hobart, Ind., late last year and will open another store in a couple of weeks at Fox Valley Center in Aurora. The company has had a store in downtown Chicago for a while, Wolak said.

Wolak brushed aside concerns that bookstores are dying out. He said there is still demand for books.

“We have more than enough customers who don’t like to read e-books or books online,” he said. “They like the feel of a real book.”

The Chicago Ridge Mall location is located close to Sears. The store is smaller than most Books-a-Million locations, but Wolak said that despite its size, the store features a Joe Muggs Café coffee shop and espresso bar, books, magazines, cards, gifts and collectible supplies.

“We have all the books people would want,” he said.

The store employs seven to eight people, he said.

Books-a-Million is the third largest books retailer in the United States with more 250 stores.

For information, call 708-423-4285 or visit Books-a-Million.

Aquatics Center Closed on Thursday

Talk about bad timing. , 9401 S. Nashville Ave., will be closed on Thursday for electrical upgrades. Of course, weathermen are predicting 100 degrees as the high for that day.

Free Tickets for Country Throwdown

Toyota Park in Bridgeview is giving away 100 free tickets to Saturday’s Country Throwdown 2012. Visit Free Country Throwdown Tickets for your chance to get a free ticket.

Country stars Gary Allan and Rodney Atkins headline this year’s show that also features Josh Thompson, Sunny Sweeney, Eric Paslay Florida Georgia Line and Maggie Rose.

The event also includes the Bluebird Café Tent, featuring Rose Falcon, Carly Pearce and Channing Wilson, who will perform intimate “in the round” sets throughout the day along with nightly performances during main stage set changes.

Tickets are regularly $40.50 for general admission with 50 cents going to Unite the United charity.

Folding chairs are allowed in the stadium but no blanket seating.

Tailgating begins at 11 a.m. when the parking lot opens. Doors open at 2 p.m. The show starts at 3:30 p.m. and lasts until 11 p.m.

Chamber Celebrates Fourth of July with Parade

The Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the Fourth of July next week with its seventh annual Independence Day Parade westbound on 95th Street from 51st Avenue to 55th Court.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. and more than 100 entries are registered including military color guards, team mascots, antique cars, dignitaries, bands, floats and fire trucks.

Vote Expected on Field of Dreams

The City Council in Dyersville, Iowa, is expected to vote next week on annexing property that was the site of the “Field of Dreams” baseball movie starring Kevin Costner.

The land is being acquired by Oak Lawn residents Michael and Denise Stillman, who have ambitious plans to build a baseball and softball complex called All-Star Ballpark Heaven on the property.

Dyersville city officials recently approved a memorandum of understanding with the Stillmans regarding the property and the project.

Iowa state officials are on board with the plan and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a state tax break for the project.

A call to Denise Stillman at All-Star Ballpark Heaven was not returned.

Sara Lee to Close Outlet Store

In case you missed it, Sara Lee Corp. announced last week that it will be closing the company’s popular outlet store 5711 W. 95th St. by the end of November as part of the corporation’s split this week into two separate entities. Also closing is another Sara Lee outlet store in Homewood.

Farmers Market Features FirstMerit Bank and Oak Lawn Patch

is the featured business at today’s farmers market. There is no farmers market next week because of the Fourth of July holiday.

Stop by and visit Oak Lawn Patch, which will be sharing a table with and pick up some free Patch gear.

We hear is bringing a treat truck.

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.