Business Comings & Goings: Windy City Flower Girls Wins Prestigious Knot Award

Windy City Flower Girls of Oak Lawn has been selected as a 2013 winner The Knot Best of Weddings, a special section featured on TheKnot.com/BOW.

The Knot Best of Weddings 2013 provides a “by brides, for brides” guide to the top wedding professionals across the country, and is a must-have when it comes to selecting the best-of-the-best wedding resources, according to a news release.

"Whether [brides are] trying to find the wedding dress salon with the best service in Philadelphia, the most creative wedding photographers in Los Angeles, New York’s top cake bakers or Miami’s hottest reception sites, engaged couples across the country want the inside scoop on the best from real brides."

Windy City Flower Girls opened at 5419 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn in 2010. Since then, owner Aimee Bachmann has since made her mark with her one-of-a-kind traditional and unconvential blossoms and visionary designs. Bachmann offers a wide selection of unique gifts, bouquests and floral design for all occasions.

The tipping point for the presitgous award was this submission by delighted bride: “[Bachmann's] ideas and visions are wonderful. She is great about sticking to a budget and goes the extra mile to make sure everything looks amazing!”

Windy City Flower Girls joins which was named a 2012 Knot Best of Weddings winner.

Hardboiled Coffee Opens Next Week in Beverly

After 12 years in the wine business at Merchandise Mart, Gregg Wilson was looking for something different.

He decided a cozy coffeehouse with some character was just the thing.

That is what he hopes Hardboiled Coffee Co. will be when it opens next week at 9135 S. Western Ave. on the Beverly side of the street.

“The theme is pulp novels, film noir and detective fiction, just to give it a little character” said Wilson.

Wilson said he’s not a fan of coffeehouses with coffees from around the world. “Too many times the coffee just isn’t fresh.”

That’s not going to be a problem at Hardboiled, he said.

“Our beans come from a single family farm in Honduras,” he said. “The coffee will be strong but smooth. The coffee will be roasted on site in small batches so it will always be fresh.”

Wilson said the coffeehouse has been a neighborhood effort.

“I just live down the street,” he said. “The architect and workers are from the neighborhood.”

He hopes to continue to be neighborly with local businesses starting with Horse Thief Hollow Brewing, which is opening next week down the street at 10426 S. Western.

“He’ll be using my coffee,” Wilson said.

Hardboiled will definitely be cozy. “We’re your basic storefront; about 1,000 square feet,” he said.

In addition to tables and chairs, there will be a couch. “I always wanted a couch,” Wilson said describing the 1920s art deco settee that will adorn the coffeehouse.

Besides coffee, Hardboiled will serve espresso, capachino, basic pastries, fruit smoothies and hot chocolate.

“I really, really want to known for our hot chocolate,” he said. “I have a machine that makes chocolate syrup out of real chocolate.”

The coffeehouse will be open initially from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. “After the Meijer and Menards open across the street in Evergreen Park, I might extend the hours,” he said.

For information, visit the Hardboiled Coffee Co. or check out its Facebook page.

Oak Lawn Midas Offers Free Repairs

In an effort to give back to the community, Matthew Corlieto, owner of the Midas of Oak Lawn auto shop, is offering free auto repairs to Oak Lawn residents who are in need.

Corlieto said it could be a family that needs auto repairs but doesn’t have the financial resources, or a jobseeker who can’t find work without a car, or a mom that needs to drive the kids to school or caring for a person with special needs.

Corlieto, whose family has owned the Midas shop for 12 years, said he deals with a lot of charities and he felt this was another way of giving back to the Oak Lawn community.

He said anyone who knows of someone in need of auto repairs can contact him at Midas, 11009 S. Cicero Ave., or by phone at 708-425-2100.

New Owners Promise to Clean Up Evergreen Park Marathon

Two brothers have pledged to clean up the Marathon gas station at 3831 W. 95th St. in Evergreen Park when they take ownership on Friday, Feb. 1.

Arif Hussain and Zach Hussain were approved recently for a business license to operate the gas station.

Moraine Valley seeks interviewers

The Job Resource Center at Moraine Valley Community College is seeking employers to participate in Mock Interview Day on Wednesday, Feb. 20, from 2-5 p.m. in the Moraine Business and Conference Center (Building M), 9000 W. College Pkwy., Palos Hills.

Participating employers will engage in a formal, 30-minute mock interview with students, alumni and community members. During the first 20 minutes, employers will ask a series of general interview questions provided by the college. The remaining 10 minutes will be used to offer feedback and helpful tips to the interviewee.

Business people who would like to volunteer their time as interviewers should call 708-974-5313 or email jrc@morainevalley.edu.

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com and www.southlandsavvy.com.