Round the Clock closes in Lansing
Lansing’s Round the Clock restaurant closed last month without any warning.
The eatery at 17601 S. Torrence Ave. has brown paper on the windows and has been shuttered for several weeks.
The restaurant had cut back its hours last summer to 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Messages to the main location in Highland, Indiana, were not returned.
Other Round the Clock locations in Highland and Schererville in northwest Indiana are still open 24 hours. The chain has been in business since 1963.
This is the chain’s second Illinois location that didn’t make it.
Several years ago, a location next to Marcus Cinemas in Orland Park closed. That location eventually reopened as a Wu’s House restaurant featuring Asian cuisine.
Illinois Billiard Club not for sale — yet
Even though it is being advertised as for sale for $798,000, Illinois Billiard Club owner Jim Parker is not certain he wants to retire and sell the Willow Springs business.
Parker and his wife, Bonnie, own the Illinois Billiard Club and Bonnie’s Dining & Banquets at 8442 S. Archer Ave., which has called Willow Springs home since 1989.
“I’m not 100% decided on retirement,” Jim Parker said on Sunday. “It’s really tough to give up everything you’ve worked for your whole life.”
“I’m still on the fence about selling.”
The billiard club and Bonnie’s share the same building but operate as separate entities.
The advertisement says the property includes two apartments, including one used by the Parkers. There are slot machines and a banquet facility that can accommodate up to 100 guests.
The Parkers moved their businesses and themselves to Willow Springs in 1989 from Chicago.
Tinley brings back Brew and Vine Festival
Now that the pandemic is easing, Tinley Park announced it will be bringing back its popular Brew and Vine Festival, which had been canceled the last two years because of COVID-19 concerns.
The festival is set for the evening of April 9, at the Tinley Park Convention Center at 183rd Street and Harlem Avenue, next to the Even Hotel.
Guests will be able to sample craft beer, wine and food from a wide variety of vendors, all set to music provided by the Walk-Ins from 4 to 6 p.m. and Reckless from 6:30 to 10 p.m.
Tickets are $40 for general admission, $60 for VIP admission, and $15 for designated drivers.
Scoop reopens with winter hours
The Scoop ice cream shop in Tinley Park is open again with winter hours now in effect.
The shop at 17326 S. Oak Park Ave. in downtown Tinley Park is open daily from 2-9 p.m.
The shop is also hiring for its morning teams when those hours return later this year. Hiring is underway for the 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. shift and the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift.
The Scoop will be open at 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 6, for early bird visitors for the Tinley Park St. Patrick’s Day parade that kicks off at 1 p.m.
Jersey Mike’s raises money for Special Olympics
During the month of March, customers can make a donation at any Jersey Mike’s restaurant in the southern suburbs to help nearly 80 Team Illinois athletes and the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, held June 5-12, in Orlando, Fla.
This is the 12th annual March Month of Giving campaign sponsored by the restaurant chain.
Athletes will compete in 19 sports including athletics, gymnastics, swimming, tennis, basketball, flag football and many more.
The campaign will culminate with Jersey Mike’s Day of Giving on March 30, when 100% of the day’s sales will be donated to the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games and local state programs.
International soccer tournament coming to SeatGeek Stadium
Soccer teams from North, Central and South America will be at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview this summer, vying for their share of a $100,000 prize.
Copa Mariachi Chicago will feature 32 teams and be played at the stadium June 4 and 5.
The winning team will get $80,000, and the second-place team pockets $20,000.
Copa Mariachi has been held elsewhere in the United States, last year in Houston, owner and founder Julio Roa said at a news conference last week.
He said Chicago was picked because it’s a great location that’s centrally located with plenty of soccer fans.
“There’s going to be a lot of games played,” Roa said. “Each team plays three games. … There are enough fields. Here at the stadium and the outside fields.”
“It’s amateur, but we try to do it as professionally as we can,” he said. “We have three months to work and we’re going to do our best.”
Bob Bong is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at bobbong@hotmail.com.
