Jet’s Pizza to open in Mokena, Matteson
Jet’s Pizza operators want to bring Detroit-style pizza to Chicago and the chain has embarked on an expansion plan that calls for new locations in Mokena and Matteson in the south suburbs.
The chain has had a pizzeria in Tinley Park since 2013 and expects to open five new stores in the Chicago market this year.
In addition to the Mokena and Matteson locations, new pizzerias are coming to Chicago’s Hyde Park, Jefferson Park and Rogers Park neighborhoods.
In addition to their square Detroit-style pizza, the new Jet’s Pizza locations also plan to serve hand-tossed, thin crust, New York-style, gluten free and cauliflower crust pies, fresh salads, sandwiches and desserts.
The new locations are expected to open later this year. The new stores will bring the number of Jet’s Pizza locations to 24.
The Mokena location is coming to 11232 Lincoln Highway, a former That Girl Boutique. The Matteson location is coming to 4605 Lincoln Highway, a former Sears Auto Center. Scheduled to join Jet’s Pizza in that location is a Captain D’s seafood restaurant.
Jet’s Pizza did have a second location at 7154 W. 127th St. in Palos Heights, but it closed early in 2017.
The Michigan-based chain, which calls itself the 17th largest pizza chain in the country, is in an expansion mode and the Tinley Park location was its first in the Southland.
Slice Factory coming to Lyons
Berwyn-based Slice Factory pizzeria is expanding to Lyons.
The pizzeria has 10 locations, including Oak Lawn, Burbank, and Chicago’s Archer Heights neighborhood.
The new location is in the former Metropolitan Bank building at 8744 W. Ogden Ave.
A special use permit to operate a drive-through restaurant was approved by the Lyons Village Board at its Feb. 15 meeting.
Slice Factory was founded by Domenico DiDiana, whose family came from Naples and has been selling pizza in the Chicago area since the late 1990s.
DiDiana said he thinks the new site can be open by June.
Insurance agency grand opening
Vanessa Alvarado Farmers Insurance Agency held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 19 at the office, 7330 W. College Drive, Suite 203, Palos Heights. The free event featured office tours, refreshments, raffles and more.
The office officially opened Dec. 1, and took over an existing Farmers Insurance Agency location. Alvarado said she was happy to be in the Palos Heights area and looks forward to growing her business.
Flossmoor Station celebrates Women’s Day
Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery is joining the Pink Boots Society in celebrating women in beer professions on International Women’s Day.
In honor of it, Flossmoor Station brewmaster Ryan Czaja joined nearly 500 breweries nationwide in brewing a new, collaborative craft beer on March 8.
Flossmoor Station owner Carolyn Armstrong founded the brewery nearly 26 years ago, pioneering both microbreweries throughout the country and women-owned breweries. She emphasized the importance of celebrating women in the industry, the mission of the Pink Boots Society.
“People traditionally think of craft beer as something that is of more interest to men,” she said. “But we have a strong contingency of female employees, patrons and other women in the community who enjoy and support the craft beer business, and I’m happy to join the Pink Boots Society in recognizing all of them on International Women’s Day.”
To celebrate, Czaja is brewing a hazy, New England-style IPA named “Southern Belle” after Texas-born Armstrong, and employees will be wearing “Team Belle Hops” shirts to raise awareness.
The new craft beer will be tapped next week, and Flossmoor Station will be donating $1 from each pint sold to the Chicago Branch of the Pink Boots Society to support scholarships and other educational initiatives to advance women in the industry.
“We encourage everyone to join us for a pint or two at the Station to support a good cause — amazing women involved in the noble profession of brewing great craft beer,” Armstrong said.
Flossmoor Station is located at 1035 Sterling Ave. in Flossmoor.
New airline starts up at Midway
Avelo Airlines announced Tuesday it will begin nonstop service between Chicago’s Midway Airport and southern Connecticut.
With the addition of Midway, Chicago becomes Avelo’s first Midwestern destination.
Introductory $69 one-way fares between Midway and Connecticut’s Tweed-New Haven Airport are available at AveloAir.com.
Bob Bong is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at bobbong@hotmail.com.
