Dukes Drive-In, which closed its longtime Bridgeview location in 2019, is reopening later this year inside the former Hog Wild Express at the Gas-n-Wash at 19990 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena. (Photo by Bob Bong)
Comings & Goings: Dukes to finally re-open, in Mokena
By Bob Bong
When Dukes Drive-In closed its longtime home in Bridgeview in 2019 to make way for a Panera Bread, people wanted to know where the restaurant would be relocating and how soon before it was open again.
There were all kinds of rumors. None came true. Until now.
Dukes Drive-In will be reopening as Duke’s Italian Beef inside the Gas-n-Wash at 19990 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena.
There will be a drive-thru, but no drive-in spots.
According to Dukes Facebook page, there will be ample room in a parking lot behind the Gas-n-Wash to continue the restaurant’s popular cruise nights.
Jeannine Skarbek-Kubas, director of marketing for Gas-n-Wash, said Dukes will be taking the place of Hog Wild Express, which closed earlier this month. She said the opening for Dukes is set for mid-June.
Dukes will be reopening under new ownership but will stay in the family. Bud Dukes opened the drive-in 44 years ago. The new owner, Bill Humphrey, is his son-in-law.
In a video on Facebook, he said he had the blessing of his mother-in-law, Joan, to bring Dukes back.
Humphrey said initial plans to relocate were put on hold. First, because of some illnesses in the family and then because of COVID.
Humphrey said the new Dukes will still have the same flavor its customers came to love over the years because the restaurant has contracted with the same suppliers it used in Bridgeview.
You can follow the progress of the new Dukes on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DukesBeef
Speaking of Gas-n-Wash
Skarbek-Kubas also confirmed that Gas-n-Wash will be opening a new gas station and convenience store at 4361 W. 127th St. in Alsip on Friday, May 6.
The store will be open 24 hours. A car wash will be available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The Alsip location will feature a Dunkin’ Donuts, Tacanijo Tacos, and Beggars Pizza.
Summit House of BBQ opening
A new barbecue restaurant is expected to open this week in Summit.
The Summit House of BBQ restaurant is opening in the former Thirsty Pig barbecue joint at 6312 S. Harlem Ave. Owners said they were hoping to be open this week.
The Thirsty Pig closed back in 2019 after a brief run as a barbecue joint.
Prior to becoming the Thirsty Pig, it had been Grand Duke’s, which specialized in Eastern European cuisine. Grand Duke’s moved from its longtime Summit location to Downers Grove to follow its customers.
Bath & Body Works coming to Quarry Mall
A Bath & Body Works store is coming to the Quarry Mall in Hodgkins. The grand opening is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 20. The opening has been delayed because of fire sprinkler issues.
If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.
Local News
Saquan Commings’ pick-six highlights Curie shutout of Mather
Slowly but surely, Curie is learning how to win again. The Condors were one of the Public League’s top football programs earlier this century, advancing to the IHSA playoffs 11 times from 2005-19 and winning 41 games between 2014-17. But before first-year coach Jarve Lewis-Bey arrived this fall, Curie had only four victories in the…
Universal hires Mustafa Sulaiman as boys basketball coach
Mustafa Sulaiman wasn’t looking for another job, but one came looking for him. Ibrahim is a familiar figure in Chicago-area prep basketball circles as the creator of the Xposure Runs podcast and the Chitown Showcase for uncommitted players trying to raise their recruiting profile. Now he’s also the head coach at Universal. Sulaiman was hired…
AJ Powell does it all for Evergreen Park in win vs. Reavis
Anything you can do, chances are AJ Powell can do better. The 5-foot-9, 150-pound senior demonstrated that in a 21-13 Week 7 win against Reavis in South Suburban Red action. Playing running back and cornerback, Powell rushed 11 times for 83 yards. On defense, he had 9.5 tackles and two interceptions. Powell also blocked an…
Jack’s back: Elliott leads Mount Carmel past Joliet Catholic
Welcome back, Jack. Senior quarterback Jack Elliott missed Mount Carmel’s loss to Brother Rice in Week 6 with an injury. But he was back in the Caravan lineup for Week 7 against Joliet Catholic in Chicago. How much of an impact did Elliott have in Mount Carmel’s 35-21 triumph over the Hilltoppers? A significant one.…
Argo loses to Eisenhower on touchdown in closing seconds
A 19-14 South Suburban Red road loss to Eisenhower in Week 7 gave Argo coach Phillip Rossberg a bad case of déjà vu. Two weeks earlier, the Argonauts traveled to Tinley Park for a South Suburban crossover and lost to the Titans by the same score in a similar fashion. In both games, a big…
Bridgeview firefighter’s haunted house returns to spook locals
Bridgeview firefighter Tony Roeback’s graveyard-themed haunted house display is back for locals and neighboring townies to enjoy this Halloween season. The go-to haunted house at 7216 W. 72nd St. is back, featuring popular animatronics from Halloween movie classics, unique light fixtures, projection shows, and live performances to get neighbors into the Halloween spirit. Ringleader Tony…
Vulcan pays McCook $1.5 million to settle dumping lawsuit
Charging a company $4 for each truckload of clean debris dumped into a former quarry may not sound like much, but when you do the math, as McCook Mayor Terrance Carr said last Monday night, those truckloads add up. “It’s nothing, but when you’ve got thousands of trucks and years of dumping, it can add…
Cheerio! Lyons bars can open at 7 a.m. Sunday for early Bears game
By mayoral decree, Bears fans can start drinking earlier Sunday at bars in Lyons. The Bears play Jacksonville in London and the kickoff will be at 8:30 a.m. Chicago time Sunday. Usually, Lyons bars can’t open until 10 a.m. on Sunday. But they will be allowed to open and start serving at 7 a.m. With…
Oak Lawn United Methodist Church to open Pumpkin Patch this weekend
Every year about now, the First United Methodist Church of Oak Lawn celebrates the season by trucking in thousands of orange gourds for its Pumpkin Patch. People look forward to the return of the Pumpkin Patch, which this year runs from October 13 to October 31 on the church grounds at 100th Street and Central…
Worth Fall Fest ushers in the season
Fall is in the air. The Worth Park District welcomed the season with its annual Fall Fest on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Gale Moore Park, 109th Street and Nordica Avenue, Worth. “Getting everyone out in the community to enjoy what we offer makes me really happy,” said Stephanie Analitis, superintendent of recreation for the Worth…
Neighbors
Saquan Commings’ pick-six highlights Curie shutout of Mather
Slowly but surely, Curie is learning how to win again. The Condors were one of the Public League’s top football programs earlier this century, advancing to the IHSA playoffs 11 times from 2005-19 and winning 41 games between 2014-17. But before first-year coach Jarve Lewis-Bey arrived this fall, Curie had only four victories in the…
Universal hires Mustafa Sulaiman as boys basketball coach
Mustafa Sulaiman wasn’t looking for another job, but one came looking for him. Ibrahim is a familiar figure in Chicago-area prep basketball circles as the creator of the Xposure Runs podcast and the Chitown Showcase for uncommitted players trying to raise their recruiting profile. Now he’s also the head coach at Universal. Sulaiman was hired…
AJ Powell does it all for Evergreen Park in win vs. Reavis
Anything you can do, chances are AJ Powell can do better. The 5-foot-9, 150-pound senior demonstrated that in a 21-13 Week 7 win against Reavis in South Suburban Red action. Playing running back and cornerback, Powell rushed 11 times for 83 yards. On defense, he had 9.5 tackles and two interceptions. Powell also blocked an…
Jack’s back: Elliott leads Mount Carmel past Joliet Catholic
Welcome back, Jack. Senior quarterback Jack Elliott missed Mount Carmel’s loss to Brother Rice in Week 6 with an injury. But he was back in the Caravan lineup for Week 7 against Joliet Catholic in Chicago. How much of an impact did Elliott have in Mount Carmel’s 35-21 triumph over the Hilltoppers? A significant one.…
Argo loses to Eisenhower on touchdown in closing seconds
A 19-14 South Suburban Red road loss to Eisenhower in Week 7 gave Argo coach Phillip Rossberg a bad case of déjà vu. Two weeks earlier, the Argonauts traveled to Tinley Park for a South Suburban crossover and lost to the Titans by the same score in a similar fashion. In both games, a big…
Bridgeview firefighter’s haunted house returns to spook locals
Bridgeview firefighter Tony Roeback’s graveyard-themed haunted house display is back for locals and neighboring townies to enjoy this Halloween season. The go-to haunted house at 7216 W. 72nd St. is back, featuring popular animatronics from Halloween movie classics, unique light fixtures, projection shows, and live performances to get neighbors into the Halloween spirit. Ringleader Tony…
Vulcan pays McCook $1.5 million to settle dumping lawsuit
Charging a company $4 for each truckload of clean debris dumped into a former quarry may not sound like much, but when you do the math, as McCook Mayor Terrance Carr said last Monday night, those truckloads add up. “It’s nothing, but when you’ve got thousands of trucks and years of dumping, it can add…
Cheerio! Lyons bars can open at 7 a.m. Sunday for early Bears game
By mayoral decree, Bears fans can start drinking earlier Sunday at bars in Lyons. The Bears play Jacksonville in London and the kickoff will be at 8:30 a.m. Chicago time Sunday. Usually, Lyons bars can’t open until 10 a.m. on Sunday. But they will be allowed to open and start serving at 7 a.m. With…
Oak Lawn United Methodist Church to open Pumpkin Patch this weekend
Every year about now, the First United Methodist Church of Oak Lawn celebrates the season by trucking in thousands of orange gourds for its Pumpkin Patch. People look forward to the return of the Pumpkin Patch, which this year runs from October 13 to October 31 on the church grounds at 100th Street and Central…
Worth Fall Fest ushers in the season
Fall is in the air. The Worth Park District welcomed the season with its annual Fall Fest on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Gale Moore Park, 109th Street and Nordica Avenue, Worth. “Getting everyone out in the community to enjoy what we offer makes me really happy,” said Stephanie Analitis, superintendent of recreation for the Worth…
