An aerial view of the packed parking lot behind Duke's Drive-In Mokena on opening night. (Supplied photo)
Comings & Goings: Duke’s opens new drive-in Mokena
By Bob Bong
Duke’s Drive-In Mokena held its grand opening last month and a huge crowd of fans showed up to greet Bill Humphrey upon the return.
Upwards of 100 cars packed the parking lot on June 17 behind the restaurant at 19990 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena and the adjoining parking lot of Belle Tire.
When Duke’s announced it would be closing 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. Then, finally, word came that Duke’s Drive-In would be reopening inside the Gas-n-Wash in Mokena with a drive-thru lane.
Dukes said there would be ample room in a parking lot behind the Gas-n-Wash to continue the restaurant’s popular cruise nights. If opening night was any indication, that is true.
Dukes has new ownership but is still in the family. Bud Dukes opened the drive-in 44 years. The new owner, Bill Humphrey, is his son-in-law.
Earlier this year, 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 still has the same flavor its customers came to love over the years on Harlem Avenue because the restaurant has contracted with the same suppliers it used in Bridgeview.
Jet’s Pizza now open in Mokena
Jet’s Pizza and its Detroit-style pizza has arrived in Mokena and another south suburban location in Matteson will be opening soon.
The chain has had a pizzeria in Tinley Park since 2013 and announced earlier this year it expected 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.
“We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and continued demand for Jet’s to continue adding new locations in the best possible way. It is truly incredible,” says Kevin Tosolt, Director of Marketing, Jet’s America’s Inc. “We could not be more honored to be the household favorite for so many and are thrilled to have the opportunity to serve these new Chicagoland communities in 2022.”
In addition to their square-shaped 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, handcrafted sandwiches, sidekicks, and desserts.
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 in Tinley Park did have a second location at 7154 W. 127th St. in Palos Heights, but it closed early in 2017.
The Michigan-based chain, which proudly calls itself the 17th largest pizza chain in the country, is in an expansion mode. The Tinley location was its first in the Southland.
TK Insurance Services grand opening
The Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for TK Insurance Services Inc. on June 15.
Owner Tina Konieczki was joined by Mayor Michael Glotz, Clerk Nancy O’Connor, Trustees Colleen Sullivan and William Brady, Chamber President Brandy Cafarelli along with family friends and baby grandson.
According to Konieczki’s website, “I am a local, licensed and trained independent insurance agent in Tinley Park. I represent most major companies with a Medicare contract and am qualified to answer any questions you may have.
“At no cost, I will help you find a health plan that best suits your personal healthcare needs and your budget. By educating you on all the options available, I will give you the power to compare and the freedom to choose. Give me a call today. I look forward to helping you.”
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
Willow Springs hires three for police department
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch All three new hires by the Willow Springs Police Department have some experience working in the village. But as of Jan. 27, they are officially members of the police department. The Willow Springs Village Board, at its most recent meeting, hired Andzeliak Bugajski and Anthony Vosicky as part-time officers and…
Argo wrestlers advance to sectionals
Spread the love From staff reports Nine members of the Argo wrestling team qualified for this weekend’s sectional tournament at the IHSA Class 3A regional at Mount Carmel High School last Saturday. Head Wrestling Coach Matthew McMurray said, “It was a great job by all of our wrestlers as they finished in third place. We…
Spartan Educational Foundation presents Rat Pack tribute
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Oak Lawn Community High School’s Spartan Educational Foundation is dedicated to helping students fulfill their dreams. “The Spartan Educational Foundation is continuously looking for opportunities to raise funding to support our student scholarship and staff mini-grant programs,” Michael Riordan, Superintendent at Oak Lawn Community Hight School and Spartan Educational Foundation…
Stickney’s St. Pius X Parish to merge with St. Leonard
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong St. Pius X Parish in Stickney will merge with St. Leonard Parish in Berwyn this summer, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, announced last month. The merger is part of the archdiocese’s ongoing Renew My Church initiative and will take effect on July 1. The new parish will have one…
La Grange twins are Chick Evans scholars
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Long hours spent in the La Grange Country Club’s caddie shack – killing time by reading books or playing cards as they wait to be called to duty – have paid off for a brother and sister. Through the past four years, Caroline and Casey Hart honed their skills, learned…
Fun from above
Spread the love While some folks see heavy snowfall and curse the skies, children in Clearing and Garfield Ridge seemed thrilled with last week’s winter windfall. Schools cancelled classes, and kids like Garfield Ridge sisters Makayla, 10, and 6-year-old Mia Hernandez grabbed their plastic sleds and rode ripples of white all afternoon on a large…
Brother Rice’s 11-game win streak ends with loss to Leo
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer In seemingly a blink of an eye, Brother Rice picked up as many losses as it had all season. The Crusaders headed into last weekend’s action with a 21-2 record and was 10-0 in the Chicago Catholic League Blue. But Friday night, they suffered a 56-50 setback to…
Area Sports Roundup: Six area girls bowling teams headed to sectionals
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer Six area girls bowling teams are headed to sectionals. Reavis and Stagg won IHSA regional titles last Saturday, and four other teams have advanced to this weekend’s action. Reavis won its own regional at Palos Lanes in Palos Hills with a 5,378 in six games, well ahead of…
Marist cheerleaders takes 2nd in state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer After Marist’s cheerleaders watched a video of their state finals performance on Feb. 5, there were some long faces and tears as the girls filed out of the video room and into the cooling-off room. After a long meeting, there were more long faces. “I’ve had better days,”…
Neighbors
Mother Mac unveils new lights and scoreboard
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Across the nation, women’s sports are on the rise in terms of viewership, enthusiasm, sponsorship and excitement. Mother McAuley is no stranger to the impact that women’s athletics has on the development of an individual, strengthening of a team and key skills and attributes developed along the way. South Side…
Cicadas in the park in Palos Park
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Cicadas are coming and the Village of Palos Park is ready. The village hosted its 31st annual Arbor Day Celebration on Sunday, May 5, themed, “The Wonder of Trees” at The Center in the Lodge, 12700 Southwest Highway, with featured speaker, Tricia Bethke of The Morton Arboretum who presented, “Cicadas…
Palos Heights SD 128 sees enrollment boom
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Over the past few years, Palos Heights School District 128 has experienced an explosive growth among incoming students. There has been a significant increase particularly at Indian Hill Early Learning Center, 12800 S. Austin Ave. Chippewa Elementary School, 12425 S. Austin Ave; Navajo Elementary School, 12401 S. Oak Park Ave;…
Comings & Goings: Orange’s Pancake House now open in Palos Heights
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Palos Heights is the home of a popular new breakfast café. Orange’s Pancake House, 11845 Southwest Highway, held a ribbon-cutting event on April 18. Owners, Elvia Briones, of Virgina, and Fernando Cruz, of Evergreen Park, said they were very excited to be in the heart of the Palos Heights community.…
Sisters make Chicago Lawn a world destination
Spread the love. Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . Earlier this month was the Fifth Lithuanian Documentary Film Festival, with distinguished guests from Lithuania and other parts of the United States visiting the neighborhood. They held a photo session in the editorial office of…
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone, everyone
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796 . Yet another Mother’s Day is upon us. I wish everyone a happy day. By everyone I do mean everyone. There are a lot of dads who do it alone, along with important mother…
Mother’s Day is truly a day to be celebrated
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . Mother’s Day happens on Sunday, May 12. If this isn’t something to celebrate, I don’t know what is. Motherhood means new life, new beginnings, new possibilities. Even if you won’t be seeing your mom, you can still…
Saint Xavier men’s volleyball finishes historic season in nation’s top 4
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier men’s volleyball team made history by advancing to the semifinals of the NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Championship. But the Cougars fell to eventual national champion Georgetown (Kentucky), 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 15-10, on May 3 at Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Although there was…