dvn the roomplace logo

The RoomPlace closing south suburban stores

Lombard-based The RoomPlace is in the final days of a bankruptcy sale at its Illinois stores.

Sales are underway at locations in Orland Park at 14920 S. LaGrange Road, Homewood at 18150 S. Halsted, and in Chicago at 8027 S. Cicero Ave.

The furniture chain was founded in 1912 by Sam Berman as a small furniture store in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago. In 1950, they opened a new store on Harlem Avenue in Chicago, opening up as Harlem Furniture. A second store would open up over three decades later in 1985 between 79th Street and Cicero Avenue in Chicago, followed by several other new stores by 1990.

In the early 2000s, Harlem Furniture would change its name to The RoomPlace.

Palos Park Police conduct annual food drive

Once again, this holiday season, the Palos Park Police are holding their annual Holiday Food Drive. They are looking for donations of non-perishable foods such as canned goods or boxed goods.

The program is another way to give back to the community and help families that are in need.  All donations will go help out families that are from the greater southwest suburban area.  

Police will accept donations at the Palos Park Police Department, 8999 W. 123rd Street. Donations will be accepted through January 1.

All donations will go to the local Food Pantries that help families within the Palos area.  To request a pick-up and more information, please call 708-671-3771 or email Jmiller@palospark.org  

Donations can also be dropped off at the following locations:

  • Palos Park Recreation Center, 8901 W. 123rd St.
  • Palos Park Library, 12330 Forest Glen Blvd.
  • Palos Park Metra Station 12200 S. 82nd Avenue
  • Village of Palos Park Kaptur Administrative Center, 8999 W. 123rd St.

Babies R Us opens in Hodgkins

Babies R Us, which went out of business in 2018, is reopening stores inside of Kohl’s Department stores.

The company said it plans to open 200 new stores. One of the first has reopened inside the Kohl’s in Hodgkins.

The stores feature an assortment of the latest baby gear, furniture, activities, accessories and more.

The partnership between Babies R Us and Kohl’s was first announced in March. Each store will range from 750 to 2,500 square feet of dedicated space of baby gear, including brands like including Graco, Chicco, Boppy, Skip Hop, Delta Children, Fisher-Price Carter’s and more.

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

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Southwest Regional Publishing basketball roundup, Dec. 4-5

Dec. 5 Boys TF North 67, Argo 52: Kassam Saleh scored 15 for the Argonauts (2-3, 0-1 South Suburban Red). Girls Reavis 49, Tinley Park 25: Emily Grochola scored 13 points to lead the Rams (4-2, 1-0 South Suburban Red) past the Titans. Shepard 52, TF South 49: Jessica Manley’s 21 points helped the Astros…

With his mom Nicole at his side, Richards running back Myles Mitchell made his college commitment to North Dakota State official on Dec. 4. Photo by Mike Clark

Richards’ Myles Mitchell signs with North Dakota State

Myles Mitchell is one of the state’s premier running backs, with a bright future with one of the nation’s best FCS programs. But the path hasn’t always been easy for the Richards senior, who made his college commitment to North Dakota State official during a signing ceremony on Dec. 4. “Eighth grade was kind of…

Brad Johnson Jr. scored a game-high 19 points to help Curie rally past Lane 48-46 on Dec. 5. Photo by Mike Clark

Brad Johnson Jr. finds range, leads Curie past Lane

Facing what was literally a tall task against Lane on Dec. 5, Curie was in serious need of a spark. Brad Johnson Jr. provided it. Led by 6-foot-10 Penn recruit Dalton Scantlebury, Lane is one of the area’s biggest teams. Curie was undersized by comparison in the Public League Red Shield opener and trailed by…

An inflatable Santa waved to the crowd from the back of a flatbed truck. (Photos by Nuha Abdessalam)

Orland Park Christmas parade lights up the season

“Even in the cold, this parade warms your heart,” said Cathy Garner, an Orland Park resident who joined her twin daughters in Sunday’s Christmas Parade. With temperatures hovering at 25 degrees but feeling like 15 due to the wind chill, residents bundled up in blankets, winter coats, and hats for the beloved tradition. The parade…

23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares

Chicago poll a ‘North Star’ amid 2025 budget disputes, local aldermen say

Change Research conducted an online survey of 801 general election voters from Nov. 18-21, focusing on Chicago’s budget negotiations. The city-wide poll was conducted to discover residents’ opinions about various topics such as politician and group favorability, property taxes, city spending, Chicago’s sanctuary city status and more. The majority of poll respondents identified as Democrats;…

basketball stock

Southwest Regional Publishing basketball roundup, Dec. 2-3

Dec. 3 Boys Andrew 72, Argo 50: Darron Greer Jr. led the Argonauts (2-2) with 14 points. Evergreen Park 70, U-High 58: Keshaun Vaval had 25 points to lead the Mustangs (3-1). Lonnie Mosley added 17 points and Camryn Dandridge grabbed 14 rebounds. Lemont 65, Stagg 35: Omar Barakat scored 17 for the Chargers (0-4).…

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Football signing day: Local recruits

Here is a list of football players in the Southwest Regional Publishing coverage area committed to Division I schools. Please email additions or corrections to mikeclarkpreps@gmail.com. Brother Rice Tyler Lofton, RB, Illinois State Jimmie Maxson, WR, North Dakota Charlie Stec, Edge, Western Illinois Lyons Tyler Chambers, OL, Northern Illinois Travis Stamm, WR, Illinois State Marist…

CRR_NH

Clear-Ridge Reporter and NewsHound December 4, 2024

Junior Michael Oliver Jr. will be counted on for scoring and leadership for Curie this season. Photo by Mike Clark

Michael Oliver Jr. offers veteran presence for new-look Curie

There are a lot of new faces at Curie this winter. Gone are the five senior starters from a 31-3 team that won the Public League title and lost by two points to eventual Class 4A champion Homewood-Flossmoor in the Elite Eight. But veteran coach Mike Oliver is back and so is his son, junior…

Argo's Kassam Saleh tries to split defenders on his way to the basket for a layup against Plainfield South on Nov. 27. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Boys basketball notebook: Kassam Saleh, Argo aiming high this season

Kassam Saleh is ready to set the tone for Argo. “As time goes on you gain the most experience on the team and become that leader for everyone else,” said Saleh, a senior guard. “They follow you.” The Argonauts finished runner-up in the John McBride Classic at Stagg, falling 50-44 to Plainfield South on Nov.…

Neighbors

basketball stock

Southwest Regional Publishing basketball roundup, Dec. 4-5

Dec. 5 Boys TF North 67, Argo 52: Kassam Saleh scored 15 for the Argonauts (2-3, 0-1 South Suburban Red). Girls Reavis 49, Tinley Park 25: Emily Grochola scored 13 points to lead the Rams (4-2, 1-0 South Suburban Red) past the Titans. Shepard 52, TF South 49: Jessica Manley’s 21 points helped the Astros…

With his mom Nicole at his side, Richards running back Myles Mitchell made his college commitment to North Dakota State official on Dec. 4. Photo by Mike Clark

Richards’ Myles Mitchell signs with North Dakota State

Myles Mitchell is one of the state’s premier running backs, with a bright future with one of the nation’s best FCS programs. But the path hasn’t always been easy for the Richards senior, who made his college commitment to North Dakota State official during a signing ceremony on Dec. 4. “Eighth grade was kind of…

Brad Johnson Jr. scored a game-high 19 points to help Curie rally past Lane 48-46 on Dec. 5. Photo by Mike Clark

Brad Johnson Jr. finds range, leads Curie past Lane

Facing what was literally a tall task against Lane on Dec. 5, Curie was in serious need of a spark. Brad Johnson Jr. provided it. Led by 6-foot-10 Penn recruit Dalton Scantlebury, Lane is one of the area’s biggest teams. Curie was undersized by comparison in the Public League Red Shield opener and trailed by…

An inflatable Santa waved to the crowd from the back of a flatbed truck. (Photos by Nuha Abdessalam)

Orland Park Christmas parade lights up the season

“Even in the cold, this parade warms your heart,” said Cathy Garner, an Orland Park resident who joined her twin daughters in Sunday’s Christmas Parade. With temperatures hovering at 25 degrees but feeling like 15 due to the wind chill, residents bundled up in blankets, winter coats, and hats for the beloved tradition. The parade…

23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares

Chicago poll a ‘North Star’ amid 2025 budget disputes, local aldermen say

Change Research conducted an online survey of 801 general election voters from Nov. 18-21, focusing on Chicago’s budget negotiations. The city-wide poll was conducted to discover residents’ opinions about various topics such as politician and group favorability, property taxes, city spending, Chicago’s sanctuary city status and more. The majority of poll respondents identified as Democrats;…

basketball stock

Southwest Regional Publishing basketball roundup, Dec. 2-3

Dec. 3 Boys Andrew 72, Argo 50: Darron Greer Jr. led the Argonauts (2-2) with 14 points. Evergreen Park 70, U-High 58: Keshaun Vaval had 25 points to lead the Mustangs (3-1). Lonnie Mosley added 17 points and Camryn Dandridge grabbed 14 rebounds. Lemont 65, Stagg 35: Omar Barakat scored 17 for the Chargers (0-4).…

football-stock

Football signing day: Local recruits

Here is a list of football players in the Southwest Regional Publishing coverage area committed to Division I schools. Please email additions or corrections to mikeclarkpreps@gmail.com. Brother Rice Tyler Lofton, RB, Illinois State Jimmie Maxson, WR, North Dakota Charlie Stec, Edge, Western Illinois Lyons Tyler Chambers, OL, Northern Illinois Travis Stamm, WR, Illinois State Marist…

CRR_NH

Clear-Ridge Reporter and NewsHound December 4, 2024

Junior Michael Oliver Jr. will be counted on for scoring and leadership for Curie this season. Photo by Mike Clark

Michael Oliver Jr. offers veteran presence for new-look Curie

There are a lot of new faces at Curie this winter. Gone are the five senior starters from a 31-3 team that won the Public League title and lost by two points to eventual Class 4A champion Homewood-Flossmoor in the Elite Eight. But veteran coach Mike Oliver is back and so is his son, junior…

Argo's Kassam Saleh tries to split defenders on his way to the basket for a layup against Plainfield South on Nov. 27. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Boys basketball notebook: Kassam Saleh, Argo aiming high this season

Kassam Saleh is ready to set the tone for Argo. “As time goes on you gain the most experience on the team and become that leader for everyone else,” said Saleh, a senior guard. “They follow you.” The Argonauts finished runner-up in the John McBride Classic at Stagg, falling 50-44 to Plainfield South on Nov.…