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

Evergreen Park’s Bakari Nelson (right) tries to stop Oak Forest’s 6-foot-10 Robbie Avila Friday night. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Boys Basketball: Evergreen Park riding out toughest stretch of schedule

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer So, how did Evergreen Park get to 9-6 over in its first 15 games? The Mustangs took a rollercoaster ride. In a nutshell: They started the season with four consecutive wins, lost the next three, won five straight and then dropped three in a row. The latest three-game losing streak…

Mary Stanek

Loving the Archer Heights Library

By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place •  (773) 284-7394 Well, that’s it, folks. The holidays are over. Next up in the market are Valentine’s Day candy, paczki, corned beef, Guinness and Peeps. Easter this year is on April 17. I will have to mention that to…

Peggy Zabicki

New year, old challenges

By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327 It’s a new year and a time for new beginnings. Many of us will be starting a new diet program. I plan to do this as soon as I’m done eating the remaining Christmas candy and cookies at my house. Wish me luck! West Lawn…

Kathy Headley

Two ladies gone, but not forgotten

By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 Guessing you have already read the sad news about the passing of Mary Ellen St. Aubin. For those of you that didn’t know, she grew up right here in Chicago Lawn, on 63rd and Richmond, and attended Marquette…

Brandon Kizer

Stepson charged in Evergreen Park murder

By Bob Bong  A 24-year-old Chicago man has been charged with first-degree murder in the New Year’s Eve shooting of his stepfather in Evergreen Park. Brandon K. Kizer, 24, of the 8100 block of South Loomis in Chicago, was charged Sunday with first-degree murder in the death of Anthony Young, 52, on the morning of…

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Clear-Ridge Reporter and NewsHound PDF January 5, 2022

Mary Fabis (right) shows her award from Anita Cummings. --Greater Southwest News-Herald photo by Dermot Connolly

Honored for service to business

Fabis earns UBAM award  By Dermot Connolly The United Business Association of Midway recently honored founding member Mary Fabis with a Lifetime Membership Award for Outstanding Service for her 35 years of work with the business organization she continues to serve as a board member. Fabis, now 92, has owned and operated Archer Travel agency…

With a long and colorful life, Mary Ellen St. Aubin had no shortage of good memories. --Supplied photo

She was a ‘Munchkin by marriage’

Mary Ellen St. Aubin dies at age 101 By Joan Hadac Mary Ellen St. Aubin once said that if her life could be summed up in a movie title, it might be It’s a Wonderful Life. That life came to a conclusion late last month. Mrs. St. Aubin was 101 years old. “I’ve enjoyed my…

GSWNHFireAndIce_010722

Fire and ice

December was unseasonably dry and warm, but it was cold enough late in the month to form icicles on a Bedford Park Fire Department truck– even after it returned from a blaze that gutted a warehouse in the 6500 block of South Lavergne, just steps south of Clearing. The weather forecast for this weekend calls…

GSWNH_OverwhelmedFedExBox_010722

‘They made us look like fools’

Parents furious over one-two stumble by CPS By Tim Hadac As Chicago Public Schools were set to re-open earlier this week, parents of CPS students were still fuming over what most seemed to see as a two-part stumble by district administrators. “We did exactly what they asked of us, and they made us look like…

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.…