Retailer JCPenney, which closed its anchor store at Ford City Mall earlier this year when the shopping center closed, will be reopening a smaller store a few blocks south of the former location.
The company has signed a lease for a 39,398 store at 8148 S. Cicero Ave. in Burbank. The new store will be about four blocks south of the mall at 7601 S. Cicero and also be across the street from Chicago.
The new location most recently was home to Dave’s Furniture and Mattress Outlet, which closed on Oct. 4. In past lives it also housed a Toys R Us toy store and a Big Lots discount store that closed when that chain declared bankruptcy in December 2024.
Burbank officials on Sept. 22 reported that JCPenney had pulled construction permits. They said renovations were expected to begin soon.
The new store will have 29,398 square feet of retail space and another 15,000 square feet of storage space on the store’s second floor.
The mall location had 180,000 square feet of retail space.
The company has begun taking online job applications for seasonal operations associates to help get the store ready to open.
The closest south suburban JCPenney stores are at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park and River Oaks Mall in Calumet City.
Gloria Jeans now open
Burbank is also home to a new Gloria Jeans Coffees at 7120 W. 79th St. at the site of a former Burger King restaurant.
The coffee shop held its grand opening on Friday, Oct. 23. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
The shop offers dine-in, take out and a drive-thru window.
For information, call 708-670-9215.
Potter’s Hand Thrift Store expands
Potter’s Hand Thrift Store celebrated its expansion on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Summit.
The store, which is an extension of The Potter’s Church operated by Scott and Ania Boggs, has been open for more than a decade at 6228 S. Archer Road. On Saturday, it opened its new space at 7708 and 7710 62nd Place, which are on the other end of the thrift store
“Our hope is that this expansion will give our community more lightly used, donated goods to browse through for you and your family’s provision and enjoyment, lessening the economic burden that often weighs so heavily on us all,” Scott Boggs said in a Facebook post.
“This expansion will also help address some of our current space limitations, giving us room to organize and make available the many goods already entrusted to us. We’re grateful for the generosity that has filled our shelves and storage areas.”
The grand opening included free hotdogs, pop and chips.
For information, visit thepotterschurch.com.
Pandora opens at Chicago Ridge Mall
Denmark-based Pandora has opened a new store inside Chicago Ridge Mall.
The company was founded in Copenhagen in 1982 and is famous for its hand-finished and contemporary jewelry.
The company also operates stores at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park and River Oaks Mall in Calumet City.
If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.