Comings & Goings: Highlander House owners open banquet hall in Orland Park

By Bob Bong

Owners of the popular Highlander House Polish restaurant in Palos Heights celebrated the new year in grand fashion. They ushered in 2023 by hosting a New Year’s Eve party at their new banquet hall in Orland Park. 

Owners Agnes and Stanley Bobak of Palos Park opened Signature Barn Banquets at 8831 W. 143^rd St. The banquet hall shares a parking lot with the new Opa! Modern Green Cuisine restaurant in the former Ravinia Country Club, which opened at the end of November. The original Opa is in Frankfort. 

Signature Barn Banquets features traditional Polish Highlander food, just like the Highlander House, which the Bobaks opened in 2017. Homemade favorites are pierogis, potato pancakes, Polish sausage and stuffed cabbage rolls. 

A specialty of the house is the “Fire Lamb Shish Kabob,” which features sugar cubes soaked in liquor and set on fire for a dramatic effect.  

Agnes Bobak did not return phone calls, but banquet hall manager Violet, who declined to give her last name, said Signature Barn Banquets reflects the interior décor. 

“The banquet hall is done in rustic barn style,” she said. 

She said the hall had 450 people for the New Year’s Eve celebration, but the banquet hall can accommodate up to 600 people for parties. 

She said the hall is available for all kinds of parties but will most likely handle Polish-style weddings. 

She said that at midnight, when most parties are breaking up. The chef will come out into the banquet area and cook food for the guests as they are leaving. 

The Bobaks emigrated from Zakopane in 2005 to the United States to follow their dream of a new life. 

They opened Highlander House at 12333 S. Harlem Ave. as an homage to their origins in the Polish Highlands, a beautiful part of the country in the Tatra Mountains. 

After coming to America, they worked together at a Polish restaurant on the Southwest Side of Chicago near Midway Airport called Szalas. It had been well-known for many years as the Red Barrel under previous ownership with a completely different menu. 

For information, call Highlander House at 773-954-5636 or visit the venue. 

Office hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, by appointment on Saturday. Closed Sunday and Tuesday. 

Scott Credit Union partners with Chicago Wolves 

Scott Credit Union has announced a new sponsorship agreement with the Chicago Wolves, part of the American Hockey League. This partnership is in addition to the ones that SCU has with the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Blues. 

“We were excited to broaden our branch network last year to include three branches in Chicago,” said Frank Padak, President and CEO of Scott Credit Union. “Partnering with the reigning Calder Cup champion Chicago Wolves allows us to grow our involvement with the local community, share a passion for hockey with the fans, and support this amazing team.” 

Locally, Scott has offices in Evergreen Park and Midlothian. 

As part of the agreement, fans will be able to enjoy Scott Credit Union Family Sundays during all home games which fall on Sundays. There will be family-friendly programming including sign-making stations, post-game autograph opportunities, drawings made by a caricature artist and a Wolves Kids Zone with inflatables and a slap shot cage. These days are geared toward families with young children who may not be able to attend nighttime games due to their late starts. 

“Wolves Family Sundays are built around delivering fan experiences that resonate with the entire family unit,” said Jon Sata, Chicago Wolves President of Business Operations. “We strive to be fan-friendly, family-centric and to deliver value to our fans. The Wolves have a strong family presence within the fan base and we’re thrilled to have Scott Credit Union join us to present Family Sundays to the Chicagoland community.” 

Scott Credit Union will be included in all pre-event media, including television and livestreaming prior to each game. There will also be digital billboards, digital media, social media, print ads, and in-arena signage such as dasher boards and LED ribbons. 

Padak also said, “The Wolves have fans from all over the Chicagoland area and beyond. We look forward to celebrating this great season as an official partner. We’re committed to Chicago and are proud to be part of the community.” 

Tickets for Scott Credit Union Family Sundays – and all Chicago Wolves games – are available at www.ChicagoWolves.com or by calling 1-800-THE-WOLVES. 

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.