Natural Healing opens in Palos Heights; Costco coming back in Bedford Park

In two short years, Kenny Szymczyk and his wife, Agnieszka, turned a one-stop vaping business into a growing company that treats a host of maladies with CBD, a hemp-based herbal supplement, and Kratom, which is derived from a tree native to Southeast Asia.

Earlier this year, the couple opened their fourth WSC Natural Healings CBD Kratom store at 7154 W. 127th St. in Palos Heights. Other south suburban stores are in Tinley Park, Steger and Manteno. There also is a store in Southern California.

Szymczyk made it clear his stores are not cannabis dispensaries.

“You will not get high from anything we sell,” he said. “There is at most trace amounts of THC in the products we sell.”

The active ingredient in many of the powders, pills, and lotions he sells at Natural Healings is called Kratom. It comes from a large tree native to Southeast Asia countries including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. His Kratom comes from a farmer in Indonesia.

“Kratom has been used for hundreds of years,” Szymczyk said.

Because it affects people differently and comes in a variety of strains, doses and products, Szymczyk said new clients might have to experiment to settle on what works best for them.

Each store also a kiosk where clients can choose a product based on what they want the product to do.

“It’s good for mixing or to take as you like,” he said. “I like it mixed with juice, coffee or tea.”

Kelly Jakubowski, who works at the Palos Heights store, said she uses a red strain at night to help her sleep, while her husband uses a green strain during the day to stay alert.

Szymczyk said most of his customers are older, but there is a considerable younger clientele. Kratom also carries a line of CBD products for cats and dogs.

Costco to reopen Bedford Park store

Who says companies never listen? Costco sent a message to members last week that due to what the company said was negative feedback from its customers, the Costco Business Center at 7300 S. Cicero Ave. in Bedford Park would reopen on Aug. 31 along with another business center store in Orlando, Fla.

The store was closed May 4 and turned into a fulfillment center. The company said that was done “to help with the overwhelming demand for the delivery of groceries and other essential products.”

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to Costco members during these last few months. We look forward to welcoming you back to shop at our location starting on August 31.”

It wasn’t the first time Costco made significant changes at the Bedford Park location.

In 2015, the California-based wholesale club converted the Bedford Park location from a full-service store to a Costco Business Center.

At the time, it was the chain’s first business center in the Midwest and the 10th in the nation.

The store remained open to all Costco members, but the inventory was tailored to members who owned convenience stores or food service businesses. The store carried an expanded range of office products and janitorial supplies, but gone were the meat department, bakery, deli, electronics and tire departments.

The gas station and food court remained, though the food court was closed earlier this year.

Gift card promotion targets Orland shoppers

Orland Park is sponsoring the Shop Orland Park Incentive Rebate Program through Aug. 2.

Under the program, purchases from $300-499 qualify for a $10 Visa gift card, and purchases $500 and more qualify for a $30 Visa gift card.

In order to claim the gift card, shoppers must submit sales receipts along with a completed Shop Orland Park Incentive rebate form, available at www.ShopOP.org, to Orland Park Village Hall, 14700 Ravinia Ave. by Aug. 31. There is a limit of one gift card per adult. The incentive program is open to everyone while supplies last.

A second program, the Orland Park Autos Vehicle Incentive Program, grants a rebate in the form of a Visa gift card after the purchase of a new or used vehicle at any Orland Park auto dealership through Aug. 2. The Shop Orland Park Visa gift card is based on the vehicle purchase price and can be valued at up to $525.

The gift cards will be redeemable at any Orland Park business.

Bob Bong is a freelancer for the Daily Southtown. He can be reached at bobbong@hotmail.com.