Duke’s moves to Mokena; pet cafe popping up in Orland Square Mall
When Dukes Drive-In closed its longtime home in Bridgeview in 2019 to make way for a Panera Bread, patrons wanted to know where the restaurant would be relocating and how soon before it was open again.
There were all kinds of rumors. None came true. Until now.
Dukes Drive-In will be reopening as Duke’s Italian Beef inside the Gas-n-Wash at 19990 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena.
There will be a drive-thru, but no drive-in spots.
According to the restaurant’s Facebook page, there will be ample room in a parking lot behind the Gas-n-Wash to resume the restaurant’s popular cruise nights.
Jeannine Skarbek-Kubas, director of marketing for Gas-n-Wash, said Dukes will be taking the place of Hog Wild Express, which closed earlier this month. She said the opening for Dukes is set for mid-June.
Dukes will be reopening under new ownership but will stay in the family. Bud Dukes opened the drive-in for 44 years. The new owner, Bill Humphrey, is his son-inlaw.
In a social media video, he said he had the blessing of his mother-inlaw, Joan, to bring Dukes back.
Humphrey said initial plans to relocate were put on hold, first because of illness in the family and then because of the pandemic.
Humphrey said the new Duke’s will still have the same quality because the restaurant has contracted with the same suppliers it used in Bridgeview.
Speaking of Gas-n-Wash ...
Skarbek-Kubas also confirmed that Gas-n-Wash will be opening a new gas station and convenience store at 4361 W. 127th St. in Alsip on May 6.
The store will be open 24 hours. A car wash will be available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The Alsip location will feature a Dunkin’, Tacanijo Tacos and Beggars Pizza.
Summit House of BBQ opening soon
A new barbecue restaurant may open as soon as next week in Summit.
The Summit House of BBQ restaurant is opening in the former Thirsty Pig barbecue joint at 6312 S. Harlem Ave. Owners said they were hoping to be open next week.
The Thirsty Pig closed back in 2019 after a brief run as a barbecue joint.
Prior to becoming the Thirsty Pig, it had been Grand Duke’s, which specialized in Eastern European cuisine. Grand Duke’s moved from its longtime Summit location to Downers Grove.
Pop-up Pup Café returns to Orland Square Mall
In recognition of National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, Orland Square Mall is bringing back its Pop-Up Pup Café from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
There will be family-friendly activities, complimentary beverages and a raffle as well as the chance to meet adoptable pups from South Suburban Humane Society.
All dogs at the event will be available for adoption that day. Walk-ins are welcome. Cash donations of $2 per person or $5 per family will be accepted at the entryway with all proceeds donated to South Suburban Humane Society. Each donation grants one beverage and one raffle ticket per person. Additional raffle tickets are available for $1 each.
The pop-up will be on the lower level, near H&M.
Information is at 708-349-1646 or www.simon.com/mall/orlandsquare/stream/pop-up-pupcafe-6198836
Crumbl Cookies opening in Mokena
Crumbl Cookies will open its first south suburban location at 8 a.m. Friday at 11249 W. Lincoln Highway.
The new store is in an outlot building that also houses McAlister’s Deli and Nothing Bundt Cake.
“It was love at first bite and we could not be more excited to bring the world’s best cookies to the Lincoln-Way area,” owners Frankie and Traci Pretzel, of New Lenox, said in a release. “We just know you will smile when you see our store.”
Crumbl features an open kitchen that allows customers to see the whole cookie making process, including the eggs being cracked, the flour being sifted, and the dough being balled.
“Having our customers see every cookie being made is one of the best experiences of our stores,” Sawyer Hemsley, Crumbl Co-founder and COO, said in the release.
The grand opening week menu will feature six of Crumbl’s 200-plus weekly rotating flavors including Milk Chocolate Chip.
Mokena will be the chain’s eighth location in Illinois and its first in the Southland.
Local residents may recognize Frankie Pretzel’s name. He’s a Will County Board member.
Floor & Décor to open May 3 in Tinley Park
Floor & Décor announced the grand opening of its first south suburban location in Tinley Park will be May 3.
The Atlanta-based chain has been converting the former Burlington store.
Village officials have said Floor & Décor is expected to bring more than 100 full-time jobs when it opens in the 70,000-square-foot space.
Floor & Décor is a specialty retailer of hard surface flooring, offering tile, wood, stone, related tools and flooring accessories.
The company was founded in 2000.