Stan’s Donuts & Coffee is now open in Orland Park.
The shop marked the grand opening of its 13th store Saturday at 15646 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.
The first 100 customers received a free box of doughnut and T-shirt, and one lucky visitor found the gold-leafed Golden Donut, which won them free doughnuts and coffee for “life.”
The Orland Park location is the second Stan’s to feature a drive-thru window and is the only location with an outdoor patio.
“We like to find the right stops,” owner Rich Labriola said. “This one opened up and even though it’s a little bigger than our usual locations we decided to take it.
“Our city stores have more foot traffic, but the suburbs have more car traffic, so we wanted a location with a drive-thru,” he said.
Labriola hails from Blue Island originally and hopes the Orland store is the first of many more suburban locations.
“I always wanted to come south,” he said. “My hope is to eventually have 25-30 Chicagoland locations.”
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Labriola said the Orland store is also a test site for their new brand. “We have been known as Stan’s Donuts since we started in 2014,” he said. “But now we are so much more. We are big on coffee and drinks.”
The store offers doughnuts and coffee, of course. But also features sweets such as cookies and soft serve ice cream.
So, the chain is trying to emphasize the name Stan’s and underscore the “Coffee and Donuts” part of the brand. The new idea is reflected in the sign on the side of the building.
The name originated in California at a coffee shop owned by Stan Berman.
“I met Stan 12 years ago and we talked about a partnership,” Labriola said. “That idea lapsed, but then we reconnected and we came up with a better idea.”
Labriola now owns all the rights to the name Stan’s Donuts & Coffee, but is still close to Berman.
“He’s 91 and retired and the California store is closed. We have a great relationship.”
Stan’s is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Thorntons opens new stores on 111th Street
Kentucky-based Thorntons has opened two new gas stations two miles apart on 111th Street.
One is in Palos Hills at 8012 W. 111th St. and the other in Worth at 11120 S. Ridgeland Ave.
The new locations also feature convenience stores that offer sandwiches and burritos prepared daily as well as beverages.
As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to help feed the hungry in local communities, Thorntons will make a $5,000 donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository to celebrate the opening of both stores.
The company now operates 83 stores in Illinois.
White closes driver facilities until Jan. 5
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that Driver Services facilities statewide will remain closed for in-person transactions until Jan. 5, due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
White said expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards have been extended until June 1, 2021.
White also has expanded online services for the public, which they can take advantage of by visiting www.cyberdriveillinois.com.
The South Holland office at 41 W. 162nd St. remains open for CDL written and road exams.
“Commercial truck drivers provide essential services by ensuring goods can be transported safely and efficiently throughout the state and country during this pandemic,” White said.
CDL driving tests are by appointment only by calling 217-785-3013.
Bob Bong is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at [email protected].
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