Pizza Castle moving to Hickory Hills
Pizza Castle has had a long run at its Gage Park neighborhood home on the Southwest Side. But after almost 50 years, the Jensen family is pulling up the roots on the family business and moving to the suburbs.
The pizzeria, which was founded in 1973, will be moving to 7737 W. 95th St. in Hickory Hills later this year, as soon as construction is finished on the new location near the Starbucks and Ricky Rockets fueling center.
Until then, the business will continue to serve up pizza, pasta, chicken, shrimp, sandwiches and party trays from its longtime home at 3256 W. 55th St.
Starting Oct. 17, however, Pizza Castle will limit its hours to Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then the Chicago pizzeria will close for good Oct. 30.
The business may run out of some menu items as supplies run out, but the Jensens promise to have enough ingredients on hand to deliver a pizza until they close.
The family did not return a call but posted this message on its Facebook page: “While it’s bittersweet to leave our beloved community here in Gage Park and all the memories we’ve made, we are thrilled to be able to provide an updated space that allows our customers to dine-in with us and make even more memories.
“We know there’s no way we could have had 50 years of pizza success and the ability to preserve our legacy for future generations without the love and support of all of you. So, from the depths of our hearts, THANK YOU. We hope you’ll come visit us to catch up over great pizza in Hickory Hills — less than 10 miles away from our original home.”
While the transition continues, the Jensen family invites customers to share stories, memories and photos on the pizzeria’s Facebook page or to email them at [email protected].
The new location has opened up job opportunities. “As we head towards this exciting new chapter, we are looking for some amazing people to join our team as cooks, drivers, and front of house staff,” the message stated.
Information on when the new location will be up and running will be posted on the Pizza Castle Facebook page and the business website www.eatatpizzacastle.com.
Macy’s grand opening Friday in Evergreen Park
The new Market by Macy’s will hold its grand opening this weekend at Evergreen Plaza in Evergreen Park.
The new store will open in the former Carson’s at 9700 S. Western Ave. Market by Macy’s will occupy the first floor and Macy’s Backstage outlet store will take over the second floor of the former retailer. They are the first dual Market by Macy’s and Macy’s Backstage stores.
The grand opening will be from noon to 6 p.m. Friday.
Both stores will offer differing shopping experiences, with Market by Macy’s billed as offering the latest fashion trends and Macy’s Backstage featuring discounted items.
“We’re excited that Macy’s will be coming soon to Evergreen Park,” Mayor Kelly Burke said this summer when the stores were announced. “Macy’s will deliver expanded fashion, clothing and home goods options that residents have been asking for. I am delighted that Macy’s chose Evergreen Park for its first Chicago area location for Market by Macy’s.”
“Macy’s decision to come to Evergreen Park is a vote of confidence in our vibrant retail community. The new Macy’s location will serve as a magnet for other great retailers to come to our village,” added Burke.
The 120,000-square-foot former Carson’s space had been empty since an attempt to revive the retailer failed in 2020.
Iversen’s Bakery open again in Blue Island
Fans of Iversen’s Bakery in Blue Island can rejoice now that the popular bakery has reopened as a pop-up store in The Lyric Theater at 12950 S. Western Ave., which is next to the bakery’s former location.
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Owners had hinted the bakery might reopen when they announced that July 16 would be their last day in business.
The bakery on Western Avenue had been a landmark in Blue Island for more than six decades.
Iversen’s for now is offering a limited menu of doughnuts, sweet rolls, butter cookies and coffee cakes, but promises a return to the full menu when the renovation of the longtime bakery is completed next spring.
Bookie’s closes Homewood location
Bookie’s book store has closed its doors for good in Homewood, but its original location in Beverly on Chicago’s Southwest Side remains open.
The store at 2015 Ridge Road opened five years ago after requests from Mayor Rich Hofeld to open in the village.
Things soured over a new lease and rent increase and the store’s owner announced at the beginning of September the store would be closing by the end of the month.
The last day was Sept. 24.
The original location remains open at 10324 S. Western Ave. in Chicago.
Wolf Road bridge open again
A project to replace the bridge carrying Wolf Road over Interstate 80, in Mokena and Orland Park, has been shut down for the season, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Work is scheduled to resume in the spring, when the bridge will be closed again.
The $4.7 million project, which consists of replacing the existing bridge with a new wider structure, installing new storm sewers, along with resurfacing and landscaping, is anticipated to be completed in fall 2023.
Bob Bong is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at [email protected].