Cubework buys Orland Park Sears site
California-based Cubework has purchased the former Sears property at Orland Square Mall and is marketing the former mall anchor as a “Coworking Mall.”
The 16-acre purchase includes about 100,000 square feet in the former Sears store as well as the massive parking lot adjacent to the storefront.
The majority of the mall is owned by Simon, but the former Sears site was separate and the property was being marketed by CBRE’s National Retail Partners without an asking price. No sales price was announced.
Calls to Cubework were not returned, but according to its website, the company specializes in renting kiosks and other spaces to pop-up shops and a host of small businesses. Cubework offers short-term and month-to-month leases, free utilities, free Wi-Fi and other amenities without requiring huge capital investments.
“Cubework Shops is an open air enclosed creative space specifically designed to get your business out of your garage, self-storage facility, or home office. We focus on helping our customers rent the space they need without having to pay for unnecessary unused space,” the company posted on its website.
Its website says spaces from 300 square feet to 50,000 square feet are available for lease.
Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau said he was “kind of surprised by the sale.”
He added he has no idea what will become of the property.
“I have no idea what they have planned,” he said. “They have not come to us with any plan.”
Pekau said the interior of the store, which has been empty since 2018, has been gutted.
There was a plan in place years ago to convert the space into a movie theater, but Pekau said that plan fell through because of pandemic-related issues.
Cubework also purchased the former Carsons store at Southlake Mall in northwest Indiana and is advertising it along with the Sears site as a Coworking Mall.
Cubework is based in City of Industry in California. It has more than 40 locations and 5 million square feet of modern industrial co-working space in 25 cities.
More Top Picks Best Watch Case Back Openers
Fire knocks out Clearing caterer, deli
An early morning fire Friday destroyed Georgis Catering and badly damaged the adjacent Mom and Dad’s Deli at 63rd Place and Central Avenue in Chicago’s Clearing neighborhood.
Georgis owner Buz Georgis was surprisingly upbeat on Monday.
“This has been a pretty crazy week,” he said. “But we are definitely coming back.”
Clients included local businesses such as Tootsie Roll and Southwest Airlines, Fortune 500 companies and Chicago sports teams.
The fire also hit the Cook County Meals on Wheels program, which received meals for seniors and shut-ins from Georgis.
“At our eight sites in Cook County in Brookfield, Berwyn, Hometown, South Chicago Heights, Phoenix, Lemont Township, and at one of our stand-alone cafes in Dolton, our clients will not receive hot meals today,” Meals on Wheels said Friday in a written statement. “While they will be provided with emergency shelf stable meals, we are searching for a new caterer and trying to connect with local restaurants as quickly as we can. Our programs in Will, Kendall, and Grundy counties will continue as usual.”
Georgis said he will continue to pay all of his workers despite the total loss of the 77-year-old business.
“I will keep paying them,” he said. “So, they don’t have to worry. They are a good bunch and many have been with me for a long time.”
He said he had been getting lots of calls and messages since word got out that the business was gone.
“That’s very heartwarming,” he said.
Helen Chon, owner of the neighboring Mom and Dad’s Deli, also had a positive attitude Monday.
“My best wish is that we will be open by next week,” she said. “I’ve been here since 1991. That’s more than half my life.”
She said water damage to the deli included the business’s heating system and all of the food in the kitchen had to be thrown out.
She also said she had been receiving an outpouring of support from customers.
“So many customers have been calling or stopping by,” she said.
Savor the Southland rewards program
The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched Savor The Southland, a new program that aims to reward users for visiting local restaurants.
The free program involves a passport on mobile devices with over 67 local restaurants included. Participants can earn points when they check in at participating restaurants and can redeem coupons.
“What a great way to encourage both visitors and locals alike to frequent some of the best Chicago Southland restaurants,” said CSCVB President/CEO Jim Garrett.
The Savor The Southland mobile passport ends March 31 at which time users that have checked in at five or more participating restaurants will be entered into a sweepstakes to win restaurant gift cards.
Information is at www.visitchicagosouthland.com/savor-the-southland.
Bob Bong is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at [email protected].