Tribes Beer Company to close in Mokena
The end is near for Mokena’s Tribes Beer Company.
The independent brewery and taproom at 11120 Front Street, which is across the street from the Metra commuter station and parking lots in downtown Mokena, announced on social media Saturday that it would be closing for the final time at the end of the month.
“Hello Friends! As most of you are undoubtedly aware, our brewery will be closing at the end of the month! So come on out tonight and start saying goodbye,” the brewpub owners announced on social media.
No reason for the closing was announced and messages for owner Niall Freyne were not returned.
The Front Street location was the fourth for Freyne, who started with Galway Tribes in Frankfort, which he closed in 2009. At the time, he said the economy and a dramatically increased tax assessment helped kill Galway Tribes.
A few months later, he opened Tribes Alehouse at Wolf Road and U.S. 30 in Mokena.
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In 2012, he opened a second Tribes Alehouse in the former CharleyHorse sports pub at 171st Street and LaGrange Road in Tinley Park’s Park Hill Towne Center.
In 2018, he opened the downtown Mokena brewery and taproom, which was in a former garage. Freyne kept the garage’s roll-up door to open during nice weather and for special events.
In 2019, Freyne closed the original Mokena location. At the time, he said on social media, “It has come time to say goodbye to our beloved, original Tribes location — the Mokena Brewpub. It is incredibly difficult to say goodbye to something near and dear to our hearts, but as our lease has come to a close, we have made the difficult decision to not renew.”
Later that same year, Freyne pulled the plug on the Tinley Park location.
Now the end of the line is coming for the last location.
The 4,480-square-foot building in downtown Mokena is listed for sale for $1.1 million on Loopnet.com. In addition to the brewing equipment, the listing says the brewery includes a custom 18-handle draft system and a large walk-in keg cooler, high end finishes, ample bar and table seating, and a large outdoor patio. The entire site is more than 12,000 square feet.
Bed Bath & Beyond to begin liquidation sales
Bed Bath & Beyond — one of the original big box retailers known for its seemingly endless offerings of sheets, towels and kitchen gadgets — filed for bankruptcy protection Sunday, following years of dismal sales and losses and numerous failed turnaround plans.
The beleaguered home goods chain made the filing in U.S. District Court in New Jersey and said it will start an orderly wind down of its operations, while seeking a buyer for all or some of its businesses. In the bankruptcy filing, the retailer said it anticipates closing all of its stores by June 30.
For now, the company’s 360 Bed Bath & Beyond stores — including stores in Orland Park and Chicago Ridge — and its 120 Buy Buy Baby sites as well as its websites will remain open.
Liquidation sales will begin April 26, with “deep discounts.” Customers can still shop online, in stores or using the Bed Bath & Beyond/buybuy BABY app.
All purchases after April 26 will be final. The company said it “expects” to accept returns and exchanges for items bought before April 26 up until May 24.
The Welcome Rewards program will be up and running until May 15, meaning customers will be able to redeem points and merchandise credits. However, customers will not be awarded Welcome Rewards on any future purchases following the bankruptcy announcement.
Gift cards can be used through May 8, but employees will stop accepting coupons on April 26.
Founded in 1971, Bed Bath & Beyond had for years enjoyed its status as a big box retailer that offered a vast selection of sheets, towels and gadgets unmatched by department store rivals. It was among the first to introduce shoppers to many of today’s household items like the air fryer or single-serve coffee maker.
Songbird Café closes in New Lenox
Songbird Café, which opened five years ago in New Lenox, closed its doors for the last time on April 15.
The breakfast and lunch restaurant at 21950 Howell Drive announced the closing on social media.
“Thank you for always knowing we gave you the best renditions of our homemade recipes, cooked to your liking,” owner Maria Kopulos posted. “Thank you for always coming by to share in your story, which became ‘our story.’ Thank you for smiling and making our days better and brighter for knowing you all. Thank you for always being you, being truthful and being honest.
“Honestly it has been a blessing, and we will all miss the wonderful days we had behind us at the cafe.”
“One day we may meet again, but for now Songbird will take flight from this location,” Kopulos wrote. “Please continue to follow us as we may not know the future but we know how she ends the race.”
The message was an ode to the cafe’s namesake, a racehorse called Songbird.
“It has been a pleasure to serve the New Lenox community for the past 5 years. Songbird is taking flight! Giddy up!”
J&J Ventures Gaming acquires Illinois Gold Rush
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J&J Ventures Gaming has acquired substantially all assets of Illinois Gold Rush Inc., a terminal operator that handles many Cook County and Will County gambling machines.
As one of the first terminal operators to be licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board, Illinois Gold Rush served 50 licensed gaming locations across the state.
Tom Parsons, president of Illinois Gold Rush, and his employees will be joining the J&J team and will continue to provide service to their customers.
Bob Bong is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at [email protected].