Business Comings & Goings: Homeless Shelter Comes to the Southland

PADS Opens Permanent Homeless Shelter

South Suburban PADS, in partnership with Turnstone Development, opened a 77-unit permanent supportive housing facility on Tuesday at 4411 Gatling Blvd. in Country Club Hills.

The permanent shelter for the homeless, known as the Country Club Hills Wellness Center, is the first of its kind in the Southland. It has a combination of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.

The five-story facility features a library and TV/community room on each floor, a children’s playground, classrooms and program offices, computer lab, and a culinary career center.

Future plans call for a vegetable and herb garden and a wellness clinic.

 Country Club Hills donated 3.5 acres of land for the facility.

PADS is an inter-faith program providing shelter and support services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the Southland. It opened its first emergency shelter 22 years ago.

“Our ultimate hope was to bring an end to homelessness,” Mike Wasserberg, executive director for South Suburban PADS, said in a release.  “While other agencies were providing some services, PADS plan was to create an organization dedicated to serving only individuals and families experiencing homelessness.”

Wilsons Leather Opens

Wilsons Leather, which features leather apparel, handbags and accessories, is now open at Chicago Ridge Mall. The store will hold its grand opening on Friday. The store is one of nine the retailer has opened or plans to open this year. For information, visit them online at Wilsons Leather. 

Alberto’s In New Location

Alberto’s, a tailor and embroidery shop, moved earlier this summer from its longtime home at 3656 W. 95^th St. in Evergreen Park into a new location in the village at 3632 W. 95^th St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. For information, call 708-425-4971.

Al's Beef/Nancy's Pizza Closes

The combined Al's Beef and Nancy's Pizza at 5128 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn closed at the end of business on Sept. 18. A receptionist at the corporate office in Orland Park confirmed the closing but had no details and requests for more information were not returned.

Community Shred Day at Evergreen Market

Free shredding of documents is being sponsored by South Division Credit Union from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday at the Evergreen Park Farmers Market at Yukich Field.

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bob@chicago-patch.com.

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com.

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