Business Comings & Goings: Wolf’s Bakery Carries on Dressel’s Tradition

When I was a kid, you knew it was going to be a good time when a Dressel’s chocolate fudge whipped cream cake made its way to the table.

Apparently, so did everyone else of my generation who grew up on the South Side or in the south suburbs.

The cakes were sold at the Dressel’s Bakery in Chicago, and at an outlet store near 90^th and Cicero in Oak Lawn, and were readily available frozen in most Chicago-area supermarkets. That is, until the French company that had acquired the bakery closed up shop many, many years ago.

A few years ago, while still I was still toiling at the SouthtownStar newspaper, columnist Phil Kadner wrote about the Dressel’s cake that we all so loved.

After some taste tests, it was determined that Baumann’s Bakery in Palos Heights had a cake that was pretty darn close to the Dressel’s original.

Baumann’s closed its doors for the last time on Saturday. As sad as that is, it’s not the end of the line for the famed Dressel’s cake.

The Dressel’s Classic lives on at Wolf’s Bakery in Evergreen Park, which has been serving baked goods since 1939.

In fact, Wolf’s Bakery at 3241 W. 95^th St. has been selling its version of the cake since 2009.

“We’ve been selling it for a while,” said Nancy Dineen, manager at the bakery. “We sell quite a few every day. We make them fresh every day.”

The cakes come in one size, seven inches, and sell for $15.99. For now, you can only buy them at the bakery.

“Each one serves from six to eight,” said Dineen. “I’ve eaten several. It tastes just like the old Dressel’s cake.”

Another sweet disaster averted thanks to the folks at Wolf’s Bakery.

The bakery is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

For information, call 708-422-7429 or visit them online at Wolf’s Bakery.

Chicago Ridge Mall Dumps Westfield Name

, the mall has officially dropped the word Westfield from its title.  Not that many people around here ever called it anything but Chicago Ridge Mall anyway.

Connecticut-based Starwood paid $1 billion to buy seven malls from Westfield, including Louis Joliet Mall in Joliet. Westfield will retain a 10 percent stake and continue to manage the 838,608-square-foot mall at 95^th Street and Ridgeland Avenue.

Applause, Applause for Premo’s

5540 W. 95^th St., to the Wounded Warrior Project, which helps wounded servicemen and women.

The Patriot cone consists of soft-serve custard hand-dipped in cherry and blue-raspberry sauce. It costs $3 and will be available throughout July.

Chamber Holds Annual Golf Outing

The is holding its annual golf outing at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 11, at , 5850 W. 103^rd St. in Oak Lawn.

For $125, you get 18 holes of golf, lunch, dinner and drinks. You can golf only for $80 or have dinner only for $55.

The chamber is offering miniature golf starting at 4 p.m. Cost is $70 for golf and dinner or $15 for golf only.

Registration begins at 11 a.m., followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. An open bar will begin at 5 p.m. followed by a buffet dinner.

For information and to reserve a tee time, call the chamber at 708-424-8300 or visit the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce.

Stop by and visit Oak Lawn Patch at the beer hole.

Classic Car Show is Sunday

Oak Lawn is sponsoring its annual Classic Car Show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 8, in the east parking lot of the .

There will be more than 100 trophies handed out to participants. Food and beverages will be available from and the Knights of Columbus.

For information, call 708-636-4400 or contact Chad Weiler at cweiler@oaklawn-il.gov.

Techno Wizard to Address Southland Chamber

Howard Tullman, who is the face and mind behind Chicago-based Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy, possibly the most ultra-techno-wizard college anywhere, will headline the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce Regional Consensus Luncheon on Monday, July 9, at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive, at 11:30 a.m.

Tullman will discuss “Current Trends and New Technology Developments in Social Media.”

Tickets for the lunch and program are $30 for members and $40 for non-members. Reservations can be made at the chamber website, in person at 920 W. 175th St., Homewood, or by telephone at 708-957-6950.

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.