🍦South Suburbs Scoop

January 16th, 2026

John Sintich
January 16, 2026

Happy Friday! It’s been hard to focus on writing this email when literally all I can think about is the Bears potentially beating the Rams this Sunday and going to the NFC Championship game. Can they pull it off???

Here’s what’s happening in our neck of the woods:

Amazon Making a Move Against Wall-Mart in Orland Park?
Bo Jackson Coming to Town
RIP Gamestop 😭
Frankfort’s New “LUXURY” Cottages?

Let’s Get Into It!

-John

To Our Readers: What would you like to see more in the newsletter? Email [email protected] to provide your feedback!

WHAT’S NEW IN THE SOUTH ‘BURBS

New Micro-Event Space “Blank Space” To Open Soon In Frankfort - Details
Fort Frankfort Renovation Expected To Finish Soon After Delays - Details | Instagram
Chicago Favorite “Cheesie’s Grilled Cheese and Sandwiches” Open In Tinley Park - Details | Video

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

📍 Plan Commission Approves Amazon Plan in the Former Petey’s II Site - Details

📍 GameStop Closing In Tinley Park, Orland Park & New Lenox Locations - Details

📍 Cedarhurst Cottages of Frankfort Opening This February - Details

Amazon Coming To Orland Park

GameStop Closing Multiple Locations

RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE IN FRANKFORT!

The Holidays Are Over - Recycle Your Christmas Tree Here Until Jan 20! - Details

UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS & OFFERINGS

📍 Jan 17 - Turkey Bowling at Ice Rink (Orland Park) - Details

📍 Jan 17 - Orangetheory’s 3rd Annual SSERT Marathon Relay (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Jan 17 - Wedding Showcase (Naperville) - Details

📍 Jan 18 - Cousin’s Maine Lobster at Hickory Creek (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Jan 18 - Bake & Bond Donuts at Farmhouse Academy (Mokena) - Details

📍 Jan 20 - Silent Book Club at Book Bar (Mokena) - Details

📍 Jan 20 - Pour Your Own Epoxy Event at Hickory Creek (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Jan 21 - Wood Painting Valentine’s Day Style at Hogwild (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Jan 24 - Hanging Kokedama Plant Workshop at Book Bar (Mokena) - Details

📍 Until Jan 28 - Watercolors for Teens & Adults (Mokena) - Details

📍 Jan 29 - Comprehensive Body Connections Ribbon Cutting (Mokena) - Details

📍 Jan 30 to 31 - SoxFest Live at Ramova Theatre (Chicago) - Details

Bo Jackson Set to Attend 2026 SoxFest

📍 Jan 31 - Fire & Ice Winter Social at Breidert Green (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Jan 31 - Race to Recycle 5K (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Feb 3 - February Blood Drive at Public Library (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Feb 4 to 25 - Watercolors for Teens & Adults (Mokena) - Details

📍 Feb 7 to Feb 16 - 2026 Chicago Autoshow at McCormick Place (Chicago) - Details

📍 Feb 7 - Cinderella’s Ball at Civic Center (Orland Park) - Details

📍 Feb 7 - Glow On Ice (Orland Park) - Details

📍 Feb 8 - Valentine Themed Vendor Event at Bosco’s Marketplace (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Feb 11 to 15 - “Love Letters” Play at Curtain Call Theatre (Mokena) - Details

📍 Feb 19 - Nate Bargatze: Big Dumb Eyes World Tour at BMO Center (Rockford) - Details

📍 Feb 21 - NAWS Benefit: Encore at The Stardust at Gaelic Park (Oak Forest) - Details

📍 Feb 22 - 6th Annual Bubbly & Chocolate in Downtown Frankfort - Details

📍 March 7 & 8 - Irish Fest (Manhattan)

📍 Mar 8 - 2026 Bridal Expo at The Renaissance Center (Joliet) - Details

📍 Mar 8 - 2026 Irish Parade (Tinley Park) - Details

FOR THE KIDDOS

📍 Free Admission Day at Chicago Botanical Garden - Details

📍 Jan 17 - Winter On The Farm At Yunker Farm (Mokena) - Details

📍 Jan 18 - KPOP Demon Hunters Party (Orland Park) - Details

📍 Jan 20 - St. Peter’s Preschool Open House (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Jan 25 - Noonan Academy Open House (Mokena) - Details

📍 Jan 30 - Daddy & Daughter Glow Dance at Founders Community Center (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Jan 31 - Mother & Son Fun Day at Lincoln-Way North Fieldhouse (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Feb 6 - Daddy/Daughter Dance at Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Center (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Feb 7 - Mother & Son Valentines Bowl at Thunder Bowl (Mokena) - Details

📍 Feb 7 - Young Entrepreneurship Fair (Palos Hills) - Details

📍 Feb 12 to 15 - Disney On Ice at United Center (Chicago) - Details

📍 Feb 13 - Parents Night Out (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Feb 13 - Galentine’s Day at Social 45 (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Feb 15 - Sweetheart Swim at Fitness Pool (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Feb 15 - Hot Wheels Classics & All Stars (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Feb 16 - KPOP Demon Hunters Party (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Feb 21 - Bus Trip: Winter Wildlife Tour at Starved Rock (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Until Feb 23 - Winter Engineering w/ LEGO at Yunker Red Barn (Mokena) - Details

📍 West Fest Craft & Vendor Fair (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Mar 28 - Hopper Cottontail Party (New Lenox) - Details

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

📍 Hiring Assistant City Administrator/HR Director (Crest Hill) - Details

📍 Bakery Job Training For Individuals With Developmental Disabilities (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Orland Park PD Hiring More Officers (Orland Park) - Detai ls

CHEAPEST GAS IN THE SOUTH BURBS!

PRICES AS OF 01/15 - Website

📍 Manhattan - $2.69 ⬇️ From Last Week

📍 New Lenox - $2.82 ⬆️ From Last Week

📍 Mokena - $2.77 ⬇️ From Last Week

📍 Frankfort - $2.77 ⬇️ From Last Week

Get Access to Homes You Won’t Find Online!

🔒 The best deals never hit Zillow or Redfin.
I’ll send you private listings you won’t see anywhere else.

THIS WEEK’S LOCAL LIVE MUSIC

📍 BRIAN KLIEDON LIVE - Hickory Creek (New Lenox) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅 Fri, Jan 16 | 6:30PM

📍 SAVING GRACE BIRTHDAY BASH - North & Maple (Tinley Park) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Fri, Jan 16 | 7:30PM

📍 CHEAP TRICK & CLASSIC CARS TRIBUTE - Jamo’s Live (Mokena) 🎟 Details
💲$12.51 | 📅 Fri, Jan 16 | 8:30PM

📍 EMO NIGHT LIVE - Jamo’s Live (Mokena) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅 Fri, Jan 17 | 9:00PM

📍 CRAWFORD’S DAUGHTER LIVE- Hickory Creek (New Lenox) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅 Sat, Jan 17 | 6:30PM

📍 ROCHAMBEAU - North & Maple (Tinley Park) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅 Sat, Jan 17 | 7:30PM

UPCOMING NFL, NBA & NHL GAMES

📍 Bears Vs. Rams in Divisional Playoff Game This Sunday! Enter Local Raffle for TICKETS!

📍 Bulls Host the Brooklyn Nets Today and Sunday

📍 Blackhawks Host the Boston Bruins This Saturday

Find Your Dream Home — Faster.

🔍 Stop wasting time scrolling outdated listings.
Use my real-time search tool and get instant access to the newest homes in our area.

WE SERVED 48 FAMILIES IN 2025!!!

Thank you to all of our wonderful clients for trusting us with the biggest transaction of their lives in 2025. It was an absolute blast to work with each client and it was truly an honor! 2025 was a record year for us, and we intend to continue growing in 2026!

Contact us if you need help buying or selling a home in the Chicagoland area or northwest Indiana. We want to be your resource!

Real Estate Roundup

This week, the Chicagoland area including Cook and Will county have 8,374 available homes for sale. That is an increase from last week's total of 8,283 homes available for sale.

The average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate as of today is: 6.04%.

Mokena - Just Listed: 7 ⎸ Closed: 5
New Lenox - Just Listed: 11 ⎸ Closed: 6
Tinley Park- Just Listed: 26 ⎸ Closed: 10
Frankfort - Just Listed: 10 ⎸ Closed: 6