Village Decries New Shark's Restaurant in South Chicago Heights

Two South Chicago Heights village trustees expressed their concerns about a new restaurant coming to town, while acknowledging that the village can’t deny the owners a business license based on those terms.

Shark’s Fish and Chicken will be opening a new store in the plaza across the street from Village Hall on Chicago Road. Its owners attended the Oct. 3 meeting regarding a business license.

During the meeting, some town officials expressed concerns that Shark’s will be in direct competition with more established businesses, such as , and Kentucky Fried Chicken, 3209 Chicago Road. The restaurant’s new location also places it near the local high school.

Trustee Terry Matthews said he objected to another fish restaurant, which came into South Chicago Heights years ago, for similar reasons.

“But I just don’t see how we can deny this business license” based on those reasons, Matthews said.

Mayor David L. Owen said he had no personal objections to Shark’s Fish and Chicken locating on Chicago Road.

What to Do About Santa

Also at the Oct. 3 meeting, trustees and the mayor decided to invite Santa to this year’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony, even though last year it was mostly attended by adults. The ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 5 at the village Senior Center. It will immediately follow the Village Board meeting to be held that night at 6 p.m. at the Senior Center. Refreshments will also be served.

It has been village tradition to have Santa arrive by fire truck after the tree is lit, but last year, only eight children were there to greet him, Owen said.

The village had purchased Christmas stockings filled with hard candy, and had to donate most of them to , he said.

“I don’t know what we can do to get people to bring their children,” Owen said. The village has advertised in the past with flyers and via the utility bills.

The village also will host its annual Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 19, and the event is always popular. Last year, 120 adults and children attended.

Owen wondered if the two events were too close together, and parents simply preferred to bring their children to the breakfast.

“People might not want to bring their kids to a board meeting,” Trustee Michael Tilton said.

Santa could arrive at the breakfast by fire truck, Owens suggested. Trustee Matthews thought that option might be too difficult since the kids would have to put their coats on in order to go out and greet him.

Ultimately, the board decided during their Committee of the Whole meeting that Santa should arrive by fire truck during the tree-lighting ceremony.