It's Your Business

Sunday, January 4, 2009

It's Your Business: Champaign to get new sandwich shop

A new sandwich shop will open in downtown Champaign later this winter.

To be called Fatboys Philly Shack, it will be located at 202 S. Neil St., in the small building where Neil Street splits off to Walnut Street.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Barbecue, ale on tap at former Urbana bar

Like barbecue? If so, downtown Urbana may soon have a place for you.

Mike Cochran and Pedro Heller plan to open the Black Dog Smoke & Ale House in the former Tod & John's tavern space at 201 N. Broadway Ave.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

It's Your Business: Garcia's to return to Campustown in March

Garcia's Pizza-in-a-Pan, which closed its longtime and final Campustown store location last month, should have a new campus-area shop up and running in a few months.

Co-owner Ralph Senn says a new location (to be disclosed soon, he promises) has been lined up and will open in early March.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

It's Your Business: Economy among factors in closing of Kafe K

Natalie Peterson says she doesn't want to blame the economy.

But when supply prices are going up, the economy is in a slump and folks are being advised to save a few bucks by making their own coffee and packing their own lunches, there's going to be an impact on mom-and-pop businesses like Kafe K.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

It's Your Business: Retailers spread word that downtown Champaign still open

Hey holiday shoppers: The downtown Champaign retailers clustered on a section of North Neil Street that was closed after a Nov. 7 fire have a message for you.

WE'RE OPEN!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

It's Your Business: Chicken, fish to star at new restaurant

A new carryout restaurant called Big JJ Fish & Chicken will open in the former location of Seaboat at 1114 N. Market St., C.

The owner, Hisham "John" Rosoul, looks for it to open before the end of the month.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

It's Your Business: A new twist for Vrinios' holiday tradition

It's nearly candy-cane-making time for Pete Vrinios and his family, and they plan to carry on their 110-year-old tradition in downtown Champaign for the holiday season.

You can see Vrinios candy canes made step by step in the front windows of Jim Gould Restaurant at Neil and Main streets, starting the first weekend in December. Kids can even hook their own candy canes, Vrinios said.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

It's Your Business: New downtown store focuses on ecology

B. Lime, a new store in downtown Champaign focusing on earth-friendly living, is now open.

And, true to the theme of recycle/reuse, owners Wendi and Bart Lindsay chose to place their store in a newly redeveloped building at 12 E. Washington St., at the corner of Hickory and Washington streets.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

It's Your Business: Urbana farmers' market gets ready to heat up

The farmers' market at Urbana's Lincoln Square Village will move indoors for the holiday season, starting Nov. 15.

And it will have more merchants than last year's holiday market, according to Susan Toalson, Urbana Business Association executive director.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

It's Your Business: Danville kids' shop reopens temporarily

Remember Kid Konnection, the children's clothing store in Danville that closed a couple of years ago?

Owner Nanci Latinovich has reopened it, temporarily, to sell out her inventory while she also tries to sell the store buildings – two gray houses.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

It's Your Business: Christian shop open; coffee bar in plans

Gina Myrick first started a Christian bookstore at her church, and now she's in business at a retail store of her own called Gathering Place Christian Bookstore at 308 N. First St., C.

Myrick said she is selling Christian books, gift items and greeting cards and also plans to have a small coffee bar.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

It's Your Business: Antiques store is open in St. Joseph

A new antiques store has opened in St. Joseph, just off Interstate 74.

Precious Antiques & More at 810 N. Third St. has a gift shop up front with candles, food and bath and body products for the season. The rest of the 2,500-square-foot space contains antiques from several periods, said owner Vicki Collins of Urbana.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

It's Your Business: A sweeter strategy for Fithian restaurant

When Tom and Sue Panepinto bought a restaurant in Fithian, they decided it would be out with the alcohol and in with the sweets.

The couple recently bought what used to be the Fithian Main Street Restaurant and Bar at 109 N. Main St., and changed the name to Fithian Main Street Restaurant.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

It's Your Business: El Toro Bravo offers Mexican dining for 374

El Toro Bravo, the new and larger restaurant built by the owners of El Toro restaurants, is open for business at 2561 W. Springfield Ave., C, near Kaufman Lake.

It is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, and eventually the bar will be open later, said Victor Fuentes, an owner of the family owned group of Mexican restaurants.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

It's Your Business: Flying Monkey swoops in for season

Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch at 3902 S. Duncan Road, C, has opened its indoor restaurant, the Flying Monkey Cafe, for the fall season.

Debbie Graham, a part-owner who runs the cafe, said there's a new addition to the menu this year: Culver's frozen custard, to scoop up with the homemade pies and cobblers.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

It's Your Business: Estate Sale ready to open new location

The Estate Sale, a home furnishings and antiques shop that opened in downtown Champaign last year, is nearly ready to open at its new location at the former Champaign-Urbana Public Health District headquarters.

The building at 710 N. Neil St. has been under extensive remodeling since store owner Bob Grossman bought it last spring, and the store is set to open there Sept. 27, according to manager Cib Johnson.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

It's Your Business: This Is It banks on megastore appeal

This Is It Furniture is going LARGER LARGER LARGER.

In fact, pretty soon owner Mike Namoff won't even be calling it a store anymore.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

It's Your Business: The Cage all set to play ball

A new indoor baseball and softball training center called The Cage plans to open Oct. 6 in Champaign.

Located at 2815 Hundman Drive, it will offer batting cages, dirt pitcher mounds and open spaces for drills, owner Shawn Tabeling said.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

It's Your Business: 2nd Bombay Indian Grill plans fine dining

Bombay Indian Grill, a restaurant that serves northern Indian food in a casual Campustown setting, will open a second restaurant catering to customers interested in a fine-dining experience.

The owner, Kishan Sharma, has leased the former Basmati Indian Cuisine restaurant at 302 S. First St., C, and plans to open another Bombay Indian Grill there about the second week of September, he said.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

It's Your Business: Fat Sandwich plans Champaign shop

When Cole Lewko and Adam Pearlman say they sell a "fat sandwich," they're not exaggerating.

They stuff 8-inch rolls with a smorgasbord of foods, lots of them fried. Things like cheese sticks, chicken fingers, pizza bites, cheesesteak, eggs, onion rings and burgers. Even the French fries go inside the buns.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

It's Your Business: Discount Gas plans to expand, remodel

Discount Gas, 102 S. Mattis Ave., C, is planning to start a remodeling project toward the end of this month.

The Chicago-based owner, Salim Patel, said his plans include removing the old repair service bays and expanding the convenience store. A new liquor license courtesy of the city will allow him to begin package sales.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Furniture Lounge to open second store in downtown Urbana

Furniture Lounge, the retro furniture store in downtown Champaign, will add a second store in downtown Urbana next month.

The Urbana store will be at 126 W. Main St., with owners Scott Schaub and Amanda McWilliams shooting for an Aug. 15 opening.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

It's Your Business: Computer businesses offering systems, services

If the cost of a new computer system sends you into sticker shock, Allison Payne may be able to find what you're looking for in an older model and save you money in the bargain.

"Basically I think every computer is at least as useful as it was the day you bought it. People shouldn't have to pay a lot of money to get a computer that works just fine," she said.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

It's your business: Owner looks at options for the Art

David Kraft figures it's going to take some time to find the right person to take over his historic downtown Champaign movie theater.

So he's starting his search early.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

It's your business: New owners of pie shop cooking up additions

There are more than 40 kinds of pie made at Pies by Inge in Monticello.

But the new owners, Jennifer Johns and her mother, Redda Lively, can think of a few more kinds they'd like to add to the menu, starting with buttermilk and raisin cream pie.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

It's your buiness: T.J. Maxx remodeling to deliver improvements

Expect to see changes at the T.J. Maxx store in Champaign, if you haven't been there in a while. A full remodeling job has been under way at the store at 21 E. Marketview Drive, and was nearly done as of late last week, the company said.

Some of the changes: A new checkout area designed to be faster, new dressing rooms and an expanded home department to add more furniture, according to Thea Houghton, a spokeswoman for the Framingham, Mass.-based chain.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

It's your business: B&B plans Sweet Dreams in Pesotum

When Cheryl and Fred Smitley retired and decided to return to Fred's native central Illinois, they also took on a second career as innkeepers.

The Smitleys are now the proprietors of Sweet Dreams Bed & Breakfast, which opened recently in a restored 1902 Queen Anne-style home at 300 E. Adams St., Pesotum.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

It's your business: Nine-hole Legends golf course now open

The Legends of Champaign, a new nine-hole executive golf course at 4551 Nicklaus Drive, C, is now open.

Located near the intersection of Staley and Curtis roads, it has seven par-3s and two par-4s and three tees catering to kids, average golfers and those looking for more of a challenge.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

It's your business: Gregory Place East done ahead of schedule

Another big new apartment/retail development in the University of Illinois campus area, Gregory Place East, is finished two months ahead of schedule.

"We started moving some residential tenants in on May 10," said Jill Guth, director of development for JSM Development.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

It's your business: Board Boutique is ready to roll

If you skateboard, or have kids who do, the Board Boutique might be your kind of store.

A new skateboard shop at 702 S. Neil St., C, it sells colorful skateboards from about 40 companies, plus urban streetwear (clothes for the young and hip) and shoes.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

It's your business: Shop for babies, moms-to-be opens soon

Bella Bambini, a new store featuring baby and maternity clothes and gift items, will open this week at 2213 S. Neil St., C, in the Shoppes of Knollwood.

The store is taking over the space recently vacated by Rubens Chocolates.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

It's your business: Pia's site to house Mexican restaurant

The former Pia's Sports Bar property on U.S. 136 East in Rantoul will be put to use as a Mexican restaurant.

Victor Fuentes, one of the owners of El Toro and El Torero restaurants in Champaign-Urbana and St. Joseph, said he plans to open a new El Toro at the former Pia's by the end of June.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

It's your business: Apparel store to target teens, 20s

A national apparel chain catering to teenage girls and women in their 20s is coming to Champaign's Market Place Mall.

California-based Charlotte Russe is building a store in two recently vacated mall spaces that were combined to provide enough room for the new tenant, according to Dennis Robertson, the mall's general manager. The store will open in the Bergner's wing, he said.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

It's your business: Mommy Mixer helps moms, sitters connect

Ask any hard-working mom, and she'll tell you finding just the right baby sitter is a challenge.

Texas-based Mommy Mixer aims to make it easier for moms and college-age baby sitters to find each other at a series of networking events, and it's coming to Champaign-Urbana.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

It's your business: Warming up to more signs of the season

A sign of summer inching closer: more garden center and ice cream news.

Just opened in Paxton is the new Ivy Garden Center & Landscaping at 632 S. Market St.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

It's your business: Mexican restaurant headed to Champaign

Taco Loco, a fast-food Mexican restaurant in Mahomet, is expanding to Champaign.

Owner Sandro Cuellar said the new restaurant will open in June at 523 Town Center Blvd., next to the Regency Beauty Institute.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

It's your business: Personnel service changing hands

After 15 years of operating the Express Personnel Services office in Champaign, Del and Elaine Angelo are turning over the reins to a former employee and retiring in Florida.

The Angelos have sold their franchised agency to Lynn and Richard Yoerk, who will be taking over at the end of March.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

It's your business: New boutique on its way to Old Farm Shops

A women's clothing store called Findings Boutique will open at Old Farm Shops, at the corner of Kirby and Mattis avenues in Champaign, next month.

The owner, Ali Simpson, is a 2004 University of Illinois graduate in consumer and textile marketing who formerly worked for Bella Mia Boutique in Champaign.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

It's your business: Ham shop franchise has its eye on C-U

The HoneyBaked Ham Co. wants to open a shop with a cafe in Champaign-Urbana.

The Atlanta-based chain known for its spiral-sliced, smoked hams with a sweet/crunchy glaze already has some company-owned shops in and around Chicago.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

It's your business: Baker cooks up world of treats

Rick Lau grew up in the bakery business and is returning to his roots with a new international bakery at 1405 S. Neil St., C, called La Panaderia.

Named for the Spanish word for bakery, La Panaderia specializes in sweet rolls, breads, cakes, pastries such as eclairs and cream puffs, apple turnovers and cookies.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

It's your business: Mahomet facility welcomes seniors

A new assisted-living community will open in Mahomet next month.

And the 55-and-older adults it's catering to can move in with their pets.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

It's your business: 1-day sale to feature formal dresses

For any parent who wonders, "Why did we spend a fortune on a prom dress she wore only once?", Donna Pepper has planned her new sideline just for you.

Pepper, an owner of One Week Boutique – the business that holds giant consignment sales of children's clothing, toys and baby equipment – will launch a new consignment sale later this month called Dresses and Dreams.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

It's your business: Little Gym has big plans for kid fitness

Do your kids need a little activity?

The Little Gym at the Savoy Plaza along U.S. 45 will be starting classes soon to get them moving.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

It's your business: Market Place to host oral health fair for kids

Here's something even grumpy shoppers (guys, toddlers, you know who you are) can smile about: Free dental exams for all kids who stop by an oral health fair at Market Place Mall next Saturday.

Dentists will be on hand to provide free exams and screenings in the Macy's court area of the mall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 2.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

It's your business: Maurices moving from mall to plaza

Maurices, a moderate-price clothing store catering to teens and young women, plans to move from a space inside Market Place Mall to outside the mall at Market Place Plaza.

The store plans to open in its new 5,134-square-foot space between Fashion Bug and Gordmans in mid-March.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

It's your business: Subs out, gyros in at Neil Street shop

Silver Mine Subs has closed one of its two shops in Champaign, the one at 905 S. Neil St. But the space won't be vacant for long, because Niro's Gyros is moving in.

The new Niro's should be open in less than two weeks, owner Mike Naser said.

Sunday, January 6, 2008

It's your business: Dena's Hallmark moving to new spot

The Dena's Hallmark store at 27 E. Marketview Drive, C, will be closing soon for a move to another space at the same shopping center.

And when it reopens later this month, it will have a whole new look, says owner Dena Gaudio.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

It's your business: Chick-fil-A spreading its wings to campus

One of the nation's largest fast-food chains is coming to roost on the University of Illinois campus.

Chick-fil-A, which credits its founder with inventing the boneless breast of chicken sandwich many decades ago, plans to open a location at the Illini Union next month.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

It's your business: Shop has more than Two Loose Screws

A new store selling crafts and collectible items has opened in Monticello.

Located at 101 N. Market St., the store is called Two Loose Screws – a name one of the owners, Ruth Manint of Bement, said her husband humorously suggested after hearing she and co-owner Linda Morenz of Monticello were setting up shop.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

It's your business: A harvest of art at Farmers Market

Diane and Brian Farmer are putting their artistic sides to work in a brand new store they've opened in Rantoul called The Farmers Market.

The merchandise includes Diane Farmer's lotions, perfumes and massage oils which she also custom-blends for customers from more than 300 scents she has available.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

It's your business: Family restaurant opens in Mahomet

Donna and Alex Garduno, the owners of a family-style restaurant in Bement, have opened a second restaurant in Mahomet.

Their new place, Mahomet Square Family Restaurant, is at 804 Eastwood Center, where Esmeralda's Pancake House used to be.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

It's your business: Holiday stores open; apparel shop coming

A new store selling urban-style apparel will open at Market Place Mall next month.

To be called All Access Fashion, it will be a venture of Hassan Washington, a Champaign native who went to Centennial High School and formerly operated another apparel store on Bradley Avenue in Champaign.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

It's your business: Record Swap settling in at bigger site

Record Swap – a locally owned, independent record shop – has swapped locations and is now up and running in its new home in downtown Champaign.

The new store at 114 E. University Ave. (the former Ye Olde Furniture store) is larger than the old shop in downtown Urbana and also has an upstairs space for budget albums, said owner Bob Diener.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

It's your business: The Little Gym goes for big impact

The Little Gym, an Arizona-based chain that offers motor skills development programs for children, is coming to Savoy.

It will open at the Savoy Plaza off U.S. 45 in mid-February, according to the local franchisee, Giles Austin.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

It's your business: Hot Wok getting new look, operator

Hot Wok Express in Urbana has closed, but only temporarily.

The restaurant at 1102 W. University Ave. is undergoing some remodeling and should reopen by the end of November, said owner Greg D'Amico.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

It's your business: El Toro's 'charity table' aids causes

If you've dined at El Toro in Champaign in the past couple of months, you may have noticed the new "charity table" established by the Fuentes family that owns the restaurant.

The table benefits a different charity every week, because the Fuentes family donates every dollar customers spend on meals at that table to the featured charity.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

It's your business: Toppers Pizza back with new concept

Remember Toppers Pizza?

Toppers, which got its start in Champaign in 1991, plans to return to Champaign-Urbana with a new shop. But today's Toppers has a completely different concept from the original, the company says.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

It's your business: Scrapbook store gets new look, owners

D&P Scrapbooking will open Monday at 901-B S. Neil St. in Champaign.

If that address rings a scrapbook bell, it's because Scrap and Stamp Art used to be there. It was sold to Diane Pittman of Urbana and Pam Harrison of rural Thomasboro, who have remodeled and renamed the store.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

It's your business: Scrapbook business expands into shop

Is the scrapbook-making craze dying down anytime soon? Not the way Donna Gonzales sees it.

She's expanded her home-based business to open a retail store called Blessed 2 Scrapbook at Royal Plaza, 505 S. Neil St., C.