"Eyes on Enterprise" business news for northern Illinois
Several dog-friendly Will County restaurants allow dogs and owners to dine on their patios together – and some venues offer specialty dog-friendly entrees, too.
The latest exhibit at the Strange & Unusual Gallery in downtown Joliet features the “sharp, satirical and visually striking” cartoon collages from Kent Smith.
The DeKalb, Genoa Area, and Sycamore chambers of commerce recently celebrated the opening of Communities by Grainger’s Old Mill Park Clubhouse, a subdivision for residents 55 and older.
Blue Heron Bagels is a home kitchen and cottage food business in Shorewood that crafts gourmet sourdough bagels by hand each week.
Geneva-based restaurateurs received early support this week for public dollars from the city which they said will help support the opening of their new chicken eatery, HoneyBird. The money would go to help rehab a building built in 1877.
Heartland by Hand announced that its downtown Ottawa gift shop is closing and its framing services will be relocating.
Misfits opened the bar portion of its business over the Fourth of July weekend.
A new family-owned and operated veterinary clinic opened this month on the east side of St. Charles. Monarch Veterinary Clinic specializes in small animals and exotic pets.
A coffee stop inside a Sycamore grocery store will serve its final cup of joe this weekend. Caribou Coffee at the Sycamore Hy-Vee will close Sunday.
An assortment of new food options are popping up in Crystal Lake this summer, including a bakery that has already opened and authentic Mexican restaurants.
Big O’s Barbecue, a food truck turned walk-up storefront known for its rib tips, links and chicken, opened this month at a new spot in DeKalb.
Plans for Heartland Bank to build a new drive-thru facility along Grove Street received preliminary support from DeKalb city leaders this week.
Kane County IT company Teqworks recently ranked in the top 100 fastest-growing companies in the Midwest, according to Inc. Magazine.
A DeKalb cannabis dispensary has been given the green light this week to move forward with plans to open a tasting room. “We also want to use it as a means to bring the community together as well to use it as an education for cannabis," owner Maria Davis said.
Infinity Truck Sales Inc., 3100 S. First St., Unit A, DeKalb, specializes in selling used heavy equipment including flatbed trailers, reefer trailers, van trailers, and semi-tractors.
Teqworks, a St. Charles-based IT services and consulting business, has announced a move to a new space.
Hidden Treasures and More, 143 E. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, will soon close up shop for good, its owners announced.
Next spring, Harbor House Paddle & Provisions could become a go-to stop for Kane County residents looking for exercise, coffee, drinks, a date night, live music and just about any other excursion.
The ‘"Passport to Downtown Batavia" shopping promotion and fundraiser is July 26, sponsored by Qui Travel, Travel a Latte and the Batavia Woman’s Club.
A new trampoline park is coming to Algonquin after the village board approved the request with plenty of safeguard conditions.
The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for independent-living duplexes at The Preserve at Heritage Woods in Minooka.
Candy Cloud, 2448 Sycamore Road, DeKalb, is a specialty drink cafe that offers various beverages, from coffee to boba tea and other sweet treats, including cake pops and donuts.
First Secure Community Bank has been recognized by the Illinois Bankers Association as a recipient of the 2025 Illinois Community Service Award.
The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Chop It Up to its membership.
Megan Saunders, owner of the remote Springview Sweets Bakery and the Springview Sweets Market in Lockport, is once again competing in the nationwide Best Bakery competition.
The African American Business Association of Will County recognized eight local organizations and individuals at its Juneteenth CEO & Awards Gala.
Sal's Jiu Jitsu and Grappling, run by Woodstock resident Ryan Salisbury, opened a new gym in DeKalb this week, providing a fresh training space for athletes and enthusiasts.
Besides the four years he spent in Navy, Danny Kakazu has worked at The Breakers bar and restaurant near Crystal Lake continuously since 1964. Sunday was his last day.
For owner Suzy Simmer, Saged Souls is the manifestation of a lifelong love for holistic healing – one rock, one breath, one peaceful space at a time.
Danny Dezanek of Spring Grove recalled being a child in the back of a small Cessna airplane and being “terrified for the takeoff.” However, that experience sparked his desire to become a professional airplane pilot.
Valentino’s opened at 104 W. Main St., the former JJ’s Pub in Ottawa.
Starved Rock Entertainment, 201 Donaldson St., Utica, announced the closure of the business later this month.
After two years of success and a growing customer base, Angel Mendoza recently expanded his operation by adding a second food truck that he takes to Dixon and Tampico.
Kiddie Academy of New Lenox recently celebrated its new ownership with a ribbon cutting.
A fledgling Elmhurst-based company that distributes vending machines offering electronic cigarettes and vaping products is facing pushback from some suburbs.
Internode Greenery & Home in Joliet and the Fit Foundation in Crest Hill, were part of a series of four-minute videos the Illinois Retails Merchants Association is showcasing.
Fry the Coop chicken restaurant recently opened in Joliet, joining nine other locations in Illinois.
Double “J” Sports Bar, located at 1001 Essington Road in Joliet, hosts karaoke on Monday nights and Ladies Night on Thursdays.
For his June 2025 local business highlight, state Rep. Bradley Fritts, R-Dixon, chose to highlight Carquest Auto Parts, which has two store locations in the 74th House District.
A Facebook post announcing the move said their old building at 123 West Saint Paul St. was Ray’s Quick Cash for 22 years.
Sweetbella’s is a DeKalb Farmers Market full-season vendor that offers sandwiches, soft drinks and to-go food.
The store, located inside Main Street Market, 317 E. Main St., Streator, on the second floor, will hold its last day Saturday, June 28.
EZ Wok in Shorewood is under new ownership. The restaurant is known as having a "convenient location and affordable prices."
Alibi Bar and Grill in downtown St. Charles will close its doors by end of July, to make way for new arcade bar Rec Haus, new business owner Erik Gilly said.
Michlig Energy, Ltd. announced a new location in Peru at 6350 Meridian Road.
Childerguild Gift Shop at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox is celebrating 75 years of raising money for the hospital’s women’s and children’s services.
Crystal Boehm’s body care business is sailing full steam ahead, anchored in Sterling and steered by passion.
Developers are looking to create six "industrial condos” in Crystal Lake to house manufacturing businesses – space the plan commission sees as a potential business incubator.
Kari Carpenter owns The Midwest Mercantile, which sells a collection of carefully curated, “giftable” items at the Shoppes at Grandon Plaza in downtown Sterling.
The drive-through-only coffee chain 7 Brew is quickly expanding its presence in the McHenry County, with several new locations planned.