While Brian and Teresa Faber visited a candy store in Galena, they browsed the chocolates and other sweets, but also noticed the atmosphere of the store.

Babs Brew is breaking ground on a new building at its Peru location on 4th Street.

The Treehouses at Starved Rock is a 26-acre retreat carved into Starved Rock’s border. There are two treehouses available for short stays and two more under construction, with availability beginning in February.

After closing in 2024, Sam and Serena Witz reestablished the Serena Cafe on Wednesday, March 5.

“It’s very exciting to have more retail invest in the city of Peru,” Mayor Ken Kolowski said when the store opened. “Our goal is to continue to create more retail and more jobs for our community.”

The Illinois Valley welcomed a few new coffee businesses this year.

Cajun Connection closed in 2023, but the loss of the nearly 30-year-old restaurant was softened with plans for a food truck.

If there’s one thing the Illinois Valley does well, it’s pizza, and in 2025, Peru lost two of its favorites.

Downtown La Salle welcomed new businesses in 2025 thanks to a renovation project.

In February, Jo-Ann Fabrics announced plans to close 500 of its 850 craft and fabric stores, which included the Peru location.

The open-air shopping venue with portable retail stalls is modeled after Batavia and Muskegon, Michigan.

Amazon opened a last-mile delivery facility in Ottawa in September, bringing in jobs while speeding up deliveries across the Illinois Valley.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois closed four health centers in March, including its Ottawa location.

The closure was announced in late 2024 when the company made plans to move forward with going-out-of-business sales at the remaining 963 Big Lots stores.

The last shoe repair shop in the Illinois Valley, Tino’s Shoe & Boot Repair in Ottawa, shuttered after 40 years this past October.

Illinois Valley businesses large and small closed in 2025. After less than a year in operation, Illinois Food and Deli in La Salle closed on April 30.

After more than seven years, Jean Arthur Salon in Peru plans to close its doors.

Heritage Harbor announced that the Illinois Crafter/Bluegill Boathouse & Marina Bar concluded its services with the Ottawa marina community.

The Gamers Guild Lounge in Princeton will soon close permanently. 

Its last day will be Monday, Dec. 29.

You may not know Lacey Haltenhof, but if you’ve shopped downtowns in the Illinois Valley this holiday season, you’ve seen her work.

The closure of Mr. Salsa’s, a Mexican restaurant at 309 E. Walnut St., Oglesby, was announced Tuesday, effective immediately.

After almost 11 years, Nonie’s Bakery & Café in Utica has closed. Its last day of business was November 23.

Lane Welch - Thrivent Financial recently moved her office to the second floor of Main Street Market at 317 E. Main St., Streator.

The Boatyard Bar & Bistro, 1130 N. 27th Road, Ottawa, closed for the season.

Hey Sweetie, a candy and ice cream store in downtown Ottawa will soon close its doors.

It’s a long-held tradition for children to visit Santa to tell jolly old St. Nick what they want for Christmas.

The Ottawa Downtown Association was honored with the 2025 Lt. Governor’s Award for Excellence in Revitalization at the Illinois Main Street Awards Banquet.

Established in 2015, Blue Margaritas specializes in serving traditional Mexican dishes inspired by the cuisine of different parts of Mexico, according to its website. 

The Barn at Deer Park recently opened for year-round events in Ottawa.

A Wendy’s spokesperson confirmed the news on behalf of the franchisee. Restaurant team members have been offered employment opportunities at nearby restaurants.

Fajitas Mexican restaurant is moving to the former John’s North Star in La Salle.

Stubbz Galley closed for the season at the South Shore Boat Club in Peru.

Unique Boutique has reopened at the Peru Mall for Christmas shopping.

Roosty’s Chicken & Shakes hopes to be open by the end of the year.

The little castle on Main Street in Ottawa has life once again, as Keely’s Castle recently opened at the site of the former Prince Castle ice cream shop.

The shop at 217 W. Main St. will close in a few weeks. An exact date has not been announced. Current jobs will be finished and new jobs will not be accepted. 

The Wyanet Meat Shop, formerly known as Wyanet Meat Locker, will soon reopen under new ownership.

The Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Vintage Vines hosted a ribbon-cutting on Thursday, Oct. 23 to celebrate the continued growth of downtown Spring Valley.

The Mound is a baseball and softball training facility in Oglesby dedicated to helping athletes develop their skills and passion for the game year-round.

The Bean Box Espresso, with locations in La Salle and Spring Valley, has introduced a trailer to offer more opportunities to pick up a cup of joe.

Prairie Fox Books in Ottawa will be closed from Friday through Sunday, Nov. 2, while the building undergoes renovations to its infrastructure. 

A grand reopening at Debo Ace Hardware in Peru is Saturday, following the store’s completion of a remodel.

Roxy Cinemas in Ottawa will reopen this week after undergoing renovations.

The founder of an Ottawa favorite, Chuck’s Gourmet Cheese, died Tuesday. 

Roxy Cinemas is closed while undergoing renovations.

JACKpots Pub owners, Jessica and Chad Lucas, announced they will be handing their Streator business over to new owners.

Applications are available for full- and part-time bell ringers at the Salvation Army office, 516 W. Madison St. The schedule is flexible, but part-time work needs to be consistent.

After seeking an owner by word of mouth without success, Bizzy Bee Activity & Learning Center in Streator is on the market.

They anticipate being open in the spring.