Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding communities.
Get yours: subscribe here. Refer a friend: share this link.
Interested in advertising? Let’s talk.
Happy Thursday!
The first signs of fall are beginning to emerge: cooler mornings, shorter days, and high school football kicking off this weekend.
Expectations are high for Batavia and Geneva, both of which appear in the Chicago Tribune’s statewide preseason Top 25 (#4 and #17 respectively). Should be a fun season.
📮 Need to contact me with questions, tips or suggestions? Get in touch here.
LEAD STORY
Progress report: Fox Haven Square
Remember when Fox Haven Square was just a concept plan with site maps and snazzy renderings?
The 7.5-acre mixed-use development next to the old Charlestowne Mall site is quickly transitioning out of its construction phase and slowly beginning to resemble the bustling east-side dining, fitness, and entertainment hub that was promised.
A new salon and fitness studio opened this summer, a new full-service Lou Malnati’s restaurant is under construction, and a grand opening announcement for the new Rosebud Steakhouse could come any day now.
Read on for the full progress report and a look ahead at what’s to come.
SPONSORED CONTENT
It’s a screaming seller’s market, but which city is hottest?
That would be Batavia, where homes are flying off the market in a median of just five days — and more than half are selling over asking price.
Geneva and St. Charles aren't exactly slow, either. Both are hovering around 1.2 to 1.4 months of inventory (anything under three months strongly favors sellers), and roughly half of homes in each city are closing above list price too.
But worth noting: despite these stats, late summer is when seller's markets can start to soften. If you’re considering buying, make sure to check the most recent activity in your desired town.
Local real estate expert Chris Wallace tracks these numbers in detail, city by city. Explore your town’s numbers below.
Below are the most clicked stories from our last newsletter issue.
☑️ Uncertain future: After decades of neglect, the historic 1846 Amasa White House in Geneva has deteriorated to the point where Kane County is now weighing a full roof rebuild, a phased restoration, or mothballing the structure for future reactivation.
☑️ The scenic route: Did you know that Kane County has a designated “Rustic Roads” program? These roadways offer quiet, scenic drives through farmland, woodlands, creeks, and landscapes featuring century-old barns.
☑️ Proposed housing plan: North Aurora officials reviewed a 339-home concept plan for the Beiriger Farm property near Deepath and Tanner roads, which could be developed as part of a long-planned realignment of Tanner Road.
☑️ Man faces charges: A Campton Township man faces 44 felony counts after Kane County prosecutors say he used AI to create child sexual abuse material between November 2025 and May 2026.
☑️ Inaugural season: Batavia's school board approved a new girls flag football team, but acknowledged that practices had already started before officials formally signed off on the team.
☑️ Election season begins: Nomination packets for St. Charles' April 2027 election, which includes five open aldermanic seats and the city clerk's office, will become available starting Friday (8/21).
☑️ Data center debate: As more local communities grapple with how to regulate data centers, a public forum in Elgin on August 31 will break down what these facilities mean for Kane County residents' electric bills, water use, and neighborhoods.
☑️ News notes:
Geneva will close Third Street from Route 38 to South Street (plus a few other downtown roads) on Sunday (8/23) for the Concours d'Elegance car show, with Route 31 offered as an alternate route.
New left-turn striping for improved safety is planned for later this fall at the Randall Road intersections with McKee and Mill streets in Batavia following serious crashes there earlier this year.
SPONSORED CONTENT
The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.
☑️ Friendly competition: A dozen familiar local faces (including a judge, a restauranteur, a figure skater, and TCC sponsor Chris Wallace) will lace up their dance shoes for CASA Kane County's inaugural "Dancing with the Local Stars" event on October 7 at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.
☑️ Recognizing local impact: Mayor Clint Hull handed out Spirit of St. Charles awards this month to Mediterranean restaurant Just Kabobs, world-record soccer freestyler Abraham Muñoz, and a high-achieving St. Charles East senior.
☑️ Calling all corn lovers: Sweet corn season is fantastic, but it’s fleeting — here’s a list of Kane County farm stands where you can stock up on locally grown cobs.
☑️ Longtime watering hole: In their latest episode, the “Area Code: Batavia” crew chats with Sidecar Supper Club owner Melissa Monno about buying a bar on a whim — and turning it into a repeat destination for locals of all types.
☑️ A half century of music: Geneva's Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival will mark 50 years this Labor Day weekend at Wheeler Park, with six stages, a barn dance, and nationally recognized performers.
✳️ Sunday at St. Mark’s: Now that the summer adult education series has wrapped up at St. Mark’s Church in Geneva, the 10:30AM Sunday Service has returned! Learn more about what to expect and see the weekly worship schedule.
SPONSORED CONTENT
PRESENTED BY PRESERVATION
I spy several early afternoon performances this weekend for those who want to catch some tunes during the daylight hours, including a rare 3PM Saturday show at the Arcada Theatre.
SPONSORED CONTENT
There's always a reason to visit The Little Traveler (including an incredible brunch deal for $13)
Sunday brunch at The Little Traveler's Atrium Café has been a Tri-Cities tradition for decades — and for good reason. For just $13, you get a full spread of house-made favorites: fluffy omelets, crispy bacon, Swedish pancakes, Crab Cakes Benedict.
Plus, it’s routinely named Best Brunch in West Suburban Living's Best of the West awards (trust me, it’s well-deserved).
💥 Your guide to summer discovery: Browse the 2026 Summer Almanack for upcoming events and fresh new products — there's always something new to discover beyond the cafe at The Little Traveler.
The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.
☑️ Beyond deep dish: Construction has started on a new Lou Malnati's in St. Charles, which will be a full-service restaurant with seating for 200+ indoors plus more on the patio — it's expected to open near Fox Haven Square this fall.
☑️ Fun at the farm: WGN’s “Around Town” TV show aired a segment at Elburn’s Rustic Road Farm, which includes a humorous meet n’ greet with the resident goats and an overview of how the local farm is supporting the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
☑️ Scoops on wheels: Kimmer's Ice Cream, a popular shop in St. Charles, is launching a mobile truck for neighborhoods, weddings, and private events, with bookings now open for late summer and fall.
✳️ Life alignment workshop: At Zen Loft Collective in Batavia this Saturday, an advanced human design practitioner will lead a special session on how discovering your energy type can help you make better decisions, avoid burnout, strengthen relationships, improve communications, and more. Learn more about the event.
The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee.
☑️ Movie in the Park(ing lot) | Fri 8/21, 6:30PM | Goldfish Swim School, STC | Outdoor screening of Toy Story 2 with games and prizes.
🎟️ Blooms & Bushels Festival | Sat 8/22 - Thu 9/17 | Kuipers Family Farm, Maple Park | Flower fields, U-pick apples, railway, bin bar, and live music on the weekends.
🎟️ Stretch, Sip + Shop Charity Yoga Morning | Sat 8/22, 10AM | House of 423, Geneva | Yoga, coffee, and shopping benefiting women-founded nonprofits.
☑️ Soaring High in North Aurora | Sat 8/22, 10AM-4PM | Fearn Park, North Aurora | Watch pro flyers from Chicago Kite, fly your own, and enjoy treats.
☑️ Bison Days at Burlington Prairie | Sat 8/22, 10:30AM-1PM | Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve, Sycamore | Indigenous storytelling and exploration of the bison prairie.
☑️ Back to School Fun Fair | Sat 8/22, 11AM-1PM | Geneva Commons | Petting zoo, crafts, treats, music, and bounce houses for the kids.
🎟️ His Majesty's Men 10th Anniversary Concert | Sat 8/22, 7:30PM | Baker Memorial Church, STC | A cappella concert featuring music in four languages.
☑️ Concours d'Elegance Car Show | Sun 8/23, 10AM-4PM | Downtown Geneva | A collection of antique, classic, and modern automobiles competes for trophies.
🎟️ Most Awesome Brew Ride | Sun 8/23, 11AM-4PM | Sturdy Shelter Brewing, Batavia | Guided bike ride between Batavia and Aurora breweries with beer tickets.
🎟️ Charity Bingo - Lazarus House | Mon 8/24, 6PM-8:30PM | Riverlands Brewing Company, STC | Entertaining bingo fundraiser with Waffadilla food truck.
Looking ahead
🎟️ Fall Pickleball Classic | Sun 9/27, 8:30AM-1PM | Persinger Center, Geneva | Doubles round robin tourney with six games, prizes, and refreshments.
What’d you think of this issue?
🔥 Loved it, keep up the good work
😐 Mediocre, could take it or leave it
🛑 3 minutes I’ll never get back
Thanks for reading
Enjoy Tri-Cities Central? Support local journalism and spread the word!*
*Scroll back to the top of this newsletter for a special referral link — you can get gift cards to local restaurants for referring friends.
