🥦 Whole Foods opening date set

It’s official. It’s no longer the “old Blue Goose building.”

The new Whole Foods in St. Charles will open on June 25 (with free mini waffles and coffee on opening morning).

If the results of our January 2025 reader poll are any indication, many of you view this as excellent news.

The highly anticipated, 36K-square-foot store at 2nd and Indiana has been the talk of the town for months in a community still adjusting to the loss of the beloved Blue Goose market.

Love Whole Foods or not, you can’t deny the convenience of its central downtown location.

As expected, the store will offer well-known items like kale, fresh sushi and curated artisan cheeses. But its announcement featured some under-the-radar highlights that may surprise some folks, including hundreds of products from Midwest brands, an opening day giveaway and donations to local charities.

_{LOCAL SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT}

📖 A summer tradition in the heart of Geneva

This June, St Mark’s Episcopal Church — a downtown Geneva institution that dates back to the city’s founding — will open its doors for its annual Vacation Bible School: a fun, faith-filled adventure for kids age 3 through rising 6th graders complete with games, crafts, and stories.

This year's theme is "spending awhile on the Nile" in Egypt! Students will learn about Joseph's Journey From Prison to Palace on June 17-19 (T/W/Th) from 5-8PM. Childcare will be available for younger siblings, and dinner will be provided each night for campers, children in the nursery, and VBS volunteers.

Cost is $20/camper. If your child would like to wear a VBS Egypt-themed T-shirt to camp, sign up here by June 10, and a shirt will be provided.

📰 News to use

☑️ Mental health report: Kane County’s annual Youth Voices Forum on Mental Health brought together 86 high school students to identify key mental health challenges and propose solutions to things like discrimination and social media harm. See the full report.

☑️ Local tragedy: A 5-year-old child died Tuesday evening after being struck by a vehicle driven by a family member in the driveway of a home on Royal Fox Drive in St. Charles, according to police.

☑️ Rule revision: Illinois officials have passed a bill that would raise the age for annual driving tests to 87, easing renewal requirements for senior drivers pending the governor’s signature.

☑️ Downtown disruption: Two downtown St. Charles projects to improve pedestrian and bike access will begin the first week of June, bringing lane closures and traffic changes to Main Street and Illinois Street through early fall.

☑️ Planning ahead: The Route 31 underpass in Geneva near the train station will be closed for bridge repairs for two days starting at 9AM on Monday (6/2) through 5PM on Tuesday (6/3).

🏘️ In the community

The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.

☑️ Art city: Thanks to a record 112 artists from across the country and a vibrant mix of art and activities, the 27th annual St. Charles Fine Art Show drew thousands to the downtown area last weekend. Read a recap of the event.

☑️ Memorial Day events: See photos of the Remembrance Ceremony at the Batavia VFW and the sunrise rifle salute ceremonies in Geneva on Monday.

☑️ Swim season: In addition to the Quarry in Batavia, Sunset Pool in Geneva and Swanson Pool at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles are now open for the season. See swim hours and special events for Sunset and Swanson.

☑️ Shared spirit: Eight suburban faith groups, including congregations from Batavia and Geneva, will join together for a pancake breakfast, ecumenical worship and the Aurora Pride parade on Sunday, June 8.

✳️ Ready to move, stretch and clear your mind? Zen Loft Collective in Batavia just launched their new June class lineup — featuring more sessions, outdoor options and free childcare for select classes. First-timers welcome!

🎸 Live music

_{PRESENTED BY PRESERVATION}

Whatever type of music you’re into, there’s almost certainly something on the schedule for you this weekend — including 10 local Thursday night performances.

_{LOCAL SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT}

✨ Award-winning brunch at an unbeatable price

Sunday brunch is a time-honored tradition — and you won’t find a better value in the Tri-Cities than at The Little Traveler’s Atrium Café. In fact, it was named Best Brunch in West Suburban Living’s 2024 Best of the West.

For just $12.95, enjoy a full spread of fresh, house-made favorites, from fluffy omelets with crispy bacon to Swedish pancakes and Crab Cakes Benedict. Trust me, there’s a reason so many local folks have been coming back for decades.

💥 Beyond brunch: Check out The Little Traveler’s Summer 2025 Almanack for upcoming events and exciting new products.

🤝 Local biz

☑️ Bonus bounty: Batavia’s Wednesday evening Farmers’ Market returns June 4 to North River Street with about 20 local vendors, including returning favorites and new additions like artisan sauces, fresh cannoli and garden plants.

☑️ Local layoffs: According to the Illinois Work Net Center site, Ametek Bison Gear & Engineering in St. Charles will lay off 167 workers on July 21 due to a plant closure.

☑️ Staycation anyone? Local chambers orchestrated a ribbon cutting celebration for The Victorian Fox, a curated full house rental in downtown St. Charles with history oozing from its walls. See photos from the event.

🎯 Still advertising like it’s 2010? Print is sadly disappearing. Social is saturated. Big tech doesn’t care. Partnering with a hyperlocal email newsletter is the place where local businesses stand out. Ask about our easy advertising program.

🗓️ Events & Things to Do

The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee.

🎟️ Jeff Dye Live | Thurs 5/29 - Sun 6/1 | Comedy Vault, Batavia | One hysterical performer will do five shows over three days.

🎟️ End-of-School-Year Celebration | Fri 5/30, 5PM | Urban Air Adventure Park, STC | Let the kids blow off some steam while supporting a local charity.

☑️ Climate Reality Panel | Fri 5/30, 7PM | UUSG, Geneva | A local expert presents on meaningful ways we can help slow the impact of climate change.

☑️ Seapeak’s 4th Birthday Party | Sat 5/31, 9AM-1PM | Wilson St. Mercantile, Batavia | Celebrate a local business with freebies and other activities.

☑️ Sip, Sparkle & Skincare | Sat 5/31, 11AM-3PM | Med & Beauty Spa, STC | Free consultations, goodie bags, mimosas, snacks and more.

☑️ Kane County Flea Market | Sat 5/31 - Sun 6/1 | Kane Co. Fairgrounds, STC | A shopping event unlike any other.

🎟️ Pancakes for Ponies | Sun 6/1, 8AM-12PM | Moose Lodge, STC | Good food, raffles and support for Casey’s Safe Haven Horse Rescue.

☑️ Pride Fest 2025 | Mon 6/2, 4-6PM | Downtown STC | A flag raising, karaoke, food trucks, crafts and other family-friendly activities.

📖 Thanks for reading

If you enjoy Tri-Cities Central, please spread the word!