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A Rooted Home is getting a permanent spot in downtown Batavia

Local business

Mar 17, 2026

A Rooted Home is getting a permanent spot in downtown Batavia

A Rooted Home, a fan favorite from last year's Batavia Boardwalk Shops, is opening a permanent downtown storefront with a "first look" event this Saturday (3/21) and a Grand Opening on March 28.

Sam Kraft

Steel Beam Theatre closes after 24 years — new youth theater takes its stage

Local business

Mar 16, 2026

Steel Beam Theatre closes after 24 years — new youth theater takes its stage

Steel Beam Theatre has closed after 24 years, and the St. Charles venue is reopening as The Fox Youth Stage with a focus on youth theater programming.

Sam Kraft

Meet the Geneva neighbor who will reorganize your entire house — or small business

Local business

Mar 9, 2026

Meet the Geneva neighbor who will reorganize your entire house — or small business

A Geneva woman has turned a lifelong obsession with organization and modern decor into The Polished Nest, a new home organizing and decorating business serving the Tri-Cities area.

Sam Kraft

7 Brew Coffee aims to open new location in St. Charles

Local business

Mar 6, 2026

7 Brew Coffee aims to open new location in St. Charles

The St. Charles Plan Commission recommended approval for a 7 Brew Coffee drive-thru location at Prairie Centre, bringing the chain — which has a highly popular Naperville location — one step closer to a local presence.

Sam Kraft

Jeans and a Cute Top Shop closes its St. Charles location after 15 years

Local business

Mar 6, 2026

Jeans and a Cute Top Shop closes its St. Charles location after 15 years

Jeans and a Cute Top Shop closed its popular St. Charles location after 15 years, allowing the owner to consolidate the business into her Wheaton store and bring her St. Charles manager along for the transition.

Sam Kraft

Vintage Shop Hop returns to the Tri-Cities this weekend

Local business

Feb 27, 2026

Vintage Shop Hop returns to the Tri-Cities this weekend

More than 400 vintage shops across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin — including 23 in the Fox Valley — will take part in the Vintage Shop Hop March 6 and 7, inviting shoppers to plan their own self-guided weekend road trip.

Sam Kraft

St. Charles Business Alliance points to downtown momentum while outlining 2026 goals

Local business

Feb 24, 2026

St. Charles Business Alliance points to downtown momentum while outlining 2026 goals

The St. Charles Business Alliance highlighted steady hotel occupancy, a successful Unwind Wednesday event series that it plans to expand, and a boost in downtown programming as it seeks city funding for its 2026 initiatives.

Sam Kraft

Geneva Wine Cellars announces closure, final sale set for this weekend

Local business

Feb 23, 2026

Geneva Wine Cellars announces closure, final sale set for this weekend

Geneva Wine Cellars and Tasting Room announced that it will close its Third Street location after more than 12 years and is holding a final 20% off sale on February 27 and 28.

Sam Kraft

Savia Cafe brings coffee, culture, and baked goods to downtown Geneva

Local business

Feb 23, 2026

Savia Cafe brings coffee, culture, and baked goods to downtown Geneva

Savia Cafe recently opened at Geneva’s Metra station, bringing a cozy new grab-and-go coffee and baked goods spot — with Mexican-inspired drinks and plans to expand — to the growing local cafe scene.

Sam Kraft

Club Champion opens golf club fitting studio at Geneva Commons

Local business

Feb 23, 2026

Club Champion opens golf club fitting studio at Geneva Commons

The national Club Champion brand has opened a custom golf club fitting studio at the Geneva Commons, offering tailored fittings to help local golfers improve their game.

Sam Kraft

Batavia's Bocaditos Cafe Awarded $10K grant through Main Street America Program

Local business

Feb 17, 2026

Batavia's Bocaditos Cafe Awarded $10K grant through Main Street America Program

Batavia MainStreet announced that Bocaditos Cafe received a $10,000 national “Backing Small Business” grant, which the downtown Batavia café used to buy new equipment and expand its offerings.

Sam Kraft

A new speakeasy-style whiskey spot is materializing in St. Charles

Local business

Feb 1, 2026

A new speakeasy-style whiskey spot is materializing in St. Charles

An invite-only speakeasy-style whiskey concept called 3PM Social has begun hosting curated events in St. Charles, encouraging people to join a "watchlist" to learn about upcoming events.

Sam Kraft

Viking General Store: A Geneva-based apparel shop rooted in local pride

Local business

Jan 26, 2026

Viking General Store: A Geneva-based apparel shop rooted in local pride

The new local clothing and accessory brand is building a following by blending Geneva pride, hometown nostalgia, and small-batch collections launched through pop-ups and online product drops.

Sam Kraft

Storybook Cafe set to open its doors in downtown Geneva

Local business

Dec 18, 2025

Storybook Cafe set to open its doors in downtown Geneva

Storybook Cafe celebrated a ribbon cutting in downtown Geneva ahead of its public grand opening on December 21, bringing ceremonial-grade matcha, specialty coffee, and a community-focused space to 3rd Street in Geneva.

Sam Kraft

Earthmover Credit Union opens new Batavia branch

Local business

Dec 18, 2025

Earthmover Credit Union opens new Batavia branch

Earthmover Credit Union celebrated the grand opening of its new Batavia branch on McKee Street with a multi-chamber ribbon cutting on December 17, marking its expansion into the Tri-Cities area.

Sam Kraft

New restaurant proposal aims to revive key downtown Batavia corner

Local news

Dec 12, 2025

New restaurant proposal aims to revive key downtown Batavia corner

Batavia officials signaled support for a $150,000 incentive to help bring a major new restaurant concept to the 15 E. Wilson Street space that previously housed Thorabella's and Gaetano's.

Sam Kraft

Limestone to take over Batavia library café in early January

Local business

Dec 8, 2025

Limestone to take over Batavia library café in early January

Limestone Coffee & Tea will take over the Batavia Public Library café in early January, offering its full drink menu and partnering with North Aurora's Breads & Bakes Co. for baked goods.

Sam Kraft

Festive chocolate treats return to The Graceful Ordinary for holiday season

Local business

Dec 4, 2025

Festive chocolate treats return to The Graceful Ordinary for holiday season

The downtown St. Charles restaurant has brought back its popular Boozy Hot Chocolate Flights, offering four decadent seasonal flavors through January 31.

Sam Kraft

Batavia Public Library's Flyleaf Cafe preparing to close

Local business

Dec 3, 2025

Batavia Public Library's Flyleaf Cafe preparing to close

Flyleaf Bakery Cafe will close at the end of December as its owner retires, leaving the future of the Batavia Public Library café space unclear.

Sam Kraft

Local events

Dec 1, 2025

North Pole pop-up brings cozy holiday fun to downtown Batavia

Downtown Batavia is getting its own little slice of the North Pole this December as Zen Loft Collective transforms into a festive holiday pop-up with a mini market, twinkling lights, creative photo ops, live music, treats, and more.

Sam Kraft

Alloy small-group training franchise to open a location in Geneva

Local business

Nov 27, 2025

Alloy small-group training franchise to open a location in Geneva

Alloy Personal Training is opening a location on South Randall Road in Geneva in January 2026, offering appointment-based strength training in a supportive team environment.

Sam Kraft

Tri-Cities shops line up festive events for Small Business Saturday

Local news

Nov 25, 2025

Tri-Cities shops line up festive events for Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday brings seasonal cheer to Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles with meet-and-greets, hot cocoa, spin-to-win discounts, and special deals at several local shops.

Sam Kraft

A new “escape” is coming to St. Charles — and it’s called Playa

Local news

Nov 24, 2025

A new “escape” is coming to St. Charles — and it’s called Playa

The Aréchiga Restaurant Group is opening Playa, a new coastal-inspired lounge and restaurant in St. Charles, designed as a flexible “escape close to home” with live entertainment, immersive design, and a creative Mexican vibe.

Sam Kraft

Five & Hoek makes it permanent in Geneva

Local business

Nov 24, 2025

Five & Hoek makes it permanent in Geneva

Five & Hoek Coffee is turning its popular summer pop-up at 416 W. State Street in Geneva into a permanent coffee shop with specialty drinks and a Bien Trucha food partnership.

Sam Kraft

Three long-standing companies to receive 2025 "Made in St. Charles" awards

Local business

Nov 15, 2025

Three long-standing companies to receive 2025 "Made in St. Charles" awards

The St. Charles Business Alliance is recognizing The Bike Rack, R.W. Rogers, Inc., and Dickey Manufacturing Company with 2025 Made in St. Charles awards for their decades of craftsmanship and community impact.

Sam Kraft

Local business

A Rooted Home is getting a permanent spot in downtown Batavia

Steel Beam Theatre closes after 24 years — new youth theater takes its stage

Meet the Geneva neighbor who will reorganize your entire house — or small business

7 Brew Coffee aims to open new location in St. Charles

Jeans and a Cute Top Shop closes its St. Charles location after 15 years

Vintage Shop Hop returns to the Tri-Cities this weekend

St. Charles Business Alliance points to downtown momentum while outlining 2026 goals

Geneva Wine Cellars announces closure, final sale set for this weekend

Savia Cafe brings coffee, culture, and baked goods to downtown Geneva

Club Champion opens golf club fitting studio at Geneva Commons

Batavia's Bocaditos Cafe Awarded $10K grant through Main Street America Program

A new speakeasy-style whiskey spot is materializing in St. Charles

Viking General Store: A Geneva-based apparel shop rooted in local pride

Storybook Cafe set to open its doors in downtown Geneva

Earthmover Credit Union opens new Batavia branch

New restaurant proposal aims to revive key downtown Batavia corner

Limestone to take over Batavia library café in early January

Festive chocolate treats return to The Graceful Ordinary for holiday season

Batavia Public Library's Flyleaf Cafe preparing to close

North Pole pop-up brings cozy holiday fun to downtown Batavia

Alloy small-group training franchise to open a location in Geneva

Tri-Cities shops line up festive events for Small Business Saturday

A new “escape” is coming to St. Charles — and it’s called Playa

Five & Hoek makes it permanent in Geneva

Three long-standing companies to receive 2025 "Made in St. Charles" awards

Tri-Cities Central