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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

JAYNE Boutique to open new store at Geneva Commons

Local business

Nov 13, 2025

JAYNE Boutique to open new store at Geneva Commons

JAYNE Boutique will open a new location at Geneva Commons on November 29, celebrating its launch on Small Business Saturday with special deals, giveaways, and styling events alongside the center’s annual holiday tree lighting.

Sam Kraft

AudioNova brings accessible hearing care to Batavia

Local business

Nov 10, 2025

AudioNova brings accessible hearing care to Batavia

AudioNova marked its official opening in Batavia with at a Chamber ribbon cutting event, introducing local residents to its hearing-care services led by longtime audiologist Dr. Keri Oke.

Sam Kraft

Up North Wine Tasting Room: The charm of Northern Michigan, brought to life in Geneva

Local business

Nov 9, 2025

Up North Wine Tasting Room: The charm of Northern Michigan, brought to life in Geneva

Geneva’s Up North Wine Tasting Room, founded by mother-daughter duo Cathy Humphreys and Amy Goedken, brings the relaxed, welcoming spirit of Northern Michigan to the Tri-Cities through boutique wines and a community-driven atmosphere.

Sam Kraft

Batavia's New Moon Vegan is the latest local "Illinois Made" business

Local business

Nov 3, 2025

Batavia's New Moon Vegan is the latest local "Illinois Made" business

New Moon Vegan, a woman-owned bakery and café in downtown Batavia known for its scratch-made, plant-based pastries and community involvement, has earned statewide recognition with its induction into the Illinois Made program.

Sam Kraft

Geneva's Bee Coco Candle receives "Illinois Made" honors

Local business

Oct 29, 2025

Geneva's Bee Coco Candle receives "Illinois Made" honors

Geneva’s Bee Coco Candle was honored as a 2025 “Illinois Made” business for its non-toxic, handcrafted candles and growing impact in the local maker community.

Sam Kraft

St. Charles signs off on bar and restaurant plan at the Motorcycle Museum

Local news

Oct 15, 2025

St. Charles signs off on bar and restaurant plan at the Motorcycle Museum

City officials advanced a special-use amendment letting the St. Charles Motorcycle Museum and Art Gallery add a bar, restaurant, and limited food-truck and entertainment options while requiring certain upgrades.

Sam Kraft

Brother Chimp Brewing opens new St. Charles taproom this weekend

Local news

Oct 14, 2025

Brother Chimp Brewing opens new St. Charles taproom this weekend

Brother Chimp Brewing will officially open its new St. Charles taproom on Friday, October 17, with a weekend of live music, food trucks, and small-batch beer releases at the former D and G Brewing space on 4th Street.

Sam Kraft

Antique, consignment, and thrift shops near Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles

Local business

Oct 4, 2025

Antique, consignment, and thrift shops near Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles

A mix of thrift, vintage, and consignment shops across Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, North Aurora, and Elburn offers everything from curated décor to budget basics for local treasure hunters.

Sam Kraft

New pizza-inspired burger at The Graceful Ordinary isn't your typical menu item

Local business

Oct 2, 2025

New pizza-inspired burger at The Graceful Ordinary isn't your typical menu item

The Graceful Ordinary is partnering with Chicago chef Bill Kim to serve a limited-time “Pizza Burger” as part of its returning Big City Burger Collab series in St. Charles.

Sam Kraft

Vintage Shop Hop returns to Tri-Cities area this weekend

Local events

Sep 29, 2025

Vintage Shop Hop returns to Tri-Cities area this weekend

The semi-annual Vintage Shop Hop returns October 3–4, with vintage and antique shops across the Tri-Cities joining a two-day road-trip shopping event.

Sam Kraft

Batavia Boardwalk Shops will start accepting applications for 2026 on October 1

Local business

Sep 25, 2025

Batavia Boardwalk Shops will start accepting applications for 2026 on October 1

Batavia MainStreet will be accepting applications through January 15 for the 2026 season of the Boardwalk Shops, the popular small business incubator program that runs May through December in downtown Batavia.

Sam Kraft

New hands-on farm experience coming to Batavia

Local business

Sep 16, 2025

New hands-on farm experience coming to Batavia

Majestic Highlands Homestead, a farm in Batavia that will offer meet ‘n greets and photo sessions with their cows Maggie and Mabel, will celebrate its opening with a September 25 ribbon cutting.

Sam Kraft

Local business

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

JAYNE Boutique to open new store at Geneva Commons

AudioNova brings accessible hearing care to Batavia

Up North Wine Tasting Room: The charm of Northern Michigan, brought to life in Geneva

Batavia's New Moon Vegan is the latest local "Illinois Made" business

Geneva's Bee Coco Candle receives "Illinois Made" honors

St. Charles signs off on bar and restaurant plan at the Motorcycle Museum

Brother Chimp Brewing opens new St. Charles taproom this weekend

Antique, consignment, and thrift shops near Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles

New pizza-inspired burger at The Graceful Ordinary isn't your typical menu item

Vintage Shop Hop returns to Tri-Cities area this weekend

Batavia Boardwalk Shops will start accepting applications for 2026 on October 1

New hands-on farm experience coming to Batavia

Tri-Cities Central