New dog boarder in Roscoe

Add comment November 28th, 2008

Stonebridge Kennels, 6142 Burr Oak Road, Roscoe, is now open for business. Owners Stephen and Katie Switzer offer boarding, doggie day care and basic grooming for your canine friends. The kennel operates out of a newly built facility not far from Roscoe’s downtown.

For more information, go to www.stonebridgekennels.net.

Ditullio’s moving to ‘bigger, better’ location

Add comment November 26th, 2008

Ditullio’s Italian Imports is moving from its 20th Street location to 2207 E. State St., next to Golan Lieberman Contemporary Art Gallery.

Owner Anthony Ditullio said the new location, at 2,400 square feet, will more than double the current space, allowing more room for the store’s plentiful offerings of Italian specialty items and eat-in cafe. He’s also hoping the location, near the Highland neighborhood, will bring in more traffic.

Ditullio said renovations to the State Street space should be done in a few weeks, and he’s anticipating moving in early January.

Silver lining for Tumbleweed gift cards

Add comment November 26th, 2008

Holders of gift cards from Tumbleweed, which closes for business tonight, have an option. Texas Roadhouse, 7240 Walton St., announced today it will take the cards and exchange them for a certificate for a free entree. The restaurant will also honor Tumbleweed coupons.

The offer expires Dec. 31. There is no limit on what menu items guests can chose, and one redemption is available per visit. For more information, call815-227-1283.

Pendulum Gift Shop closing

1 comment November 25th, 2008

Pendulum Gift Shop, located inside the Clock Tower Resort and Conference Center at 7801 E. State St., is closing its doors. According to ads running this week, the owner is retiring and all times are marked down 20 to 50 percent, plus sales on the fixtures, jewelry cases and display pieces.

Call 815-398-4715 for details.

Belvidere shoe store opening

Add comment November 25th, 2008

A new Shoe Department location is celebrating its grand opening Wednesday (Nov. 26) at 2234 Gateway Center Drive, Belvidere. A ribbon cutting will be held at 9:45 a.m. Shoe Department also has a store in CherryVale Mall.

Shoe Department’s corporate owners, Shoe Show, owns 1,123 locations in 36 states.

Images Hair Studio open house

Add comment November 25th, 2008

The reopened Images Hair Studio, 4164 N. Perryville Road, Loves Park, is having a holiday open house from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Owners Kelly Shimp and Laura Shoevlin will offer refreshments, discounted products and prizes.

The studio is also hosting a book drive through Dec. 20; donations will be given to children in foster care in the Rock River Valley.

For more information, call the studio at 815-877-1545.

Tumbleweed closing Wednesday

4 comments November 25th, 2008

Tumbleweed Restaurant, 5494 E. State St., is closing its doors for good at the end of business Wednesday. General manager Steve Leist said the franchise owner, Diamondback Management, is closing seven stores as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. The restaurant employs 51 people.

“Our store was doing OK, but the economy as a whole is a drag on the company,” Leist said.

Leist said the doors will close at 11 p.m.

New Buffalo Wild Wings opening Nov. 24

Add comment November 14th, 2008

Wing fans, take note: the Buffalo Wild Wings on Ill. 173 in Machesney Park will open for business at 11 a.m. Nov. 24. The chain is running the same promotion as it did with the Rockford opening — the first 100 guests in line will get free wings for a year.

(The promotion gives winners one coupon for a free six-wing order per week for the next 52 weeks. And yes, the coupons are dated, so no gorging yourself on 312 wings at once.)

The 1513 W. Lane Road restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Poor profits doom Club Libby Lu

2 comments November 5th, 2008

Saks Inc. announced plans today to discontinue its line of Club Libby Lu stores, one of which is located in the CherryVale Mall. All stores are expected to be closed by May 2.

Club Libby Lu caters to “tween” girls aged four to 12. The company acquired Club Libby Lu in 2003 and operates 78 stand-alone stores in malls nationwide and 20 Club Libby Lu store-in-stores within former Saks Department Store Group stores. The employees will be offered severance packages, according the company’s statement. 

“Club Libby Lu is an innovative concept that was a better strategic fit with our traditional department store business,” said Steve Sadove, chairman and chief executive officer of Saks Inc. “Discontinuing the operations of Club Libby Lu is the appropriate decision so that we can focus 100 percent of our time and resources on executing the strategies of our core Saks Fifth Avenue business.”

New plans for old steakhouse

4 comments November 3rd, 2008

The former Ryan’s Steakhouse at 5051 E. State St. is set to be reborn into Jimmy P’s, a restaurant and sports bar. According to information from the city’s Liquor Advisory Board, the owner, James Pantazelos, is adding 4,273 square feet to the 11,763 square feet already at the store. Pantazelos’ business plan calls for an upscale, family dining restaurant and sports bars, which will have separate menus. He intends to have 15 large-screen TVs to show sports events.

The liquor license was approved at the Oct. 21 liquor board meeting, and still faces City Council approval. Construction is under way at the restaurant on the additional space.