Archive for October, 2009
October 26th, 2009
Steve and Janice Westlund in a 2002 Register Star file photo at Bob’s Ace Hardware.
Bob’s Ace Hardware, a business fixture on Rockford’s southeast side, is closing its doors.
Steve Westlund, who owns and runs the store with his wife Janice, said today the decision to close was made for several reasons. The bad economy was a factor, but Westlund, who is 59, said he and his wife are ready to retire.
“We’ve had a lot of good years in Rockford, and we want to thank the community for everything,” Westlund said.
The store will be closed on Tuesday, Oct. 27, so employees can prepare the space for its liquidation sale. The store will reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, and will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays until inventory, fixtures and equipment are sold.
Westlund said everything in stock will be sold at 50 percent off the regular price, including shelving, tools, housewares, gifts, paint and clothing.
The Westlund family owns the Ace building. Westlund said he’s had offers to buy the business, but he thinks the tough economy has made it difficult to pull deals together. He assumes the family will sell the building but said that decision will be made later.
Bob’s Ace Hardware is located at 2710 20th St., near 20th Street and Harrison Avenue. Call the store at 815-398-0111 for more information.
October 16th, 2009
A new hardware store is opening in Poplar Grove across from Candlewick Lake near other retail businesses.
Poplar Grove PRO Hardware, 13530 Julie Drive, is celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 17. The PRO-brand hardware store is a national model with stores typically located in the eastern part of the country, said owner Mike Farley, president of Farley Properties LLC in Poplar Grove.
Farley developed the Countryside Square retail center where the store is located.
“We are very proud to open their newest store and provide this much-needed service to Boone County,” Farley said in a news release. “Along with our emphasis on hometown service to the homeowner, we offer a complete line of commercial supplies for business and agricultural supplies for our farming community.”
The grand-opening celebration on Saturday will feature food, drinks and entertainment and will showcase antique tractors, motorcycles, classic cars and BMX bicycles. Paint, plumbing and electrical department representatives will be on hand to give away prizes, including a $100 gift certificate.
The store will be open normal hours from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call 779-552-8828 for more information.
October 16th, 2009
You can shop for clothing, shoes, accessories and more at the new store Gracie’s Got It Resale at 4010 E. State St.
The store offers clothing for men, women and children, purses and other accessories, winter coats, some formal attire, toys, books, household items and collectibles.
Store owner Mary Quist of Rockford worked at Chrysler’s plant in Belvidere for nine years and took the buyout recently. She was encouraged to start her own business because she’s always been a collector.
The store is named after her mom, Grace Awe. She’s already working with 17 consignors now, and she can work with more. As people bring in items, Quist checks to be sure there are no rips, tears or stains and then keeps them on consignment for 90 days. When the items sell, the consignors get a percentage of the sale.
Quist said the store has a ton of children’s clothing, as well as plus-size choices for adults and a large variety of shoe sizes. She’ll also carry some seasonal items around the holidays.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Quist is hosting a grand-opening event on Saturday, Oct. 17, with refreshments and door prizes.
Call the store at 815-394-2121 for more information.
October 16th, 2009
Longtime quilter Lesley Gebbie is doing her part to further the pastime with her new store Acorn Quilts, 6409 E. Riverside Blvd.
The store, which opened about three weeks ago, is about 1,800 square feet and features a large selection of fabrics that she says appeals to younger and more traditional sewers.
“I call it urban chic meets vintage charm,” Gebbie said of the contemporary fabric selection. “We also carry reproduction fabrics and more traditional fabrics.”
Gebbie has been quilting for more than 20 years. Her middle name is Alcorn, and “acorn” has been a nickname since childhood, so it was a natural fit for the store name.
She had been seriously considering opening a quilt store during the last five years.
“I had a job that I really liked, and there also were other quilt shops around,” Gebbie said. “But I got to a point where I wanted to do more than just shop, and I wanted to have my signature on things. Once you do (quilting), it’s in your blood.”
The store also carries laminated fabrics, which have become more popular for bags and aprons. Gebbie said she doesn’t carry any sewing machines in the store, but the store does host classes on topics like beginning piecing and machine quilting, and a wool club meets there.
Gebbie said wool appliques have become more popular for quilts or table runners.
The store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Call the store at 815-977-5275 or e-mail Gebbie at acornquilts2@gmail.com for more information. Gebbie’s daughter is also working on a Facebook page for the business, so look for that soon.
She’s hosting a grand-opening event on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24 where selected fabric groups will be on sale, as will books. Light refreshments also will be served.
October 16th, 2009
A new Asian restaurant is moving into the space recently vacated by The Breeze Sports Bar & Grill at the Perryville Square Shopping Center.
Mizu, 3801 N. Perryville Road, is set to open Nov. 1, and the menu will feature sushi, Thai food and hibachi-grilled entrees from the kitchen.
The owner is Jing Wu Lin, who has run similar restaurants in other markets. The 3,675-square-foot restaurant and bar will be open for lunch and dinner.
I’m scheduled to interview Lin next week, so stay tuned for more information.
