Eyes on Enterprise

Villa Nova Pizza in Lockport opened Saturday for carryout and delivery at its new location on State Street in Lockport. The dining room and bar is scheduled to open next week.

Woodstock's Groundhog Days is coming up, and there are souvenirs ready to snag from local retailers.

Here's a look at just a few of the items for sale in Woodstock to commemorate and celebrate Groundhog Days festivities.

Babs Brew opens Thursday at 2130 Fourth St. in downtown Peru.

Owner Shelley McCarty is a HeadSpa specialist, licensed cosmetologist and licensed natural nail technician with over seven years of experience in the beauty industry.

More housing could be coming to Crystal Lake as developers propose a plan to build more than 100 owner-occupied townhomes near the Three Oaks Recreation Area.

Huntley School District 158 is canceling a contract to buy electric buses from Lion Electric after the company shut down its Joliet operations.

The family-owned cheesecake business in Ashton serves a variety of handmade, custom desserts.

Tony’s Barbershop in Peru is under new ownership. 

Sport Clips Haircuts of Crystal Lake, Cary and Algonquin have partnered with the Bremer Team of Keller Williams Success Realty for Cuts for a Cause, a fundraising event to benefit resident Kevin Pfeifer and his family.

Originally opened in 1987, Happy Joe’s Pizza and Ice Cream in Morrison is a franchised location owned and operated by Lynn and Kevin Kenady.

Future of the Leaf marijuana infusers, which make marijuana edibles and other products, wants to expand at its McHenry facility.

Culver’s of Rock Falls is celebrating Assistant Manager Braeden Thome’s recent acceptance onto the Culver’s National Training Team.

Nearly eight years after opening, Addison's Steakhouse is McHenry is moving to McHenry Country Club, called a win-win for both entities.

Bricks & Minifigs of Crest Hill, Illinois’ largest LEGO retailer, will celebrate its seventh anniversary with various family activities Jan. 18-19.

Kohl’s has announced it is closing 27 under-performing locations in 15 states by April.

The Sonic Drive-In previously located at 16031 Farrell Road in Lockport has closed. No information was available on what might be next for that location.

UrgentVet Joliet will treat a wide range of pet illness and injuries as well provide end-of-life care when it opens its new location on Thursday.

McHenry-based Follett Content provides over 700 jobs at its headquarters and still instills family values after selling the company three years ago.

The Downtown Joliet Winter Rewards Program continues through February. More than 20 shops and restaurants are participating in the program.

Traffic along Sycamore Road in DeKalb could get a bit busier in the coming months with the addition of two new businesses: Skechers shoe store and Candy Cloud, the city announced this week.

Philly Factory has moved into Walt’s Tap, 1059 Ninth St., La Salle.

The Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce hosted ribbon cutting ceremonies for G.R.I.T RX Fitness and Ava James & Company.

DeFiore Funeral Home in Huntley plans to open a pet crematorium with viewing room and pet walkway.

Owners Heather and Greg Huffman plan to open dine-in at Lena's Social Club in late February; it already is open for delivery and carryout for a variety of pizza options.

A Kohl’s store on the Carpentersville side of the otherwise-shuttered Spring Hill Mall will close by April, the Wisconsin-based retailer announced.

Midland States Bank has been named a finalist for “Best Initiative to Promote Financial Inclusion" at the 2024 Future Branches Innovators Awards.

Savy’s is owned by Sterling native Savana Egan, who opened her Dixon location at 111 S. Hennepin Ave. in 2015.

Main Street Spaces in Ottawa is partnering with Valley Fresh Harvest as a pickup location for the farm market.

It may still have the city’s name in its title, but after 93 years, the Chicago Boat Show has dropped anchor in the suburbs. It runs through Sunday in Rosemont.

Coffee Crush's owner has made more than coffee since opening the shop in 2019. She has brewed up lasting friendships with her customers and a space where she feels everyone is welcome.

The Joliet Noons Lions club recently distributed 24 blankets and 12 sleeping bags St. Vincent DePaul to assist the homeless.

The city of DeKalb lost a number of businesses over the course of 2024, with many owners citing plans to relocate operations, current market conditions and financial constraints.

601 Mercantile & Gifts was set to close at the end of December, but is staying in downtown Ottawa.

McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes furniture store Edge Designs has moved on to open a permanent location this week in Crystal Lake at the intersection of Routes 31 and 176.

Woodstock's holiday promotion brings in over $120,000.

Sarah Dycus has always dreamed of operating a cafe. She hopes to have Cup of Wonder open in Wonder Lake in coming months.

New McHenry County businesses reflect on 2024 and look ahead to the new year.

A look back at new businesses that opened in DeKalb in 2024:

Dabney Services is a towing, recovery and repair business in Dixon specializing in oversized vehicles, including commercial trucks, farm equipment and oversized loads.

Murphy USA, along South Galena Avenue in Dixon, is reopened after closing June 2, 2024, to be demolished and rebuilt to increase the square footage of its convenience store and offer more options for fuel, snacks and drinks.

Bicyclists left the former Green River Cyclery on Wednesday, Jan. 1, and rode the bike path to Lowell Park and back before meeting for lunch.

The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry has announced the recipients that will be honored at its 2025 Annual Awards Dinner & Celebration of 2024 Success on Feb. 25.

Take a look back at some of the biggest news stories of 2024 in the McHenry County area.

The past year saw a lot of changes to the McHenry County retailing and restaurant landscape. Here's a look at some of them.

Sugardemon Speciality Bakery is opening New Year’s Day in La Salle.

The Spark'd dispensary in Crystal Lake has permanently closed, according to the business partners. What went wrong?

The Treehouse Play Cafe in McHenry will have a liquor license for parents while children play and during birthday parties.

Fox River Grove is seeking court approval to demolish a long-abandoned apartment complex as lawsuits among contractors and the developer continue.

More of McHenry's Riverwalk Shoppes incubators are finding more permanent homes in McHenry and Crystal Lake.