Thursday, January 24, 2013
Our Facebook page has been bombarded with suggestions. What do you think we need in town?
Video above: A Homewood Trustee asks residents what businesses they'd like to see come to town. Thanks to Anne Colton for sharing! A Homewood businessperson recently asked Patch what kind of business people want to see in our community—so we got to work. It only took a few minutes after posting the inquiry on the H-F Patch Facebook page to get a wide assortment of answers ranging from a deli to a lingerie shop to a hookah bar. Here are some of the other suggestions: If you were going to open up a business in town, what would it be? Tell us in the comments!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The beloved bakery announced plans to expand into a larger Homewood location last week, but a new deal will keep a scaled down, kid-oriented version of the shop at the current Flossmoor location.
Friday, January 11, 2013
The new location will be in the former Thai Rickshaw building in downtown Homewood.
Anne “Sweet Annie” Aboushousha spent all day Jan. 10 tracking around town, going from business to business to personally announce her decision to move Sweet Annie’s Bakery to 18102 Martin Avenue in Homewood, the former location of Thai Rickshaw. She also went to Twisted Q BBQ and Bakery on Ridge Road to break the news herself. “I really wanted to tell the people I care about directly,” Aboushousha said. “It was important for me to do that. I was really nervous.” Aboushousha made the snap decision last week, but it’s been two years since she realized some sort of transition was inevitable. “I was getting panic attacks when it gets really busy in the shop,” Aboushousha said. And then there is the matter of parking. Aboushousha recently spoke…
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Spending caps and increased scrutiny of applications are just some of the changes.
Article updated at 2 p.m. on Jan. 10, 2013 The Village of Homewood voted to revise the currently offered TIF incentive programs during the Jan. 8 board meeting. Community Development Director Paula Wallrich says several reasons called for the revisions. Declining property values have resulted in a lower-than-expected TIF fund balance. Wallrich also said some long-time businesses in town are requesting more help as part of a developing business retention program. “We also wanted to make sure that we were doing everything we could to secure and protect the village’s investment,” Wallrich said. Homewood has three main TIF programs: Façade and Property Improvement, Retail Enhancement and Go Green. Formerly, only the Retail Enhancement program …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
"La Banque" Hotel in downtown Homewood is inching closer to reality as trustees commit financial backing to the project.
Homewood trustees voted Tuesday night to give $900,000 and a recommendation for Class 8 tax designation to Ravisloe Country Club owner Dr. Claude Gendreau, all for the development of a boutique downtown hotel. The two incentives are separate and distinct, Grandeau’s financial consultant Don Peelman said. The Class 8 is in response to anticipated high operating expenses, as are custom in the business, says Homewood Community Development Director Paula Wallrich. The designation will reduce his assessment to ten percent of market value for the first ten years, 15 percent in the 11th year and 20 on the last, with an opportunity to renew. Not having a Class 8 is one of the contributing factors in the decline of the former Homewood Hotel, …
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
After years of citation frustration, Anne Aboushousha of "Sweet Annie's Bakery" formally requested the village offer parking passes to downtown business owners and their employees.
Flossmoor's village board will discuss options to amend their current parking policy to cater to downtown business owners and their employees. This comes in response to a formal request from Flossmoor resident Anne Aboushsousha during the Dec. 3 village board meeting. Aboushousha, more commonly known around town as "Sweet Annie," owns Sweet Annie's Bakey in downtown Flossmoor. She says her employees and she have struggled with Flossmoor's parking situaion—and received many expensive violations—since opening up shop four years ago. "If you work an eight-hour shift, you have to find three different areas to park, which in a big hassle, especially for those of us who work twelve-hour days," Aboushousha said. "In some shops, where there is …
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
After three years of business, the Homewood restaurant is calling it quits.
Thai Rickshaw restaurant announced today on their Facebook page they plan on closing after three years of business. Remorseful comments are already accumulating under the sad announcement: Patch has been unable to reach owner Peter Soraghan for comment. Thai Rickshaw's last day will be Saturday, Dec. 29.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Project proposed for land near Vollmer and Crawford. The village board will take up the issue in December.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Project proposed for land near Vollmer and Crawford. The village board will take up the issue in December.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
A free ice rink and a special train exhibit are two of the newest additions to the "Holiday Lights in Homewood" annual celebration, scheduled this year from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7.
Homewood’s annual “Holiday Lights” celebration is making a triumphant return this year on Friday, Dec. 7 with a special addition—a free ice rink! The rink will be fully staffed, and the village is also offering free skate rentals. It will open during the “Holiday Lights in Homewood” and will remain open every Saturday after from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. through Dec. 22. It will be located on Martin Avenue just south of Ridge Road. In addition to the rink, a plethora of Holiday Lights traditions will return this year, including the annual tree lighting in Irwin Park, the antique motor Christmas parade, ice sculpture carving, live music and even live reindeer. Shoppers can take advantage of special, extended downtown store hours and specials and …
Marilyn weaver
11:42 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
I like the vegetarian friendly idea as well... Oodles of Noodles is another fun restaurant ... more ›