Cinch up your bibs; Heun has food on the brain

The St. Charles Chamber of Commerce is 90 years old? That's a nice, long run for an organization devoted to serving the city's businesses.

You can celebrate that milestone, and maybe walk away with some commerce of your own, to the tune of $5,000 or more.

It may not be as nice as winning the lottery like the fellow in Batavia did at his 7-Eleven a couple of weeks ago, but the odds are much better. And, it helps preserve St. Charles history as well.

You'll see some St. Charles Heritage Center board members and supporters selling 50/50 raffle tickets from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in front of the Blue Goose supermarket in St. Charles.

Those tickets are helping raise funds for the center as part of its second annual St. Charles Heritage Ball on April 14 at Royal Fox Country Club.

This year, the heritage center honors the chamber's birthday, after doing the same for the St. Charles Park District's 100th birthday last year.

You don't have to wait until Saturday to get a raffle ticket. Tickets are on sale at the heritage center during the week. Event organizers are estimating the winner could walk away with that $5,000 or more.

Tickets are $5 each, three for $10, eight for $20, and 50 for $100. Heritage center folks will pull out the winning number during the ball at Royal Fox.

Tickets for the ball are still available. They are $125 for dinner, open bar, dancing, and live and silent auctions. For details, call (630) 584-6967.

Losing interest:

It seems somewhat appropriate that on April Fools Day we again mention that word has it the Golden Corral restaurant in Batavia will open in the summer?

Yawn.

The shell of the building off Randall Road and Main Street has been around long enough — about 3½ years actually — to let us know that franchise owner Sam Gibson has mentioned an imminent opening a few times in the past. Now, he's shooting for July.

He certainly knows how to add suspense to the matter.

Please no delays:

Let's hope news about a couple of other potential Batavia restaurants won't leave us sitting around for more than three years wondering what the heck is going on.

Those new restaurants would be Chick-fil-A on the corner of McKee Street and Randall Road, and the Pal Joey's that was possibly coming to the Fox's on the River location on River Street in Batavia.

These would be worth waiting for — but not more than three years.

Filling empty spot:

You figured it was only a matter of time before the former Bennigan's restaurant site on the east side of St. Charles would have a new tenant. A sign near the restaurant says Bulldog Ale House is coming soon. Hopefully, that means this spring.

I've seen the ads in the Daily Herald for the Bulldog Ale House locations in Carol Stream and Roselle, and they always make me wish we had one in the Tri-Cities.

Could be a case of “wish no more.”

Sort of a secret:

Pottawatomie Golf Course in St. Charles has earned recognition again by Golf World Magazine as one of the top nine-hole golf courses in the country.

Pottawatomie pro Ron Skubisz said the golf course “may be one of the best-kept secrets in the area.”

I have heard people say that before and wondered how that could be. Having played at least a few rounds at the course each summer for the past 32 years, I see a lot of people I know playing golf. So you wonder, what secret?

But several people have told me, “I've always wanted to play there, but never have.”

Simple remedy: do it this year.

Quieter each time:

I don't get over to the Charlestowne Mall as often as when I worked on that side of St. Charles and the mall had a Sears store, but each time I do it seems another store or two has left the premises. The big sign touting an ice-skating rink “coming soon” inside of the mall has been up for at least a year or longer it seems. And not a speck of ice is to be found.

The food court is about as empty as it can get. I feel sorry for the nice folks who operate the Chinese Gourmet food stand in one corner of the food court. They are still in business, and the food at that stand is pretty decent.

Worthless gift card?:

A few readers have sent notes expressing disappointment in another area restaurant closing without fair warning. This time it's Fat Rosie's Mexican restaurant on the west side of St. Charles.

One reader said she received a Fat Rosie's gift card for her birthday in January and went to the restaurant two weeks ago to find it dark and empty inside.

So, what happens to the gift card? Anyone with an answer can let me know.

Happy for tacos:

It appears Elburn residents are ready to welcome Chico's Tacos to town with open arms. Jack Hansen of Elburn tells me he has eaten at Mexican restaurants in Mexico and all across the United States, but he hasn't been to one that can top Chico's Tacos.

The Lopez family operates the restaurant and “makes everything fresh each day from family recipes handed down from their parents,” Hansen said.

“Believe me, you will want to stuff yourself 'til kingdom come once you've had a taste,” Hansen warns me.

The restaurant has its official grand opening with a ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. Thursday at 107 Valley Drive, Suite E in Elburn.

dheun@sbcglobal.net