Blue Goose still a gem

A recent Facebook posting showing the original Blue Goose Fruit Market on West Main Street in St. Charles reminded me of something fairly unusual: I had not been in the new Blue Goose Market on South Second Street since it opened in 2008.

Granted, I don't go to grocery stores often. My wife does that task under this premise: If I do it, I come home with far too many cookies, candy and pastries. Simply put, I'm not allowed to grocery shop by myself.

But to not go into the new Blue Goose, after so many visits to the former store at First and Illinois streets, just wasn't right. So I went.

And it blew me away.

My wife had mentioned how different it was from other stores in the area, and that I would like it. She was correct.

The bakery, deli and meat departments are set up like you are still in a small hometown market. The lighting and décor gave me the sense of being in an old city corner store or a small village market. Yet, it's as modern as it gets.

Considering Blue Goose has been in the Lencioni family's hands since it first opened in 1928, you could say the store has changed with the times while not forgetting its past.

"They wanted to keep it more like what we had, but yet updated," said Dave Pichik, who has worked at Blue Goose for 48 years. "We're bigger, but they basically didn't want the big-box store look.

"They wanted the homey feel, but mostly wanted to take care of their customers," Pichik added. "Without them, we wouldn't be here."

Blue Goose owners did their part for the First Street redevelopment project by building the new 30,000-square-foot market. They were banking on the First Street project to generate a lot more exposure for this grand grocery store. The store is still waiting on that part of the bargain to fully deliver, but in the meantime, this is one heck of a grocery store.

Couldn't resist it

And what did I buy during my first visit to the Blue Goose Market? Just a good example of why I'm not allowed to grocery shop. I took a trip back to my childhood and bought a box of Maypo cereal.

"Marky wants his Maypo." If you remember that slogan, then you have an idea of why I couldn't resist.

Cold steel on tee

It was an unusually cold and windy day for early November (even before the polar vortex nonsense last week). And what do I see? A guy on the practice range at Mill Creek Golf Course, whacking away at balls as if it were a nice summer day.

Crazy fellow, I thought. Then I realized that area courses do like to stay open as long as possible.

But winter came on us quickly, with a spell of January temperatures in early November. I'd have to think most players have put away the golf clubs until at least March, or until the next trip to warmer climates.

Say it ain't so, Gabby

A restaurant closing shouldn't surprise us, considering how often it has happened in the past five years. But I didn't expect to hear that Gabby's Kitchen in St. Charles was closed.

I had only dinner at Gabby's in the past but heard nothing but great things about its breakfast offerings.

About six years ago, my boss at that time loved talking business over breakfast. So we met at both Colonials, Corfu, The Manor, Apple Villa and Egg Harbor when it first came to Geneva. Gabby's wasn't in place at the time, or it most certainly would have been on our list.

But we did go to Springview, the previous tenant at that West Main Street location.

The moral of the story: You hate to see a good breakfast place ride off into the sunset.

The online crutch

And some retailers may wonder why they struggle?

I went shopping with my wife last week, fully intending to buy a new pair of tennis shoes. We also had to buy some snacks for our dog.

On both occasions, the retailer did not have the product in stock, but the clerk quickly said, "I can order it online for you."

Nice gesture, but I'm not buying shoes without trying them on. Second, if the shoe isn't in stock, it shouldn't be displayed on your racks as such.

As for ordering dog snacks online, forget it. We usually buy dog food or snacks because they are needed at that moment.

I'd hate to think retailers are starting to use online business as a crutch, or a reason not to have stuff in the physical stores. We don't fear e-commerce, but we still like to get out on occasion and actually see what we are buying.

Doing our part

The Kane County Farmer newspaper tells us that pumpkin pie was introduced as an American harvest holiday tradition in 1623.

So when you are eating your slice of it on Thanksgiving, you can say you are doing your part to keep a 391-year tradition alive.

Giving thanks

Aside from enjoying a great meal on Thanksgiving and, maybe, just maybe, a Chicago Bears victory, it is always best to keep this holiday in perspective.

There is a reason that people travel across the country to be with family and friends for Thanksgiving. Time is fleeting, making it important to realize that the days in which we are all healthy and together to share our stories and love over a great meal - or to think about others and share what we have - are precious indeed.

Have an excellent start to the 2014 holiday season!

dheun@sbcglobal.net