First area Goin' Postal shipping services franchise opens

Irene Robinson recently opened the first Goin' Postal franchise in this area.

Robinson offers UPS, FedEx, DHL and postal services at 124 W. Northwest Hwy., near the Eurofresh Market in Palatine. The shop also offers faxing, copies, lamination services and greeting cards.

The franchise is the third of its kind to open in Illinois. The parent company, based in Zephyr Hills, Fla., oversees 315 stores across the United States.

Robinson said because the chain has so many locations, the company has developed deals with the major couriers to offer more competitive pricing. The shop also offers eBay selling services.

"We're a one-stop shop," said Robinson, who immigrated from India about eight years ago. She resides in Palatine with her husband, Willy, who works in the banking industry. They have two sons, Isaiah, 3, and Word, 1.

Prior to launching the business, Robinson worked in the mortgage department of a bank. She wanted to open a UPS store and found this franchise opportunity.

The business is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, call (847) 991-4910.

Restaurant gone: Applebee's closed its Randhurst Shopping Center location Sunday to accommodate redevelopment plans. The company offered employees new job opportunities at area restaurants in Arlington Heights and Palatine and other nearby locations.

Officials from the restaurant said Randhurst mall will be transformed into a mixed-use open-air lifestyle center, re-named Randhurst Village, by Casto Lifestyle Properties, an affiliate of the new owner CLP/SPF Randhurst.

Internship program: To help college students learn about the variety of career opportunities for CPAs, the Palatine firm Bass, Solomon & Dowell is participating in an accounting internship program with Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.

The 10-week internship is designed to give college juniors who are majoring in accounting some practical experience. For more, call (847) 934-0300.

Board election: Scott Jamieson, president and CEO of The Care of Trees in Wheeling, was elected to the board of directors of the National Safety Council.

Jamieson, a resident of Arlington Heights, is the first and only tree care professional to be elected to the council's board.

He will be part of the development and strategic planning committee of the safety council board during his two-year term.