Clown around Saturday at Grove Fest
The bigger businesses out front are pretty visible.
You can see Village Pizza, Burnt Toast and Starbucks easily even if you're speeding by on Randall Road.
But behind those restaurants in The Grove development in Elgin are many more businesses such as Jimmy John's, Physicians Immediate Care and Big Sammy's.
Now that The Grove is nearly full, the developers and business owners hoping to introduce, or reintroduce in some cases, the public to the development and all it has.
On Saturday, they're hosting the first ever Grove Fest, inviting people come out and "get a taste of The Grove."
"It's kind of like, 'Hey, we've been going about two years, and now we're pretty full up finally now. We're here and we want people to come see The Grove," said Jeff Possin, director of development for Interstate Partners, which developed The Grove.
The festival, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the development just north of I-90 on the west side of Randall, has free admission and free fun for the kids.
The owners are closing down Bushwood Drive, which runs through The Grove, and opening up many fun activities for the kids.
There will be a clown, a giant slide, a choo-choo train that runs through the development, a gladiator joust, an obstacle course, tot town, a moonwalk, face painting, a DJ and more.
The restaurants also will have food and drinks for sale that day.
"It's going to be a great festival atmosphere. We hope people will come check us out," Possin said.
Quitting time: On June 27, Vino 100 in Algonquin Commons along Randall Road will be featuring Friday After Work Tastings.
From 5 to 8 p.m., you can get a taste of six wines along with cheese and crackers for $5. A full glass of one of your favorites will be $5 more.
If you can't make it this month, the business is offering the same program on the first and fourth Friday of each month.
So long: One of the guys many people like to credit with helping to attract many of these stores and restaurants you love to frequent along Randall Road is leaving the village of Algonquin. Jeff Mihelich, the village's Assistant village manager for community development, is leaving his post in Algonquin for a job in Arizona.
Good luck Jeff!
Amy Williams' column covers all the news of business along the Randall Road corridor from South Elgin to Crystal Lake. Contact her at randallbiz@comcast.net or at (847) 894-5036.