Play N Trade offers try it before you buy it
You may have seen the life-size Mario standing on the corner of Randall Road and Fabyan Parkway.
If you head a little further into strip mall at that intersection, you'll find his home at the new Play N Trade video gaming store in Batavia.
The store, which is a franchise, opened last month, selling both new and used video games, as well as current and classic consoles. It also offers on-site disc and console service and repair.
But it's not just a store where you can buy or trade for the latest games and systems.
You can also try them all out.
The store has a "try any game before you buy" policy.
Inside, you'll find 10 32-inch wall-mounted, flat-panel HD LCD televisions and wireless controllers where you can try them all out.
And it's not only the Wii and Xbox 360 games you can test. They even have Atari for the old-time gamers.
Six of the store's 10 screens are set up for a player's club in an 14-by-14-foot area. The area is also available for birthday parties and tournaments hosted in the store.
"As soon as gamers walk in the door, they know Play N Trade is where they want to be," owner Dan Moore said. "Our store atmosphere is inviting to everyone from the casual gamer to the hard-core enthusiast, as well as parents wanting recommendations on what games to buy their kids.
"I am here to make sure that everyone feels welcome and receives exceptional customer service."
Moore said he's finding that the store is appealing to people, especially in the current economic climate.
"It's great when you can get that game, but get it for less used or trade," he said.
"It's also great at Christmas. If you give a used game as a gift, and they open it and don't like it, they can always bring it back and trade it for a store credit," Moore said. "That's great in this economy."
The Batavia Play N Trade is at 1938 W. Fabyan Pkwy. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For information, call (630) 482-9500.
Biaggi and Brewery: On Dec. 8, Biaggi's Restaurant along Randall Road in Algonquin will be hosting a special dinner featuring the beers of Two Brother's Brewery.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. and will feature a six-course meal prepared by chef Tony Girmscheid to complement the featured beers.
Reservations are required for the dinner. For information, call (847) 658-5040.
Top this: You can now find the Countertop Shoppe along Randall Road in Crystal Lake.
The business, which specializes in - you guessed it - countertops, is at 1295 Randall Road, near CVS on the east side of the road.
• Amy Williams' column covers all the news of business along the Randall Road corridor from Batavia to Crystal Lake. Contact her at randallbiz@comcast.net or (847) 894-5036.