Touch of the tropics comes to St. Charles

Often, a business survival story during this unpleasant recession centers on a makeover.

Dawn Humer could see that writing on the wall when the economy didn't paint a rosy picture for her small cafe at 8 N. Third St. in St. Charles.

She's been in the restaurant business for nearly 30 years with four different establishments, so she reached back in her bag of experience to transform her Dawn's Café lunch spot into a tropical paradise.

"I wanted to bring the Florida Keys to the heart of St. Charles, and that's what people say it reminds them of," Humer said of her re-creation called Dawn's Beach Hut, which opened in late 2008.

Several years ago, Humer had a restaurant in Schaumburg that went all but belly-up during a prolonged road construction project - and she revitalized it with a tropical beach theme.

"It worked there, and it has made things much better here," she said. "With this economy, there were just so many places for lunch, and that's an area I think people cut back on.

"But now, my place is totally different," Humer added. "It is small and cozy, and it has a limited menu, but the key thing is tropical drinks."

Actually, everything at the Hut has a tropical theme. The major redecorating resulted in a small bar shaped like a tiki hut topped with a large fish.

You won't hear anything but tropical or reggae music, and you won't drink anything but tropical drinks with names like the "lava flow" or beers commonly paired with a sunny beach.

"In these times, it's an escape for people," Humer said.

This would be especially true during a long winter. Dawn's Beach Hut opens at 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, but will expand hours once warmer weather takes hold.

"Opening only in the evening expands my market," said Humer, who feels the "coolest part" of her establishment is that it appeals to everyone.

Spreading the sale: The barn sales hosted by area Catholic churches are so popular, there is little doubt that patrons circle their calendars well in advance of the event regardless of whether St. Peter in Geneva or Holy Cross in Batavia is operating it.

Fans of the annual barn sale will have to circle a lot on the calendar this year.

Organizers of the St. Peter Barn Sale have announced that this year's event will actually unfold with a series of nine smaller sales, taking place at the Campana building warehouse in Batavia.

It will eliminate the expense of renting the county fairgrounds and it will cut down on some manpower needs in moving items to the fairgrounds and manning an entire operation on what certainly could be called the "big weekend" of the sale.

Keep your eyes and ears open as to how all of this will unfold with the smaller sales, but start thinking in terms of each sale date being tailored toward specific items.

Pretty good Reuben: An alert reader, Frank Christensen, dropped me a note to say I'd probably like the Reuben sandwich at the new Fox's on the River restaurant in Batavia. He said it was the best he's had.

Frank apparently knows I have my eyes and mouth wide open when it comes to hunting down tasty sandwiches.

So I had the Reuben at Fox's last week. And it was quite good. It also appears as if owner Frank Fox is putting some money into making aesthetic improvements in the restaurant.

If you are traveling a little bit out of this area, there's another terrific Reuben sandwich hiding near the routes 59 and 64 intersection at the Augustino's Rock and Roll deli located in West Chicago.

A place for your voice: People who would like a say in their community, but can't commit to an elected office, might find a planning committee as the best way to have their voice heard.

Those who participate in Geneva's Strategic Plan Advisory Committee have found that to be true.

This group of Genevans is involved in studying the city's strategic plans, while prioritizing community goals, and then sharing that input with city officials. Those familiar with the workings of this citizen committee point to the creation of the city's skate park and cultural arts commission as accomplishments that started with the advisory panel. Topics currently being addressed include issues related to bicyclists and pedestrians, and protecting the city's natural resources.

The committee is seeking new members for three-year terms, starting in May. If interested, contact Stephanie Dawkins at sdawkins@geneva.il.us or (630) 938-4540; or Brad Koontz at koontzbr@yahoo.com.

A bombed area?: We're loosening Old Man Winter's grip, but it's clear what damage he's inflicted.

If we staged a contest for the worst potholes, there's little doubt that the entryway into the west side Colonial Restaurant, Burger King and Jewel area in St. Charles would win again. Some patching has been done, but those holes made one feel some roadside bombs were ignited.

St. Charles might want to approve the proposed Shodeen project in the nearby vacant St. Charles Mall area just to get the entrances paved properly.

I haven't encountered a "killer" pothole on area streets, and I cover a fair amount of ground. But there are plenty of minor ones, as usual, and a couple you could call "bone-jarring."

Tempted by shrimp: If you are a shrimp lover, you'll surely be tempted to put in an order for the Shrimp Fest Dinner being offered by the Geneva football team.

It's become an annual event, and the "drive-through" shrimp dinner will be from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 12, in the high school cafeteria. Tickets are $12 each and available from any player or by calling (630) 463-3929. You just tell them how many dinners you are ordering and what time you would like to pick them up.

dheun@sbcglobal.net