Spread the word, Villa Park is the place to shop

Rumor has it Villa Park is one of DuPage County's best-kept secrets.

Look no further than the village's retail outlets, which provide residents a variety of services -- from gardening advice, to high-quality meats or even a great cup of Joe.

Great as they may be, they've remained private sources of village pride.

It's time to let that secret out.

Among the many new businesses the village has welcomed in the last several months, three have opened in coveted storefront properties in the Ardmore Business District, contributing to the area's redevelopment.

"(Villa Park) is up-and-coming," said Laura Johns, owner of Aura Fitness, Inc., 9 E. Park Blvd.

Her facility, which she describes as the first of its kind in Villa Park, offers fitness training and other services to promote overall well-being, such as massage, nutritional counseling and private yoga instruction.

Johns is a graduate of The Citadel, a prestigious military college in Charleston, S.C. She was a member of the Citadel's first women's sports team -- the women's volleyball team -- for four years, three of which she was team captain.

She and her husband now make their home in Villa Park, a community she hopes will appreciate the relaxed and intimate style of her facility.

"I want people to feel like they're working out at their own house," she said.

It's a sentiment not unlike that shared by Sue Presslak, one of four proprietors of Prairie & Vine, 29 E. Park Blvd.

"People come in, if they want just one taste of wine we want them to sit and enjoy themselves," Presslak said.

Presslak and her co-owners, Kathleen Butzen, Vicki Barclay and Patti Aparo, have taken their love of Illinois wineries to become purveyors of more than 180 labels from 37 Illinois wineries, and eclectic gifts and boutique wines from small wineries. A portion of sale proceeds from the boutique wines benefit various charities.

Presslak says their goal is "to spread the word about Illinois wineries … and give people more confidence in what they know about wine."

In order to alleviate the fears of those new to wine appreciation, shop owners have partnered with Villa Park Recreation to offer two classes: "Exploring Illinois Wineries" in February and "Wine for Dummies" in March.

Don't let the name "Wine for Dummies" fool you. Neither Presslak nor any of her co-owners think the less-than-aficionado dumb.

"Most people are not connoisseurs," Presslak said. "This is a fun way to learn."

The shop also offers private wine-tasting parties, a women's club and a winery-of-the-month club.

For those who seek relaxation through crafting, Creative Cuts and Crafts, 320 S. Ardmore, provides an outlet.

Sisters Vicky TerBush and Claudia Lesser began their business making custom cards. Since then, they've expanded their venture to include art, craft and jewelry-making workshops, as well as one-of-a-kind gifts sold on consignment for crafters, some of whom are local.

Shoppers also can drop in from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays to create a custom greeting card for just $1.

The sisters do extensive research to ensure they do not duplicate products offered at other stores and to keep their prices competitive.

It's paid off. Satisfied customers keep them encouraged.

"We're very blessed by those who came in and (then) spread the word," Lesser said.

Spread the word yourself: there is much to appreciate about Villa Park.