The Biz Week That Was: Inflation woes, downtown businesses close, and unemployment claims dip
Americans are using credit-card rewards to pay for groceries, gas
A pile of credit-card reward points can take you business class to Bali or cover a few days’ stay in a London boutique hotel. These days, as inflation strains American budgets, more people say they’re using points for daily essentials, from gasoline to cat litter.
Nike, Everdine’s Grilled Cheese close this week in downtown Naperville
Downtown Naperville is saying goodbye to two businesses this week: Everdine’s Grilled Cheese Co. and the Nike store. Everdine’s owners announced Tuesday on social media that they were shutting their Naperville store at 24 W. Jefferson Ave. on Friday. They did not give a reason for the casual restaurant’s closing.
Mount Prospect hires outside firm to handle data center permitting
Dealing with the departure of the village’s longtime building inspector, and sagging under the weight of reams of permit paperwork related to the CloudHQ data center campus, Mount Prospect is finding relief from an outside firm.
Offices styled to complement Water Street design endorsed for downtown Naperville
Two vacant downtown houses at Main Street and Aurora Avenue could make way for a new office building — styled to complement the nearby Water Street District — if the Naperville City Council follows an advisory panel’s recommendation.
US weekly unemployment claims fall to 208,000, fewest in 10 weeks
Filings for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level in 10 weeks as U.S. layoffs remain historically low. The number of Americans applying for jobless aid in the week ending July 11 dropped by 8,000 to 208,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
Chicken finger favorite Zaxbys announces further expansion in Chicago suburbs
Zaxbys, the popular fast-casual chicken chain from Georgia, announced its second Chicago-area development deal as it looks to expand its footprint in the Midwest. The seven-restaurant development deal comes six months after the brand opened its first Illinois location at 13429 Illinois Route 59 in Plainfield in January. Locations are expected to open in Bolingbrook, Naperville and Woodridge.
Engineering firm to help Mundelein determine traffic impact of massive Ivanhoe Village development
A national engineering firm has been hired to help forecast how a massive residential and commercial development planned for Mundelein’s northwest side will affect traffic in the area. Kimley-Horn and Associates will review an existing traffic study for the much-heralded Ivanhoe Village development envisioned for 773 acres east of Route 60 and south of Peterson Road.