First Street project taking shape in downtown St. Charles

Slowly, but surely, the First Street redevelopment takes hold in St. Charles.

The second phase on open land on the street's east side may not be in place for some time, but the west side plaza area's potential is coming into focus. Work continues on the new McNally's location, which will have the benefit of the plaza as its backdrop. It is located between the Eddie Caruso Hair Studio and the empty sites that housed Groom Room and Lucky Dog.

Those currently empty locations will be a future gold mine for someone who is able to incorporate a business that would benefit from the plaza setting.

"There is some interest in the empty sites, but it is more along the lines of gauging that interest as opposed to anything definite right now," said Michael Mertes, the city's economic development coordinator.

The door of Prasino has said "Open Soon" for months, but the "eat green, live well" organic restaurant site with a significant spot in the plaza looks like it has a fair amount of work to complete.

"Work at Prasino has picked up again as they go through the permitting process," Mertes said. "I don't know for sure what caused their delay, but I know they just opened a location in LaGrange and it's possible that was getting their focus and attention."

The Wok 'N Fire sushi and stir fry restaurant is already building a strong following for First Street visitors, and foot traffic for shoppers figures to pick up with new stores like "Jeans & a Cute Top Shop" recently opening.

Brix Wine and Cheese recently opened on the plaza, relocating from central Illinois, and Rx Café continues to grow in popularity.

"Response has been fantastic, and we're about a 90-10 now," Rx Café executive chef and owner Rebecca Stobierski said of her restaurant's first four months. "That means 90 percent of the people who come in love us, and about 10 percent were expecting something else, like faster food like Jimmy John's or Portillo's.

"We are sit-down dining, and even though we do have carryout, I think some people are looking for something ready to go fast."

Stobierski is eager for the other businesses in the plaza to get established.

"It will be better to be a dining destination, rather than out at the end of the road, so to speak," Stobierski said. "We're really blessed, because our timing (to open) was very good and we're expecting a great summer."

Pastry lover paradise: It's getting difficult to pass up this Sunday addiction: A walk through the Geneva French Market near the train station.

You know where this is going. I can't pass up those sweet pastries, and a blueberry scone from the Hahn's bakery table hit the spot last Sunday.

I also have to put in a plug for the lemon pound loaf and walnut squares from Mirella's Kitchen.

Yes, there are tons of fruits and vegetables to choose from. But that's take-home stuff. Who's going to munch on those while walking around Third Street?

Hold your nose: This qualifies as news that really stinks.

I spotted animal control expert Phil Zavitz wandering around his St. Charles neighborhood last weekend, and it turns out he was trapping skunks that had made their home in an opening under the concrete steps of a nearby house.

And here's something you probably don't want to hear.

"The skunks are really bad this year," Zavitz said. "There are a lot of them around."

As another reminder that we still share this world with wildlife, Zavitz also said, "And the raccoons are unreal this year - some of them are just huge."

Food bank campaign: The need to feed hungry families in the region continues to grow, and the main supplier to area food pantries wants to meet that need.

The push is on to help the Northern Illinois Food Bank move its distribution and community nutrition center from the east side of St. Charles to an expanded site on Dearborn Court in the Geneva Business Park off Averill Road.

Fundraisers and food donation opportunities will be more prevalent, including the food bank's effort to win $50,000 from the Pepsi "Refresh Everything" initiative. You can help the cause through the end of the month by visiting refresheverything.com/nifbhelp on a daily basis and placing a vote for the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

"The new distribution center will be the primary facility and headquarters for the food bank," said Jarrod Daab, associate director of development for the food bank. "We will sell the current facility, and the new facility will allow us to nearly double our distribution to more than 60 million pounds of food a year."

Helping the pantry: Speaking of food distribution, you can't underestimate the role of community businesses.

Things are still tough for local businesses, but it hasn't affected the willingness to support community causes. Case in point: The Elburn Chamber of Commerce and its business leads group donated a record $1,370 to the Elburn and Countryside Food Pantry this year.

Sad, but true: It wasn't as if Chicago Cubs memorabilia adorned the tables at Lucinda Corron's wake last week, but there were a couple of items that told you that the 101-year-old Campton Township resident was a fan of the North Siders.

It was a sad reality that this was a 101-year-old lady who never saw her team win a World Series. She was born in 1909, a year after the Cubs last title.

We all know this discouraging fact, but it really hits you as a sad state of affairs when looking over the photos and mementos of someone who has been around for virtually the entire time of this futility.

dheun@sbcglobal.net