Krispy Kreme closing St. Charles location

Just like the Randall Road corridor, the Roamin' Randall column in expanding.

For the past few years I've covered all of the happenings along Randall Road from South Elgin to Crystal Lake.

Now, to bring you even more news of what's up on the corridor, I'll also be including news of new and unique businesses from St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia, all the way to Fabyan Parkway.

But I'm going to need your help.

I live along the northern end of the corridor, and that's what I've been covering the ins-and-outs of for the past three years.

But that doesn't mean I'm not familiar with the southern half. I travel south along Randall once a week to take my girls to their Swedish American Children's Choir practice in St. Charles, right at Hosanna! Lutheran Church on Randall Road.

And each week as we head down, sitting in traffic, we see new businesses opening, and some businesses closing. I'll now be including those in my column.

We also head that way to visit my mother-in-law, who also lives just off the Randall Road corridor in Kane County.

Still, though, I'll need you to call and e-mail, letting me know what you see going on along the corridor, and what you think might be fun to write about.

I welcome your input.

Goodbye Sweetness: One of the businesses I couldn't help but notice that recently closed is the Krispy Kreme along Randall in St. Charles.

It was kind of sad for my family to see, and I'm sure it was for many of you out there who craved their hot, fresh doughnuts.

You see, when she was just four days old, that was the first place we brought my daughter Annabel, who is now 5. We packed her up in the car, ready to escape on a pretty, spring afternoon, and we happened upon the hot, fresh doughnut sign, which my other daughter quickly noticed. I even still have the folded hat I saved for Annabel, as a memento of her first outing.

Although Krispy Kreme is gone, Michael Mertes, economic development coordinator for the city of St. Charles, said the building shouldn't be vacant for long.

One of the city's goals for 2009 is to have another commercial use in that building soon.

"Because of a restructuring they closed many of their Krispy Kreme businesses, and unfortunately St. Charles was one of them," Mertes said.

However, the building is being heavily marketed for lease for another use, he said.

Krispy Kreme occupied the building for seven years, and closed in November. Over the years, it became a popular attraction with families, who liked watching the doughnuts being made and then enjoyed eating them afterward.

Sweet Traditions LLC, which operated the business, as well as all of the Krispy Kremes in Illinois, filed for bankruptcy for more than a year ago, and there was long speculation that this store would close.

Toss away the winter blues: Cheeseburger in Paradise, the ultimate place to forget the piles of snow outside, is hosting a corn hole tournament this month and next.

There will be prizes awarded each week for the corn hole (also known as baggo) game winners. And the winners will qualify for a grand finale tournament on Feb. 11.

To register, stop by the restaurant along Randall Road in Algonquin Commons, or call (847) 658-9627.

• Amy Williams' column covers all the news of business along the Randall Road corridor from South Elgin to Crystal Lake. Contact her at randallbiz@comcast.net or at (847) 894-5036.