Owner of Geneva's Anastazia opening new boutique

The decision to start selling women's accessories in home décor shop Anastazia resulted in a nice problem for owner Tom Konopacki.

"We have been doing very well with those sales, and they (the accessories) are sort of taking over the store," Konopacki said.

So what does one do when jewelry, handbags, scarves, skin and body products take over?

You move them to a new store, preferably close to your current location.

Konopacki is doing just that: Preparing to open the Liz and Kate Accessory Boutique right across the courtyard from Anastazia in Dodson Place on Geneva's Third Street.

Anastazia is marking its 10th year in Geneva, but this is the first time Konopacki is going to open a new business joined at the hip with his popular shop.

And it's still all in the family, in name anyway.

Anastazia is named after Konopacki's wife, while the fashion accessory boutique is named after his two daughters.

"They are high school and college age," he said, explaining why they won't be working at the store with their names on it.

"Now, I just need to have a store to name after my son," Konopacki suggested.

Konopacki plans to open the new 900-square-foot store in early June - just in time to take advantage of what he hopes will be plenty of people wandering nearby.

"There is a lot of activity in the courtyard now," Konopacki said of the Dodson Place area. It draws plenty of diners to Egg Harbor and Wildwood Restaurant, wine lovers to Galena Cellars Vineyard and Winery, and those with a sweet tooth to the new Kilwins ice cream and fudge location.

Traveler on Sundays: Maybe it was a throwback to an era in which businesses were generally closed on Sundays, but the Little Traveler in Geneva was missing out on tons of foot traffic along Third Street by always being closed.

Not anymore.

Starting this weekend, the Little Traveler will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. The store will offer Sunday brunches as well.

Little Traveler was always open on Sundays during the holiday season, but this marks the first venture into weekly Sunday hours.

Mall memory lane: Apparently, readers enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane a couple of weeks ago when I mentioned the long-lost St. Charles Mall. For those who might be new to the area, the city once had its own little mall tucked away on the west side of town. It was a nice size, maybe 30 stores or so, but it eventually shut down and faced the wrecking ball. All that is left is an open field along Prairie Street.

I mentioned Kmart and Joseph Spiess as the key anchors, but others reminded me that Payless, Pier One and Brooks all called St. Charles Mall home for a time.

My wife reminded me that I purchased a few things for her at a store called Impressions.

My fondest memory? I spent a fair amount of time at the Karmelkorn/Orange Julius store at that mall.

Are mine winners?: My tickets are in hand for the prize drawings at the Fourth Annual St. Charles Heritage Center Pig Roast and Silent Auction fundraiser.

Now it's a matter of keeping them in a place I can find them. The event doesn't take place until June 28.

The raffle tickets are only $10 each and give you a chance at one of three $1,000 cash prizes.

You might want to get a few of these in your hands, too. Call the center at (630) 584-6967 for information about raffle tickets or event tickets.

A game with heart: You can generally count on high school sports to be uplifting. Sure, there are instances of poor behaviors from fans, players or coaches on occasion, but for the most part it remains an example for sports in its purest form.

And it also has a lot of heart.

A case in point will be Kaneland and Batavia's "Pack the Park" senior night baseball game at 7 p.m. Monday at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, where the Kane County Cougars usually roam.

The game proceeds will raise funds for two kids battling cancer - Kevin Kassinger, a member of Kaneland's baseball team, and Drew Hahn, a 12-year-old Harter Middle School student. Drew is the son of Geneva baseball coach Matt Hahn.

Let's pray for the best for these young boys and, in the meantime, enjoy a high school night game that has heart.

'Houses' getting ready: Two new Geneva restaurants I have mentioned in the past appear to be getting closer to their openings. The "Houses" are shaping up, and both have their signs in place.

Nobel House, located on State Street, has a large blue awning with a logo of a plate and silverware.

Patten House, at the corner of Campbell and Second streets, has its signs in place featuring a drawing of George Patten, a lumberjack who built his home there in 1857.

The outdoor seating area at this location should catch the attention of any passer-by.

When the pedestrian walkway next to the Geneva History Center is completed, Patten House should benefit nicely. The walkway essentially connects right to the restaurant from Third Street.

Special hydrants: Not every town can claim to have fire hydrants that catch your eye. Geneva certainly can.

Decorated fire hydrants dot the neighborhoods near downtown, and a couple along Campbell Street made us stop for a look-see. "When Pigs Fly" was the theme of one, while a creative artist turned another one into a Little Orphan Annie saying she loved Geneva.

It's all the result of the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission's "Art on Fire" hydrant design program in which artists "adopt" a hydrant to decorate.

dheun@sbcglobal.net