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Entrepreneur whips up plan to expand cupcake business

When Kathy Pomerene launched her small business in Rockford, she hoped she could sell three dozen cupcakes a day.

The bakery owner has cooked up a couple expansions since she opened four years ago and now makes about 5,000 cupcakes a week. She sells about 7,000 of the popular little cakes on Valentine's Day. Pomerene, 44, operates Sugarjones Inc. and has expanded the kitchen, opened a larger shop in Loves Park and is growing into the suburbs any day now. A bakery is opening in Hoffman Estates at 2632 Old Sutton Road in Poplar Creek Crossing.

Sugarjones is more than just cupcakes. "We're a full dessert bakery with cakes, truffles, cookies, pies and we are expanding to include cinnamon rolls and muffins as well," she said. Wedding cakes have also become wildly popular at the bakeries.

"We do a lot of custom cakes. I do all the decorating myself," Pomerene said.

But it's the bite-size cupcakes that made the business popular. "The frosting is different from anything you've tasted," she said. The buttercream topping sets them apart, the entrepreneur said, adding that the flavorful frosting stays soft.

"I love making up flavors," she said, adding that they sell 16 varieties a day. "We bake fresh everyday," she said. Red velvet, chocolate peanut butter cup, peach cobbler and raspberry zinger are a few of the fun flavors. The churro is the most popular with a vanilla cupcake swirled with cinnamon and brown sugar, topped with caramel and vanilla buttercream. The cupcakes sell for $2.50 each and $27.50 for a dozen.

Pomerene, who describes herself as tenacious, developed her business from her hobby. She studied biology at the University of Chicago and worked in the corporate world for a while. About seven years ago, she switched gears and launched a catering company. The popularity of her cookies and cakes prompted her to alter the focus. "I taught myself to decorate." With the help of fiance Chris Toohey, they opened the first store in 2011. The couple is getting married next month while on a cruise with 70 friends and family members joining them.

The taste of the treats and word-of-mouth has been the source of growth for the business. Pomerene said social media has helped. "We have gone from 500 fans to more than 14,000 - all organic," she said.

Pomerene's mother, a graphic designer, developed the logo for the business. Pomerene, who grew up in Rockford, admits she does not have a lot of free time. "When I do, I like to sleep," she says with a laugh. She says she also enjoys golfing and going to Cubs games during the summer.

Missner moves

The Missner Group has relocated its headquarters from Skokie to Des Plaines to accommodate the firm's recent growth. The new offices are located within the Higgins Centre at 1700 W. Higgins Road in Des Plaines.

In conjunction with the move, The Missner Group will redevelop its former headquarter site, at 5500 E. Touhy, into a new 4.27 acre, four-building retail center.

"Benjamin Franklin once said that without continual growth and progress, words such as achievement, improvement and success would be meaningless," said Barry Missner, president and principal of The Missner Group. "The time is right for a redevelopment of the Touhy Linder mixed-use property, which has served as our headquarters since it was constructed in 1972. We are excited to announce plans for a four-building retail center to include a Goodwill and Panera Café."

The two existing structures, which comprise the Touhy Linder development, will be demolished to construct four new buildings on the 4.27 acre site. Located near the I-94/Touhy interchange, the redevelopment will include a 20,850 square foot Goodwill, a 4,304 square foot Panera Café with drive-through, as well as two additional retail buildings consisting of 5,500 square feet and 6,150 square feet. The new site will also include a large parking area and outdoor seating between the buildings. Construction is scheduled to commence within the month with a completion slated for late summer 2016.

Sale inked

Oak Brook-based Adelphia Properties announced it completed the sale of a single tenant net-leased CVS located at 2360 W. Indian Trail in Aurora.

From start to finish the deal was a quick 20-day close, the company said. CVS occupies a 13,013-square-foot free-standing building that was developed in 2005, with 16 years of lease term remaining.

Adelphia Properties' Simeon Spirrison represented the all-cash deal.

Moving company awarded

Boerman Moving & Storage Inc. was recently awarded Bekins Van Lines Agent of the Year at the Bekins' 61st Annual Partnership Conference in Tampa, Florida.

The award is given to the top interstate agent for Bekins Van Lines that exemplifies putting customers first and the characteristics of quality, professionalism, empathy for customers, fellow agents, drivers and van line employees.

"This truly was a surprise for us. While we knew we were in the running as one of the named 12 Agents of the Month; it was unexpected since we were in that position for the past two years," said Dan Boerman, vice president of operations for Woodridge-based Boerman Moving and Storage.

Boerman Moving & Storage is in its fourth generation of family ownership and will be celebrating its 90th year in business in 2016. In 2001, the company expanded into Woodridge.

Courtesy of Sugarjones Inc.A wedding cake from Sugarjones bakery.
A drum cake made at Sugarjones bakery. Courtesy of Sugarjones Inc.
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