A look at some long-vacant stores and restaurants in the Tri-Cities

It is troubling to see some of the bigger retail locations in the area sit empty for a long time. We've mentioned those fairly regularly in this column, from the Charlestowne Mall debacle to the empty Dominick's locations and the empty Butera site, and now Sports Authority in Geneva.

They all will take quite some time to fill.

But there are some locations that give the feeling they will never be filled again — and those are the smaller retail buildings in the region.

You know them when you see them, and have to consider them possibly the toughest spots to spring to life again.

Those that come to mind are the Orlando's Pizza site on the east side of Geneva and the former gas station site, also in Geneva on East State Street, off Crissey Avenue. Batavia also has an empty White Castle restaurant spot and the former Avenue Chevy building sitting and waiting for new suitors.

Most recently, Sweet Tomatoes on the east side of St. Charles closed, leaving another restaurant location looking for a taker.

On the west side of the city, we've become so used to the former Colonial and Burger King sites being empty, that we have convinced ourselves there never really were businesses operating there in the past. Thankfully for those businesses, they simply relocated along Randall Road.

The former Aldi site in Batavia near, the Firestone auto care shop at Randall Road and Main Street, was one destined for this list, but now I am hearing an auto body repair shop is likely to go there at some point.

What does it all mean? It means our current mayors and city planners have tough business tasks at hand. They can't control contracts or legal circumstances that often enter into these situations, but they can plant the seeds for new visions that might include leveling some of these empty spots and starting with something new.

It is certainly not the time for whims, wishes and wannabes, which seems to be the rule in many of these cases.

Speaking of locations:

The situation with the empty Golden Corral location in Batavia is one of those you almost get tired of writing about because of the crazy ownership and legal scenarios Batavia has had to endure with that site.

So instead, we'll drift off into dreamland. Wouldn't it be nice if a restaurant like Country House, at the corner of Kirk Road and Fabyan Parkway, were located in that Golden Corral spot?

This sort of dream carries its own message: Forget the franchised and common places and maybe go with an independent, themed restaurant that might stand out as different along Randall Road.

And the dream comes with a caveat: How many independent, themed places can afford to set up shop along Randall?

Another tough site:

The restaurant spot on Houston Street and North Batavia Avenue has avoided falling into the “tough to fill” category because it has had Burger King and Hardee's as previous suitors.

Now, word is that Salsa Verde is coming to Batavia at that spot, which is good news for Batavians because this is a good Mexican restaurant.

Sure, we have plenty of those in the area (and Batavia certainly has a few), but Salsa Verde, which currently has a spot on the west side of St. Charles, should attract some new customers at that Batavia location.

I've liked every restaurant at that Houston Street location, dating way back to when Burger King first came and neighbors weren't too crazy about the location or idea of a fast-food restaurant so close to their homes.

Nearby homeowners had the right to squawk years ago, but it was zoned for business and it's a decent corner for a fast food presence. And, most importantly, it has had a business operating there, rather than sitting empty, more often than not.

More holiday lights:

Last week I mentioned Batavia's holiday decorating contest, but it dawned on me that those who are inclined to go full out on holiday house decorations should enter the Daily Herald's holiday lights contest as well.

It's pretty simple. You just take a photo of your home's light display and upload it to events.dailyherald.com by Friday, Dec. 9. Online voting begins Monday, Dec. 12, and everyone who enters is included in a drawing for a new Toro snowblower.

The overall winner of the holiday lights contest gets an even better machine — a Snow Master 724 ZXR Snowthrower. That's a lot of numbers and letters, so this thing must really clear out your snow.

In addition, five Editor's Choice winners will receive a $100 gift card from Lurvey Garden Center in Des Plaines.

Still seems odd:

Mill Race Inn in Geneva has been leveled for several weeks now, but it still is odd to drive by and see just an empty spot and the small structure being considered as part of a new development.

It is especially strange when driving down the hill that is Oak Street in Geneva toward the river and being able to see Herrington Inn on the other side of the river clearly, without any part of Mill Race blocking the view.

Worried about chicken:

When cruising down Third Street in Geneva last week, a glance over at the Chicken Shack building had me worried for a moment.

The windows had brown paper taped across, looking much like a place that had gone out of business.

But the sign in the window informed me of something many people probably already knew. The place closed in late October for the winter and will reopen when warmer weather sets in.

No one can count on the late-year weather around here to cooperate, but the truth is the Shack probably could have stayed open during our very warm November.

In any case, the sign encouraged people to check out the Chicken Shack catering services in the meantime, while thanking patrons for a great first year.

dheun@sbcglobal.net