'Tucked away' businesses in the Tri-Cities, part 2

As promised, today we look at five more "tucked away" businesses, those that are either in interesting locations or are not top-of-mind with many residents.

It completes the 10 businesses we wanted to highlight as places people should maybe know more about.

The first on the list today is Bird is the Word at 30 S. Shumway Avenue in Batavia. Shumway is one of those streets that might have all sorts on businesses tucked away, but this pet store stands out for its interesting facade - and the fact you can buy a parakeet there.

It's a Batavia-type of list today, as the second and third businesses on this list are also from the Windmill City.

The All Spoked Up bicycle shop sits right on the Fox River at 3 Webster St. It makes sense for this store to be located where it is, as the river's biking and walking trail goes right past it.

The next one is quite familiar to Batavians, but maybe not so much to others in the region. The Elm's restaurant at 912 Main St. has been around for more than 50 years serving burgers, fries and milk shakes among other favorites. Of all the things on the menu, it seems unanimous that people rave about the root beer.

It seems to simply be part of a residential neighborhood, but it's been in the right place for years - close to Batavia High School to attract students for the types of food they enjoy.

The fourth business can be found in Geneva, and if you happen to wax nostalgic often, this would be the place for you. Me and Dad's Toys and Collectables at 720 E. State St. is exactly what it says it is - a place to find all sorts of stuff from yesteryear.

For the fifth spot, I picked a photography studio because these types of places, as well as art galleries, often turn up in areas that wouldn't be considered key business districts.

And I picked a former colleague's spot in Andrew Young Photography at 207 S. Third St. in St. Charles.

Young has been a talented photographer for various local newspapers prior to opening his own studio, and has done work for individuals, chambers of commerce and other organizations for many years.

It's just Zimmerman:

The folks running the Hawk Ford auto dealership at 2525 E. Main St. in St. Charles have been doing so for about two years now.

But it still just seems like Zimmerman Ford when I drive by. It's hard to make that change after so many years.

After all, the late Bill Zimmerman's famous marketing gimmick of using a "K" in the word car is still on display with the "Used Kar Showcase" sign on the building.

The Zimmerman family operated that car dealership for about 80 years. It was not a coincidence, I was told years ago, that Bill's grandson, the late Skott Zimmerman, had a "k" where you'd normally see a "c."

Needs the permit:

Some readers were wondering why nothing was taking place yet at the corner of Fabyan Parkway and Randall Road where a new Oberweis ice cream shop, a pizza restaurant and burger place will eventually be built.

As of last week, the city had not yet issued building permits for the project.

On occasion, after plan commission and city council approval of a project, the developer will put up the "coming soon" signs and fence off the area in which the new businesses will operate.

But getting permits in order is a key part of the process, one that has no set timetable because it depends on when applications are submitted and how many the city is reviewing and acting upon at any given time.

Sweet Natalie's disappears:

The gluten-free bakery shop along Third Street in Geneva has been closed for a few weeks now, and no one seems to know exactly why.

I tried to connect with Sweet Natalie's owner Ilene Davis, but she hasn't responded. A few other merchants in town said they felt it was a temporary closing, but the signs on the doors would lead one to believe that the building owners are seeking other suitors.

I have no information or indication that this was the case with Sweet Natalie's, but I have been hearing from other Geneva retailers along State and Third streets that there is concern among some about what they are paying building owners in rent.

For many, that math is not adding up, giving me the sense that some other "surprise" closings could occur for businesses that essentially sell products or food items that are mostly low-value transactions.

In defense of the building owners, having a property to lease in Geneva is far better than in many other cities. As such, asking for higher rent is likely part of that equation.

Bring on the wine:

It's probably no different from any other area chamber of commerce, but those representing the Tri-Cities do enjoy having the word "wine" associated with their events.

Taking into account that the popular Festival of the Vine was held earlier this month in Geneva, the city's chamber had about seven member events listed at that time that centered on some form of wine tasting.

We do like our wine in these parts.

dheun@sbcglobal.net