Hospitality
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Is Red Lobster’s revamped ‘Endless Shrimp’ deal worth it? A food critic tried it.
May 01, 2026 8:38 am - It’s easy to understand the appeal of Red Lobster’s “Endless Shrimp” special, a promotion in which diners are guaranteed as many shrimp as they can stuff in at one seating. But just how good a deal is it? Some premeal math told us how many shrimp we would each have to eat to make this a bargain: 23.
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St. Charles dining scene heating up with new restaurant fire + wine
Apr 22, 2026 1:47 pm - For nearly 15 years, BG Hospitality Group has brought people together around plates of wood-fired pizza and Italian favorites at Gia Mia, Livia Italian Eatery and Ella’s Italian Pub. Their latest restaurant, fire + wine in St. Charles, brings the company full circle, as their first restaurant was fire + wine’s first location in downtown Glen Ellyn.
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Elk Grove Village to buy shuttered hotel for $11.3M, then tear it down for redevelopmentApr 17, 2026 5:12 pm - Elk Grove Village is purchasing a shuttered hotel at 1000 Busse Road for $11.3 million, with plans to demolish the building and redevelop the site.
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Mendocino Farms restaurant chain opening in Vernon HillsApr 16, 2026 2:59 pm - Mendocino Farms, a fast-casual restaurant known for farm-fresh crafted sandwiches and salads, is opening its first suburban Chicago location Tuesday in Vernon Hills.
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Distorted soda and sub shop debuts in Crystal Lake for local take on ‘dirty soda’ trend
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McDonald’s tries a simpler approach with its new McValue menu
Apr 02, 2026 2:56 pm - After two years of tweaks to its value menu, McDonald’s has a new strategy: Keep it simple. The fast-food giant’s budget-focused McValue menu will have 10 items that each cost under $3 starting April 21. The breakfast items include hash browns or a Sausage McMuffin. A small order of fries or a McDouble burger are among the options the rest of the day.
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Riedy to retire after 22 years guiding Visit Lake County tourism initiativesApr 01, 2026 5:18 pm - After 22 years guiding efforts to make Lake County a well known place to see and experience, Maureen Riedy is retiring as president of Visit Lake County.
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How oil and gas prices affect your restaurant billApr 01, 2026 9:54 am - The price of gas and oil can change almost hourly and, unfortunately, this affects more than just how much we pay at the pump.
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Elk Grove motel agrees to security measures after homicideMar 31, 2026 7:51 pm - InTown Suites motel in Elk Grove Village, where a woman was fatally stabbed in February, agreed Tuesday to install cameras, maintain 24/7 private security, and implement other safety measures to avoid losing its municipal business license.
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Mayor threatens to shut down Elk Grove motel where woman was stabbed to deathMar 18, 2026 9:17 pm - The business license of an Elk Grove Village extended stay motel that was site of a Feb. 25 homicide could be revoked by village officials.