Oswego Chamber Newsletter_111419

New restaurants on tap for downtown Oswego NEWSLETTER u Winter 2019 u

Business & Industry United For A Better Community

WHAT’S INSIDE:

EXPO

Showcases Oswego

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Shop Local

T

By Erin Sauder - Photos by Shayna Buckley he flurry of activity in downtown Oswego is good news for the palates of residents and visitors alike.

Construction is currently underway on a three-story mixed-use building at 113 Main St., once the site of the former Village Hall, which is set to include a first-floor restaurant.

The yet to be named dining establishment will serve up a menu of American fare.

Brought to the village by the Yorkville-based Imperial Investments, the 18,000-square-foot project will also contain upper-level office space.

HOW WE HELP What the Chamber can do for you.

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Mike Mann, Imperial’s director of development and an Oswego resident, is looking forward to expanding the area’s

dining options with a non-franchise restaurant. Another perk? The establishment will feature garage door-style al fresco dining.

“I think people will like the ambiance as the current plan is to use historical pictures of Oswego in some of the decor,” Mann said.

“The menu will include a variety of dishes and we will hopefully be using some locally sourced meat and produce to make specials.

At the end of the day, we are just looking to provide an environment where Oswegoans can enjoy great food while spending time with family and friends in a unique setting.”

The anticipated completion of the establishment is summer 2020. u Continued on page 2

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u Continued from page 1

Imperial Investments also has plans for another downtown Oswego site. The former Dairy Hut, at 121 S. Main St., closed this summer after decades in business.

Now, the building will be demolished to make way for a new restaurant and ice cream shop called the Dairy Barn.

“The plan is to feature live music from time to time, incorporate a game room/party room and some other surprises which will be disclosed at a later date,” Mann said.

The establishment, set to be approximately 4,200-square-feet, will serve up a menu featuring soft-serve ice cream, sundaes, hot dogs, and burgers, among other fare.

September’s groundbreaking ceremony for the project at 113 Main St. marked the start of the public improvements to the rest of Block 11, the downtown block bounded by Washington, Main, Van Buren and Adams streets.

When finished, Block 11 will also include a two-story Mexican restaurant along Washington Street from the team behind Naperville-based Potter’s Place, village officials said, as well as additional public parking, underground water, sewer and electrical infrastructure to support further development, and a

complete reimagining of the streetscape featuring a pedestrian thoroughfare.

More information on downtown Oswego’s new developments, including maps of the new projects and anticipated street closures, is available at www.goOswego.org/coming-soon.

Electronics Recycling at the Chamber office Did you know the Chamber offers free Electronics Recycling the last Thursday of every month at the Chamber office from 9 – 12 pm? (TV’s are $15) and this is open to anyone in the area –residential & commercial. Below are reasons why we offer this: Did you know that approximately 200,000,000 tons of e-waste is ending up in landfills in the US annually? Electronics contain many toxic materials and if not disposed of properly those toxins leak in the earhth and are released into the air.

Some of these toxins are mercury and lead

and other heavy metals and potentially toxic chemical flame retardants. This poses threats to human health and wildlife.

There are components in electronics that are valuable raw materials so recycling them saves energy and fewer raw materials need to be drawn from nature to create new devices. Electronic waste contains deposits of precious metal estimated to be between 40 and 50 times richer than the ores mined from the earth. Electronics contain small amounts of gold, silver and other precious metals that really add up over time when recycled. It also saves in many other

manufacturing and energy costs that go into creating new electronics’ products. Only 10-15% of the gold in e-waste is successfully recovered while the rest is lost to landfills.

Electronic recycling also saves space in the landfills. Effective recycling measures creates more jobs in our society than alternative choices and boosts the local economy. Choosing to donate your old electronics can be beneficial to others within the local community. There are always schools and individuals within your community who would greatly appreciate ready-to-use or refurbished equipment.

Page 2 www.oswegochamber.org

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ViLLAGE PRESIDENT Hello Oswego Chamber members!

Thank you once again for the opportunity to provide a Village update in your newsletter!

The summer provided an excellent opportunity to get to work for the Village and we accomplished a great deal. We have exciting activity on all fronts including both private sector projects and governmental initiatives. The weather has turned, the leaves are beginning to get color, and we look forward to the holidays, but we are eagerly looking forward to the coming months in anticipation of additional announcements.

New construction in the downtown area is underway! We approved public improvements in Block 11 in August to prepare for new construction projects. We held a groundbreaking ceremony with Imperial Investments in September for a three-story multi-use building and they quickly followed with an announcement of a second project in Block 11, the Dairy Barn.

One – and hopefully both buildings – will be open for business in 2020.

We also approved public improvements at the former Alexander Lumberyard site in October and have scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony with Shodeen in early November. We closed on the property in early October and look forward to the completion of the $69 million project. Phase One will include 175 apartments, retail space

for restaurants and shops, and importantly, on-street parking and a 320-spot parking deck.

We know with these new developments we must provide safe passage for our residents and link both sides of Main Street. Our first traffic study for a stop light at Washington and Main Streets came back favorably, and we held a traffic safety open house to collect public comments.

While the new developments in downtown are very exciting and we look forward to more in the near future, we have been busy in other corridors as well. The Village received a land donation adjacent to the Park-n-Ride facility on Orchard Road for an outdoor entertainment venue. This will activate a long dormant Village asset and bring economic activity to Orchard. We are in the process of collecting community input and will have several future announcements.

We approved final plans for a new 7-Eleven currently under construction on Rt. 71 that will be open this fall. We have had several businesses open, including two unique restaurants, Pho Son and Asadoras Argentinas. We also continue to discuss Wolf’s Crossing projects to alleviate traffic congestion in the hopes we can create smooth traffic flow into Oswego.

We have been busy on the governmental side as well. Our intergovernmental group that kicked off in July had a big win for the

Troy Parlier

Oswego Village President

taxpayers of Oswego! The Village was able to accommodate salt storage for Oswego School District 308 resulting in a savings of $187,762 as the District didn’t need to construct a storage facility. The Village Board recently passed a 4% reduction in water rates and at the same time moved several water-related projects forward into this year’s budget.

The Village Board is currently discussing a property tax rate reduction as well.

I want to thank you very much for the warm reception you have given me. Please keep inviting me to your events! I genuinely enjoy attending them, both big and small. As always, communication is the key to success.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with your thoughts, concerns, or ideas. Working together, we will be successful and keep the future bright in Oswego!

Sincerely, Troy Parlier

TABLE OF CONTENTS Recycling of Electronics........................................................................ 2 Village President......................................................................................3 Chamber of the Board........................................................................... 4 Chamber CEO Letter.............................................................................. 5 Hometown Expo..................................................................................... 6 Small Business Saturday...................................................................... 8 Ribbon Cuttings.................................................................................9-10 New Members........................................................................................ 11 Meet Our Board..................................................................................... 11 www.oswegochamber.org

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CHAIRMAN of the BOARD

Dear Chamber Member, As we enter into the cool, crisp fall season in Oswego, I am reminded of why I love living and working in this community. I am equally proud to be the Chairman of the Board and active member of the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is a collective group of businesses, whose members network and build relationships with one another. Through my employer, Old Second National Bank, we continue our support as a Platinum Elite member because we understand the value of our Elite membership and enjoy the connections we have made with other business partners. Also serving on the Board of Directors for a nonprofit organization, Oswego Junior Woman’s Club, it provides a value for our club to join the business community through volunteer efforts and community outreach. Both of these memberships provide many benefits

and different values, but it all proves to be a positive experience. I attribute much of my business success by the relationship building I have made through the Chamber of Commerce, by attending networking events, participating in different committees and establishing relationships with other business owners. In addition, Oswego Area Chamber hosts several great community events, including our annual Hometown and Business Expo which is going to be held on February 29, 2020 at Oswego High School.

Make the most of your Chamber membership. There are so many ways to successfully market your business, meet great people and just enhance those relationships in our community.

Carrie Niesman Chairman of the Board | Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce

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Commercial • Industrial • Healthcare • Transportation • Multi-Family Housing Page 4 www.oswegochamber.org

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Chamber CEO Letter Dear Oswego Business Owner, My name is Angie Hibben and I am the President/CEO for the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce.

As we enter into the holiday season, I want to thank you for being business owners in Oswego and to let you know that we will be promoting SHOP LOCAL and SHOP SMALL heavily in the next two months. We have registered as a Community Champion with American Express and will be encouraging the community to help our local businesses and to keep their shopping local. Our message is “Think local first. Buy local when you can. Be a local!� Shopping habits have changed and many people shop online. I would encourage each of you to focus on your unique items, your customer service, your local flair and more.

I have been seeing and hearing as I have been in some of the downtown businesses, business cards and

www.oswegochamber.org

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promotions for our local charities and for other businesses. I have heard business owners refer shoppers to the others stores to find items or just encouraging them to visit all the stores in downtown. When we all work together we are stronger and better.

We have exciting things happening in our downtown right now with new buildings starting and new businesses that are coming to town. With that come some occasional street closures but in the long run this will bring more people and activity to our downtown.

Right now we all need to be talking and promoting each other through the end of 2019 and into 2020. Promote the message that Oswego is open for business and values our consumers and customers.

Angie Hibben

President/CEO Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce

for your business or your home. It is a great way to find that local not for profit and give back to the community through volunteerism and more. We look forward to seeing you there. Find out more info at www.oswegobusiness.org The calendar is always updated on the Oswego Area Chamber Facebook page and website relating to current and upcoming events. The Oswego Area Chamber wants to promote your business and give you the resources you may need to gain that competitive edge.

Please feel free to contact the Chamber at any time if you have questions, concerns, speaker or seminar topic recommendations. Watch for Chamber of Commerce week and other special events throughout the year

Looking forward into 2020, I encourage you to check out the Hometown Expo which is slated for Feb. 29, 2020 at Oswego High School in the Fieldhouse.

This is a great time to find that local business that can help you with things

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Hometown Expo showcases Oswego’s opportunities

By Erin Sauder For more than two decades, the spring season has ushered in with it a popular one-day exposition that shines a spotlight on area businesses and community organizations.

And the initiative, brought to the area by the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce, will continue in 2020 with the theme “Connect with our Community.”

More than 100 organizations participate in the annual Hometown Expo, which is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at the Oswego High School Field House. The event is free and open to the public.

For participants, it’s an opportunity to promote their products and services by exhibiting. For attendees, it’s a chance to view the full spectrum of Chamber member businesses.

“There will be booths there that range from the smallest not for profit to large corporations,” said Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce Director Angie Hibben. “Come out to learn about your community, what businesses and activities are there,

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how you can be involved or find businesses for personal/ business.”

The expo’s theme will also have a Leap Year component to coincide with the event’s date.

Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce currently boasts more than 500 members spanning 22 communities around the Oswego area.

The Hometown Expo is known for attracting those who are not yet Chamber members wanting to learn more about the organization.

Hibben calls the event “a great day of information and the community.”

“It gives me an opportunity to learn more about the businesses that are part of our chamber and community, the chance to talk more with these businesses and to meet and talk with people who come out to the event,” she said.

And there’s no reason to leave the kids at

Family.

Friends.

Community.

We’re all in this together.

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Here to help life go right.® Janna Misek Ins Agcy Inc Janna Misek, Agent 1136 Douglas Road Oswego, IL 60543 Bus: 630-554-1540 Mon-Thurs 9:00am to 8:00pm Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm Saturday 9:00am to 12:00pm Se habla espanol

Pattie Coldwate Sales Consultant

(Oswego Resident for 30 years)

(630) 897-8900 (630) 546-7768 (CELL)

pattie@riverviewford.com **Max $100 discount, excludes tires. Food donations November and December. Coupon expires January 31, 2020 SM-CL1715158

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Page 6 www.oswegochamber.org

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home. The Hometown Expo offers a range of family-friendly activities. Plans are still being finalized.

“Demonstrations have ranged from local dance troupes to fitness demonstrations, self-defense, gymnastics and more,” Hibben said.

An art show held in conjunction with the expo lets local community members put their talents on display. The student art show features works of all mediums done by those ranging from elementary school to high school. There is also an adult art component. The art show is professionally judged and awards are given.

More information about the Hometown Expo can be found on the Chamber’s website at https://www.oswegochamber. org.

69 W. Washington St Rt 34 Oswego, IL 60543

(630) 554-9339 NOW IN OUR 14t h YEAR Ed Hettinger Owner

Matt Hettinger Sales

YOUR FRIENDS IN THE CAR BUSINESS

Ed and Matt invite you to stop by and see how over 80 years combined experience can make your purchase truly pleasant. We are currently celebrating our 14th year servicing the Fox Valley area.

We specialize in vehicles under $10,000 many in the $4,000-$8,000 range. All have been safety checked, serviced and should give you years of driving pleasure as a student, family, work or second vehicle. If you don’t see what you are looking for in our inventory regardless of the year, we will find that special vehicle for you. We truly appreciate the many loyal customers and referrals we have had over the last 14 years. Make your next vehicle purchase from us and we will exceed Downtown by the railroad tracks! your expectations.

Also visit our website at www.HettsAutoSales.com www.oswegochamber.org

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Small Business Saturday gives Oswego’s smaller enterprises a boost

By Erin Sauder Tis the season to start your holiday shopping. Where will you be spending your dollars?

Keep them closer to home by eschewing big box stores and online retailers and instead participate in Oswego’s Small Business Saturday festivities.

Sponsored by American Express and held annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the holiday is designed to help draw customers to small independent businesses. And there is no shortage of those in Oswego.

Why should consumers participate?

“Shopping local is important for us to continue to bring a unique shopping experience for our customers,” said Stacy Shaw, store manager for Bella-gia Boutique, located at 27 S. Main St. “By shopping with us, you would not only be uplifting a family-owned company within your community, but you would also be investing in bringing in quality products for a fair price into your local area.”

A contemporary clothing and gift shop in downtown Oswego, Bella-gia Boutique is one of several retailers who will be participating in the Oswego Downtown Association’s Small Business Saturday event Nov. 30 with promotions and discounts.

“We love interacting with our customers, and being able to bring them products we know they will love and get enjoyment from,” Shaw said. “We take pride in our strong base of customers and love getting to provide them with rewards, parties, and occasional discounts to show our appreciation for them continuing to shop

local with us.”

Looking for unique, handmade creations for the people on your shopping list? Head to Forever After Finds, located at 74 S. Main St. Co-owned by Teresa Nighelli and her mother, Linda Schindelar, the shop offers a variety of items, including jewelry, children’s apparel, ornaments, and more.

“Shopping locally supports local hardworking families like my mom and I,” Nighelli said. “Along with our partner shop, A Lady and Her tools, and our vendors we are handmaking most of the gorgeous things in our shop. We put love, hard work and pride into everything we do. Many things are one of a kind and custom which means you are giving something that will make memories.”

Nighelli said the money consumers spend is reinvested into Oswego’s community, families and businesses.

“Small businesses work tirelessly to get to know our customers on a personal level.

We support each other. As an article I just read stated....when you shop small local you shop personal,” she said.

Need some stocking stuffers? Don’t forget Oswego’s many salons and spas. Make someone’s holiday merry and bright with a gift card for a massage, facial, or pedicure.

While you’re out and about, you can continue to support the shop local movement by stopping into one of Oswego’s many dining establishments for a bite to eat. On your way out, purchase a gift card to give the gift of a meal out to someone on your holiday shopping list.

American Express established Small Business Saturday in 2010 to help local businesses reeling from the Great Recession. The movement has since helped independent retailers and restaurants keep their doors open.

Help give Oswego’s smaller enterprises a boost by choosing to shop local this holiday season.

Page 8 www.oswegochamber.org

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RIBBON CUTTINGS

Recent Celebrations 3 Squared Self Defense Fitness, and Health/Fitness, Security Systems 4050 Wolf Road B, Oswego, IL 60543; 630-809-8000; www.3squaredselfdefense.com

Asadoras Argentinas Burgers Restaurants/Food/Bar 4542 Rt. 71, Oswego, IL 60543; 630-823-6868

Code Ninjas Education/Schools/Tutors, and Kids Programs, STEM Programs. 2756 US Highway 34, Oswego, IL 60543 630-485-7327; www.codeninjas.com

www.oswegochamber.org

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Jerry Bannister Photography Photo/Video Studio, Photography 133 E. Van Emmon Rd., Yorkville, IL 60560 630-624-3269 jerrybannister.zenfolio.com/p64631025

Liberty Mutual- Elise Johnson Home, Auto, Pet, Life, Annuities and Umbrella Insurance 640 N. River Rd., Naperville, IL 60563 815-436-6827 ext. 56424

O’Neil Property Group, LLC Residential and Commercial Real Estate Brokerage and Property Management 1125 S. Lake St., Montgomery, IL 60538; 630-788-7273 kealan@oneilpropertygroup.com

Truth Training Systems Boxing/Training, and Fitness, Health/Fitness 22 E. Merchants Dr., Oswego, IL 60543 331-725-1976

Page 10 www.oswegochamber.org

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Chamber

board of Directors Carrie Niesman

Michele Bergeron

Keith Moore

Old Second National Bank cniesman@oldsecond.com

Bling by Mb michele@blingbymb.com

SECRETARY

Black Dog Distillery Keith@blackdogdistillery.com

Cory Holstead

Anita Patel

NM Tripp Insurance ttripp@trippins.net

Chairman

VICE Chairman

GNB Industrial Power - Motive Power cory.holstead@exide.com

Kristine Larsen

Attorney at Law kristenlarsenlaw@sbcglobal.net

Brook Henschen

Treasurer

Holiday Inn Express - Oswego hioswego@hotmail.com

john greene Realtor BrookHenschen@johngreenerealtor.com

Mark Wrasman

Keystroke Graphics mark@keystrokegraphics.com

Tom Tripp

Jonathan Hendersen

CTS Fire & Safety jhenderson@ctsfireandsafety.com

Tammy Sartain

The Sartain Team - Keller Williams Infinity tammysartainteam@gmail.com

Becoming a Member is EASY and Affordable!

Check us out online at www.OswegoChamber.org Call, e-mail, or stop on by!

Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce 73 W. Van Buren St. • Oswego, IL 60543 Phone: (630) 554-3505 • Fax: (630) 554-0050 Email: info@oswegochamber.org

What’s Coming Up? Small Business - Saturday, November 30th Christmas Walk - Friday, December 6th Cookie Walk - Saturday, December 7th www.oswegochamber.org

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Page 12 www.oswegochamber.org

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