Ogle County Living Magazine - Spring/Summer 2022

The best burgers Shop has enough Candy lovers are just around knick-knacks have found their the corner to fill a Palace sweet spot

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*****ECRWSSEDDM***** Postal Customer

Leaf River store Chicks all the boxes

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Publisher/Ad Director Jennifer Heintzelman Magazine editor & Page design Rusty Schrader Published by Sauk Valley Media 113 S. Peoria Ave. Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-2222 Have a story idea for Small Town Living? Let us know ...

Call 815-632-2531 or e-mail news@saukvalley.com Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Ogle County Living may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.

inside The leader of the stack

Looking for the best burgers ever? You’ll find them just around the corner in Davis Junction.

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Smells like green spirit A Grand Detour shop is sweetening the pots and sending customers on their way with a smile on their face, a plant in their hand, and a song in their heart.

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RETROactive

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They’ve found their sweet spot

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This store Chicks all the boxes

The owner of an Oregon shop has his eye on the past, and it’s helped him find enough nifty knick-knacks to fill a palace.

An Oregon business is a go-to place for people looking for the kind of good old-fashioned candy shop that puts a sparkle in their eyes.

Rusted relics, country decor, locally produced goods, a trip down memory lane, books, animal feed — and more.

Plus ...

Where Is It in Ogle County?

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The Polo Room 712 N. Division Ave • Polo, IL

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An occasional feature of Sterling-Rock Falls Living highlighting local landmarks and locations off the beaten path. We’ll feature a photo and it’s up to you to guess where it was taken.

Square roots run deep The park this sign is in has been part of an Ogle County community for more than 150 years. Where is it?

Answer on page 31.

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

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CODY CUTTER/SAUK VALLEY MEDIA

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BY CODY CUTTER | SAUK VALLEY MEDIA

ome people will go to the four corners of the Earth to find the best burger.

The owners of a bar and grill in Davis Junction could have saved them the trip — all they would have had to do is go to the four corners of Davis Junction.

There, at the southwest corner of state Routes 72 and 251, they’d find JC’s Junction Corner, where the proprietors like to lay claim to “the best burgers ever.”

JC’s is where burger lovers and thirsty hobnobbers of all walks of life can come in, sit at the bar, and get to know each other.

While customers will find a few other sandwiches on the menu, burgers are by far the favorite — though you may not want to order “a burger.” You’re better off going with your patty preference — order a “single,” “double,” “triple” or the real mouthful: a “quad” — instead.

And it’s more than four you crave, just ask.

While the quad is the biggest burger on the menu, more patties can be piled on: five six, seven — or even 21, which is the most bar manager Erika Swedlund has seen in one order.

JC’S cont’d to page 8

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JC’S cont’d from page 7 Chances are, the people sitting nearby also are having a burger, and customers often find the food is worth chatting about.

That’s something Swedlund make sure of. She oversees seven bartenders who do more than just sling suds. They also wield the spatulas to flip burger after burger after burger after burger.

“The employees here are consistent and we put a lot of love into our work,” Swedlund said. “Anybody can make a burger, but to have it the same way every time is a huge deal. It’s a big accomplishment for our employees.”

The “JC” in the name has a dual meaning: The business sits at a junction corner, and it’s also the first letter of the owners’ names.

John and Chawn Scanlan opened the bar and grill in 2015 as the third member of their family foursome of pubs. They also own The Filling Station, just 6 miles north of JC’s on state Route 251 in the southern edge of Rockford, which they opened in 1984. Another bar, Scanlan’s, is on Rockford’s northwest side; and their fourth eatery, Salt 251, is at Fairways Golf Course, 10 miles south of JC’s on Route 251 in Rochelle.

Megan Scanlan, John and Chawn’s daughter, oversees her parents’ operation at JC’s and the other establishments. She and her family are proud of how popular the pub has become, both through compliments from burger lovers and accolades from local media, which voted it Best Burger in Ogle County.

“It was just going to be a thing with burgers and fries, but it became this thing where we got great raves about our burgers,” Scanlan said. “People have traveled from all over, from the suburbs and [Chicago], to come here and try the burgers, so it kind of blew up.”

JC’S cont’d to page 10

RIGHT: Bar manager Erika Swedlund (left) said she and her staff, including Kassie Castillo (right), “put a lot of love into their work.”

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With a bar not far from the grill, customers get a front-row seat to their meal prep. “It’s crazy how many people do watch,” Erika Swedlund said. “The patrons see that and they are appreciative because they know that we really work ... Customers can stand there and have a conversation with myself, or the bartender, and we’ll multi-task.

They like that.”

CODY CUTTER/SAUK VALLEY MEDIA

JC’S cont’d from page 8 Like any bar and grill worth its salt and pepper, JC’s has its own unique vibe, and a big part of it is the people with a plate in one hand, a beer in the other, and a smile on their face.

“People come for the staff — they make it a very fun environment for everybody,” Scanlan said. “The people like our girls that work here. They have good personalities, the service is great, you can’t top that when you want to go somewhere and get something to eat. When you become friends with the people that work here, it’s even better. These girls make it feel like you’re at home.”

JC’S cont’d to page 11

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JC’S cont’d from page 10 That’s a quality Swedlund has come to expect with her team, whether they’re behind the grill or behind the bar, which aren’t that far apart at JC’s — another aspect of the bar’s vibe that customers enjoy.

“It’s nice, but it can be intimidating, too, because people watch you all day long, so you cannot come here having a bad day,” Swedlund said. “You always have to have that shine. They watch, and it’s crazy how many people do watch. They see that. The patrons see that and they are appreciative because they know that we really work, and we’re not just here for pleasure. It’s a really fun bar. …

Customers can stand there and have a conversation with myself, or the bartender, and we’ll multi-task,” Swedlund said. “They like that.”

JC’s recipe for success has come a long way. It started in Las Vegas, where Megan used to live. When her parents would visit, the family would invariably end up at a burger joint in Sin City or nearby, and after sampling several burgers, it inspired John to come up with his own busines formula: creating a burger that he liked and that he believed everyone else would too.

“We would go and try all these different burger places, and he put all these burger places that he liked together and said. ‘This is what I want my burger to be,’” Megan said. “There’s a lot of thought and research that was done into it, and for the people to appreciate and love the burgers as much as they do, that’s such a satisfying feeling to have.”

It starts with fresh beef ground daily, rolled into a small ball before it’s pressed into a thin patty that’s cooked crisp around the edges on a grill that can make room for 24 patties.

And the staff needs every inch of that grill.

The burgers have become so popular with customers, some are willing to wait 45 minutes to get them if a flood of orders all come in at once, Swedlund said, and they often do. Sometimes, local businesses, such as the Orchard Hills landfill north of town, will call in orders for 40 doubles.

When it comes to how many patties come of the grill, Swedlund sums it: “A lot.”

“It’s nothing for someone to call in and order 10 doubles and fries on a typical night,” Swedlund said. “Some people will say that we need a bigger grill, but no, we are just fine.”

All meals come with an option of fries or a bag of Ole Salty’s potato chips from Rockford.

JC’S cont’d to page 12

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JC’S cont’d from page 11

Davis Junction (population 2,512) is one of Ogle County's fastest growing communities, thanks to subdivisions developed in recent decades. While the town's business district now is centered on the intersection of state Routes 72 and 251, that particular junction isn't what the town is named after.

Rather, the “junction” in Davis Junction refers to the railroad intersection of two rail lines within the town proper.

The Milwaukee Road once ran both east-west and north-south: The northsouth line goes from Rockford to Flagg Center, and now is operated by BNSF, and the east-west line is run by Canadian Pacific from Chicago to eastern Iowa.

If you’re in the mood for something other than a burger, the menu also features a grilled chicken sandwich, pork chop sandwich, a classic melt on sourdough bread, and a pork burger that’s just as big as a quad — a mouthwatering monster with two layers of pork (a butterfly pork chop split in two) and two beef patties stacked one after another between the buns, with or without garnishes and cheese.

Giving the customers what they want is what makes JC’s a popular place, Swedlund said.

“We really don’t tell people no,” she said.

“It’s a simple menu, burgers, pork chops and chicken. They know what they’re getting when they walk in the door.”

When holidays come around, JC’s will tweak its menu to add a few timely favorites.

The days leading up to St. Patrick’s Day in March saw corned beef and Reuben sandwiches on the menu. The staff also encourages people to have fun for the holidays. In December, ’tis the season for “ugly sweater” parties.

A favorite, though, is when the bar scares up some fun for Halloween. That’s when the bar has its annual Halloween dress-up contest

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for the kids. Each child who shows up that day in a costume gets a free single burger, french fry and soft drink, and can have their picture taken and posted on the Facebook pages of each of the Scanlans’ establishments to determine a winner. The winning boy and girl each receives a $100 gift card for Farm and Fleet — perfect timing for the store’s seasonal Toyland in the days leading up to Christmas.

“It’s always a real big turnout,” Scanlan said. “We get a lot of kids that are dressed up, and it’s very cute. People really like it, and it’s going to be something that we’ll continue to do.”

Little kids aren’t the only ones who get to have all the fun. Freshly minted high school graduates, regardless of where they are from, can get a free double burger and fries to celebrate their achievement for a limited time around graduation, with proof of graduation.

JC’s has also become a favorite spot for sports teams that play at the town ball diamonds, such as visiting opponents from Stillman Valley High School’s softball team, who stop by for a burger and soda after the game to enjoy a meal before their trip home.

JC’S cont’d to page 13

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JC’S cont’d from page 12

JC's Junction Corner, on the corner of state Routes 72 and 251 in Davis Junction, is open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to midnight on Sunday. Find it on Facebook or go to fillingstationrockford.com for a menu, or call 815-8742337 to place a to-go order or for more information.

JC's owners John and Chawn Scanlan also own three other restaurants: The Filling Station, which opened in 1984 and is the Scanlan's first bar, is at 6259 11th St. (Route 251) on the south edge of Rockford. Another bar, Scanlan's, is on Rockford's northwest side at 2921 City View Drive. In 2016, they opened the Salt 251 restaurant and events center at Fairways Golf Course, 531 S. Seventh St., in Rochelle.

Go to fillingstationrockford.com for more information about the chain.

“It’s the best treat for those kids after they play — to go get a JC’s burger and some fries,” Scanlan said.

Location also is a big part of the pub’s success. The two roads it’s on connect travelers to Rockford, Schaumburg, Chicago, La Salle-Peru, Bloomington-Normal and northwest Illinois, helping draw in customers from near and far. Those coming from the south on 251 will have to go on a short detour through the back roads until October to reach the pub: The nearby bridge over the Canadian Pacific railroad will be closed for repairs.

In addition to being a welcoming place for bikers, JC’s is a proud supporter of ABATE of Illinois, a nonprofit motorcyclist rights organization that promotes safety and awareness for riders throughout the state. Membership flyers and registration forms are displayed near the counter, and the pub also has been a sign-up location for rides put on by the organization.

“It’s not always about money, but about being there for the communities,” Swedlund said, adding that she’s proud to work under the kind of people who know how to put customers and community first. “It makes a huge difference for people, because they’ll talk about that and then bring their families here and then they’ll tell other people. Every day, we’ll get someone that says they heard of us and had to stop by and see it.”

And when they do, they’ll find the friendly faces and famous burgers that put JC’s on the map — and when they belly up to the bar, they’ll even get to see the secret ingredient that goes into each and every burger.

“We cook our food with love,” Swedlund said. n

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BY C O

DY C U

T TER

| SAUK V ALLE Y MEDIA

rass, trees, flowers, moss — Mother Nature plants herself everywhere we look, spreading a splendid spectrum of living color across the land, and all her handiwork has one thing in common: They all start with roots.

Deep roots, short roots, sprawling roots … and Grungy Roots.

That’s where Ashley Ruch comes in. She helps people not only put down roots, but also learn more about them at her hometown shop, Grungy Roots in Grand Detour — and she’s got more than just a green thumb; her gray matter is pretty green too, with an impressive amount of plant-based food for thought. She’s a walking, talking plant primer, and there are a lot of leaves in that book.

GRUNGY ROOTS cont’d to page 16

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GRUNGY ROOTS cont’d from page 15 She believes that the more you know, the more you grow, and she loves to swap knowledge with her customers. Whether they’re plant pros or just starting to put down roots, she’s happy to give them tips, hear what works best for them, or help them find just the right plant.

“I love to meet new plant people and get their advice on what they do,” Ruch said. “I’m always available to my customers. I love them so much. I get to connect with them and give them advice. I’m always there. I never want to see someone struggle and give up.”

Grungy Roots customers will find more in store than just plants. They’ll find a place where they can learn all sorts of facts about flora, and how plants play a role in our everyday life.

Nestled among all the pots in the shop, customers will find all sorts of plants, from the common to the hard-to-find, including magnificums and anthuriums, among the rarest the store offers. Among her popular plants, the anthurium crystallinums are a favorite, with their large, velvety leaves. Tropical plants and cacti are right at home in her shop, too. Looking for a hanging plant?

She’s got those too — the kind that you’re used to seeing, in a hanging basket, and another that’s an interesting take on hanging plants: ones that are hung on a wall.

Mounted staghorn ferns are mounted on a wood base that can be leaned up against, or hung on, a wall, like a picture come to life. The plants, which are watered by spray, are popular with customers.

Having a satisfied customer is like music to her ears for Grungy Roots owner Ashley Ruch “I love to meet new plant people and get their advice on what they do.

I'm always available to my customers. I love them so much. I get to connect with them and give them advice. I'm always there.

I never want to see someone struggle and give up.”

ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@ SHAWMEDIA.COM

GRUNGY ROOTS cont’d to page 17

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GRUNGY ROOTS cont’d from page 16 Plants do more than just add some green to your scene; they have health benefits as well. Sansevierias, also known as “snake plants,” can benefit people with asthma, Ruch included.

Since discovering sansevierias’ benefits, she’s put one in every room of her home. Basically, sansevierias are evergreen perennial plants that can absorb airborne toxins, such as formaldehyde, nitrogen oxide, and benzene.

Ruch said there are “so many” great benefits to having plants in the home.

“If you have gray walls in your home, the green really brings it out,” she said. “Most of these are ginormous air purifiers, so if you have allergies or anything like that, they suck out the toxins in your home.

Some of them emanate oxygen at night, so you can get some better sleep if they are in your bedroom.”

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

Grungy Roots has a “pot your own plant” station, where customers can dig their green thumbs into the soil and build their own green creations — free for plants and pots bought at the store, and for a small fee if you bring in your own.

GRUNGY ROOTS cont’d to page 18

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GRUNGY ROOTS cont’d from page 17 Her family tree helped spark her interest in growing. One of her uncles, Ken Lawler, owned a garden center in Altoona, Iowa, and her dad is all about knowing the lay of the land.

“I feel like I was always around some sort of person who loved plants, whether it was annuals or perennials,” Ruch said. “My Dad is a landscaper, and I was always surrounded by it, but my passion always was in the tropicals. It was never into the annuals or perennials, I always loved the houseplant aspect of it where they are inside.”

If you’re wondering how her business got its name — well, it was just music to her ears. Ruch’s love for plants goes back just as long as her love for grunge music, which dominated MTV when she was growing up in the early 1990s. Her favorite: Nirvana, and frontman Kurt Cobain. Combining her musical roots with her passion for plants just came naturally.

“It just kind of morphed into finding out about Nirvana, and I instantaneously fell in love,” Ruch said. “It’s kind of what I’m known for around my friends and everything, as the girl who loves Kurt. When I brought my passions together, I definitely wanted to incorporate the name of the business into it as well.”

When customers stop by Grungy Roots they’ll likely run into “Robert Plant” standing near the counter, a nearly 6-foot monstera deliciosa “Swiss cheese” plant native to southern Mexico that is named after the lead singer of Led Zeppelin. Its split leaves give the plant a Swiss cheese-like appearance.

Her favorite band’s presence is front and center, with several pictures of Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain adorning the area around the sales counter, and a sign in the window beckoning people to “come as you are.”

While grunge is a favorite, her musical roots go back to a band that was making hits before Cobain was even born: The Beach Boys, who she saw in concert right around the time the band had its last big hit, “Kokomo.” Tropical tunes stuck with her until she discovered grunge a few years later. The store often will have Ruch’s “own little Grungy Roots playlist that just plays,” she said, with several grunge bands mixed in with classical rock, such as The Doors.

Ashley Ruch has found a happy place at her shop, where her love of music and plants are in perfect harmony. Even the business name is dedicated to her two passions: Grunge music and plants. “It’s kind of what I’m known for around my friends and everything, as the girl who loves Kurt [Cobain]. When I brought my passions together, I definitely wanted to incorporate the name of the business into it as well.”

FACEBOOK

Dixon artist Nora Balayti (inset at right) painted these wall hangings for Grungy Roots owner Ashley Ruch, who’s found room in her shop to share her love of music. The trio of talent, from left, is Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden, and Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots.

Ruch doesn't get the Led out, she keeps right in her shop, where this monstera deliciosa, aka "Robert Plant," sits. Plant was the lead singer of Led Zeppelin.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

GRUNGY ROOTS cont’d to pages 19 & 20

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Not every plant has a point, but some do, like these cacti at Grungy Roots. If you don’t have a green thumb, a cactus might be right at home in your house. The low-maintenance plants are resilient and hardy.

The ponytail palm tree is neither a palm nor a tree; it’s a member of the Agave family and is actually a succulent. The plants have become popular choices as house plants in recent years.

From your run-of-the-mill, garden variety plants to hardto-find flora, Grungy Roots has plants sure to please any person.

Ruch also likes to plant some smiles around the store, like this “Sometimes I wet my plants” sign.

PHOTOS: A LE

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Mounted staghorn ferns are mounted on a wood base that can be leaned up against, or hung on, a wall.

The plants, which are watered by spray, are popular with customers.

Did you know that the Aloe family of plants has more than 500 members of its family, including the Pink Blush Aloe, seen here at Grungy Roots?

A.COM X T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDI

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GRUNGY ROOTS cont’d from page 18 Elsewhere, wall panels in one of the store’s plant rooms are paintings of a trio of late lead-singer grunge legends, done by Dixon artist Nora Balayti: Cobain, naturally, Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, and Chris Cornell of Soundgarden (don’t worry, though, no Black Hole Sun in this room, only the real deal for these plants).

Ruch plans to add Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam — and one time bandmate of Cornell’s in Temple of the Dog — to the panel next to Weiland’s.

She’s even hosted music at the shop. Michale Graves, former lead singer of the popular punk rock band The Misfits, had an intimate acoustic show in October, and Ruch plans to have him back at some point this year.

Since opening, Ruch has found a growing number of kindred spirits from throughout the region. When she opened last year, on April 10, her story was “pretty much filled,” she said, but by the end of the day she had nearly sold out.

“I underestimated us plant lovers, and

I’m so glad that I did,” Ruch said. “I couldn’t fill any more on Saturday than I could. I did not expect that at all. I did not expect the hype to be what it was, and I’m so thankful for it.”

The store also has a “pot your own plant” station, where all the materials are provided for shoppers to get their green thumbs grungy and put down their own roots. Different kinds of pre-fertilized soils are on hand, depending on what you’re planting — sandier soil for cactus plants, for example, to improve drainage. The service is free for plants and pots bought at the store; outside pots can be brought in to fill up for a small fee.

Whichever kind of plant they choose, Ruch wants to make sure that even after they leave the store, her plants — and her customers — are happy.

“I’ll do my best to guide you in the best direction that I can without seeing your house,” Ruch said.

GRUNGY ROOTS cont’d to page 21

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GRUNGY ROOTS cont’d from page 20 Among the smallest plants she stocks are marimo moss balls, which grow in a small jar filled not with soil, but water and rocks. Most are native to Japanese and Icelandic waters.

“They’re super slow growing,” Ruch said, and the water needs to be changed weekly.

Ruch also hosts special events and sales which she announces on the store’s Facebook page at Grungy Roots LLC. One recent event, Summoning Spring, welcomed Chicago cartomancer (one who reads fortunes from cards) Deb Frueh for Tarot card and gallery readings. As far as sales, Ruch picks the date and customers pick up the plants. One recent sale was held on Cobain’s birthday, Feb. 20, and offered 20 percent off throughout the store.

Whatever customers come looking for, Ruch does her best to make sure they find it at Grungy Roots — and with an inventory that keeps on growing, chances are they will.

“When you walk in here, all of your fears, or your bad day, anything like that, will just slowly fade away,” Ruch said. “You’ll walk in here and it’s tranquil. You’ll feel at peace for a little bit, and then once you leave, you’ll carry on your day.” n

Grungy Roots, 8094 state Route 2 in Grand Detour, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wednesday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Find it on Facebook or call 815-615-8381 for more information.

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alking into Don’s Flamingo Palace in downtown Oregon is like walking into a museum of Mid-Century decor. Prowling panthers, ceramic lamps, funky finds, charming tchotchkes, and all things retro.

But there’s a big difference between Don’s and a museum: If you seem something you like at Don’s, you can take it home. In fact, owner Don Atkinson hopes you do.

That’s not all he wants you to take home. He hopes customers will leave with the same appreciation he has for the retro vibe that fills the store from top to bottom.

Chances are, young people have never seen a lot of the items that have made the journey from mid-century to the next century, traveling from the retail store shelves of yesteryear to the antique store shelves of today. Or maybe they’re looking at a crochet poodle covering a bottle and wondering “What in doggone heck is that!?”

It’s a blast from a past is what it is, and ground zero is at Don’s Flamingo Palace.

Don Atkinson (left), owner of Don's Flamingo Palace, and employee Austin Rowland invite you to check out the shop, and say hello to McGruff The Crime Dog. Atkinson raised show dogs for years, and one of them was in a TV ad featuring the crime fighting mascot.

CODY CUTTER/ CCUTTER@ SAUKVALLEY.COM

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DON’S cont’d from page 23 Poodle decor was popular during the 1950s and ‘60s, turning up in liquor sets, cigarette ads, salt shakers and more, including homemade bottle covers. Crafters cranked out crochet canines to add a little extra pop to their liquor bottles. Today, they’re sought after by people with an appreciation for the perky poodles.

“The old bottle covers, [one’s] mom and dad would cover the old liquor bottles,” said Atkinson, who once found a cover hiding a bottle of 30-year-old scotch. “In 30 years, I’ve only found seven that don’t wreak of cigarette smoke. When they wreak with smoke, you can’t live with them. It was a thing in the 1960s, sort of clever, sort of cool. Some are better than others.”

Atkinson isn’t the only one behind the counter who knows his store’s stuff. Austin Rowland knows a lot, too, and puts his skills to use with more than just customers at the store; he caters to customers around the world.

Rowland manages the business’ eBay page, with as many as 2,000 items posted online at any given time. Almost all — about 95 percent — of the store’s eBay sales are outside Illinois, Rowland said.

Online sales make up a huge chunk of business, and Rowland enjoys seeing who buys what, and how long it takes them to buy it. One particular piece he posted online only lasted 12 seconds before someone snapped it up.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@ SHAWMEDIA.COM

A lot of these panthers used to prowl around people's homes, hanging out on top of TV sets and coffee tables. These days, the cats are cool again for people looking to add an accent piece with a mid-century retro vibe to their decor.

DON’S cont’d to page 25

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DON’S cont’d from page 24 “It was one of those tiki muglooking things that you would get at a tropical restaurant that you would drink a mai tai out of,” Rowland said. “I listed it, and then it read, ‘Congratulations, your listing is active.’ By the time I clicked refresh, it had sold. Some guy in California was looking for it, and we had it in here for 2 years.”

Rowland has worked for Atkinson for 4 years and has come to appreciate the retro items that first became popular decades before he was even born. When Don’s first opened, Rowland was a teenager who used to have garage sales to try to make some extra cash.

“I’ll be 26 this summer, so to be in an environment that has nothing that I grew up with, stuff that my grandparents grew up with, and bring back style and collectability to small towns, the hunt is the best part,” Rowland said. “Our No. 1 thing is to try to find what our customers ask for. It doesn’t matter what it is, we’ll look for it.”

When Rowland lists an item online, he uses buzzwords that help the product turn up in people’s ebay watch lists. So far, the store has generated a 99.4% positive feedback rating Sales went up when people were shelteringin-place during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were killing it,” Atkinson said, with as many as 15 to 20 items a day being shipped during most of 2020.

DON’S cont’d to page 26

Owl be seeing you in all the old familiar places ... If you’re looking for retro lamps like this one, Don’s Flamingo Palace is the place to stop — and to top it off, there’s plenty of lampshades, too.

Mid-century modern furnishings are all the rage right now, like this lamp and the velvet paintings on the wall at Don’s.

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Every dog has his day, and poodles’ were in the 1950s and early ‘60s, when their popularity as decor took off. There were pottery poodles, poodle liquor sets, poodle figurines, poodle knick-knacks, poodle piggy banks, poodle salt and

DON’S cont’d from page 25 Seeing the business do so well would be something Atkinson’s late wife, Pamela Hilgert, would be proud of — and though Pamela’s no longer with her husband, she’s still part of the store. Space there is reserved for items — household and decor items that don’t quite fit the qualifications of “antiques” — from the Angel Treasures resale shop, based in Mount Morris, to raise money for Serenity Hospice. The hospice cared for Pamela in her final days as she fought brain cancer. She was an educator for 35 years before passing away around the time

Creative Designs Embroidery & Long-Arm Quilting

pepper shakers — poodles for every room of the house. Today, the curly canines are finding new homes with the people who have a flair for ‘50s style, and Don’s Flamingo Palace is a good place to find some, like this crochet bottle cover and the other items shown here.

Atkinson opened the shop in 2011.

“After she passed away, I promised her I would volunteer,” Atkinson said, “and so I’ve been working for them for 10 years now.”

The name Flamingo Palace was coined after Atkinson invested in a collection of flamingo merchandise once owned

by Chicago’s “Mr. Flamingo,” Donald Luchene, who collected the pink crane-necked bird. Not a whole lot of flamingos are around the store anymore, but the name stuck.

DON’S cont’d to page 27

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DON’S cont’d from page 26 Don’s is also a great place to go for people who are in the right frame of mind. Hundreds of frames hang around the shop, waiting for people to put a picture in them.

During his trips to find things to stock the store, Atkinson keeps an eye out for picture frames. Sometimes the picture’s been damaged, but the frames and glass are still in good shape. The frames and glass get cleaned and polished and Don’s also does the matwork for pictures people bring in, giving old frames new life. Don’s has more than 2,500 frames in stock, many of them cheaper than what you’d pay at a big box store, Atkinson said.

“Our average framing is somewhere between $35 and $50; most places you can’t even buy the frame for that,” he said.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@ SHAWMEDIA.COM His appreciation for framed art goes back to his adolesCoconut shell kitsch, colorful places to park your buts, cop- cence in Long Island, New per kettles, and colorful shirts York, where he worked for a (“100% made in Hawaii”!) moving company as a young Don’s can dress up your ward- boy. He handled a lot of art on robe and your home. the job, and got to appreciate the art of finding the right frame for the right photo.

Today, customers will find a wide range of art in his shop, in a variety of mediums: velvet paintings, needle-stitched art from Japan, a Donald Duck drawing by a Disney artist, art from members, religious pictures (which are among the store’s biggest selling items), and pieces by The Highwaymen, a group of Black landscape artists from the southeast Atlantic coast who would draw on surfaces such as garbage cans, wood or cardboard and sell them from the trunks of their cars – they were popular in the 1970s and 1980s.

Other items in the store tell other stories, like the highlights of person’s life in the trophies found at Don’s. Some are sold to people who pop off the plates and put on new ones, giving someone else something to be proud of. Atkinson said some have even been sold to movie studios for use as props, with the

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Don's Flamingo Palace, 109 S. Third St. in downtown Oregon, is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Can't make it to the shop? Check out its online auction listings on eBay at ebay.com/usr/flamingopalace19, with hundreds of different items to choose from. Find Don’s on Facebook, or call 815-751-6609 for more information.

original plates digitally rewritten.

The trophies aren’t Atkinson’s first claim to fame.

He used to raise champion show and stud bloodhounds, several of which won awards, including the International Kennel Club’s Best of Breed, top stud dog in the country, and Show Dog of the Year. Some of his dogs have also won roles on the silver screen and little screen. One was in the Clint Eastwood flick “Escape From Alcatraz,” another was in a “Days of Our Lives” episode, and one made it into a McGruff The Crime Dog commercial. A plush McGruff toy stands watch at the store’s sales counter.

Small TV-top lamps in the shape of animals also are a popular seller. During their heyday, people thought the lamps would help diffuse the light given off by TV’s and reduce eye strain.

“Back in the day, the TVs would blink. You watched TV — and I went to school with kids who did this [Atkinson blinks his eyes back and forth] because the TV pulsated — but when you put a secondary light on or around the TV, it stabilized your eyes.”

These days, the lamps are still a treat for the eyes, along with all the other items that fill the shelves and tables and nooks and crannies at Atkinson’s shop. It’s a place where people are still swell, things are still keen, and the world is still cool, and you don’t even need a time machine to get there — and who knows you may even wind up with a pack of poodles following you home. n

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Sparklefox Confections owner Diana Early puts a few extra ingredients into the treats she makes at her shop: inspiration, creativity, art and science.

“I like the artistic aspect ... and coming up with new ideas, and being creative with the flavors,” she said.

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ED AWM @SH L A SCH /APA HAL C S A T. P ALE X

“There’s a lot of art to it. There’s a lot of science that goes behind it.” And when the candy comes out of the kitchen, that extra work pays off. “You can tell the second someone walks in the door and they have never been here before,” Early said, “because they will walk in, and go, ‘Wow!’”

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By Cody Cutter Sauk Valley Media

ife has become more than just a box of chocolates for Diana Early; it’s become a store full of them.

Early likes to give each delicious delicacy at Sparklefox Confections in Oregon her personal touch: Every turtle and bonbon, every chocolate-covered strawberry, caramel apple dipped in chocolate — you name it and she’s had a hand in making it.

But this just isn’t another candy store.

Sure, you can definitely satisfy your sweet tooth there, but Early has brought back the kind of shop that long ago used to grace downtowns big and small. The confectionery of times gone by often was often the stuff that children’s dreams were made of — the sights, the smells — they were among the sweetest of childhood memories.

SPARKLEFOX cont’d to page 30

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Everybody loves some bunnies some time ... especially for Easter, and just in time for the holiday, Sparklefox has some grinning goodies.

SPARKLEFOX cont’d from page 29

Thanks to Early, you can be a kid in a candy store again.

“You can tell the second someone walks in the door and they have never been here before,” Early said, “because they will walk in, and go, ‘Wow!’” That wow factor is something Early hopes When Diana Early every customer experiences, whether it’s lickfirst opened her ing your lips looking at the treats, or admiring shop, she thought a tray of delicately drizzled chocolates. the bon bons would “I like the artistic aspect of painting them be a best seller, but and coming up with new ideas, and being it didn't take long creative with the flavors,” Early said. “There’s a for turtles to win the lot of art to it. There’s a lot of science that goes race. “The turtles behind it. People say that baking is a science, were surprising to but chocolate is very finicky and it [really] is a me. I didn't think science.” that's what we’d be A big part of her formula for success is the known for, but ultiingredients — and they don’t come cheap, but mately people love if she has a choice between something generic the turtles.” or premium, there’s no debate: She goes with the best ingredients she can find to give her Like they say: Once you have creations the quality that customers have come to expect. one you gotta have s’more “The freshness and quality of the ingredients is going to affect — and Sparklefox Confecthe final end product. I’ll buy the more expensive-end products tions has plenty. The S’mores to make a better product. Could I get my butter somewhere else Pops are chocolate-covered cheaper? Yes. But I like my butter.” s’mores on a stick.

SPARKLEFOX cont’d to pages 31-32

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Candy isn’t the only thing you’ll fine at Sparklefox Confections. You can also get gelato (above), which is made fresh and brought in from an Italian restaurant in Rockford: chocolate fondue; gift items; personal care items such as soap, hand cream and body wash; and wine — including bottles covered in chocolate (right). The bottle is wrapped in plastic and dipped in chocolate. When the ribbon is untied and the plastic pulled away, the chocolate pieces tumble off — a fun and different way to enjoy the pair. And for the big kids in the candy store, there’s a small bar area where candy- and chocolateflavored cocktails and martinis and other drinks are served — like a cotton candy martini and a gummy bear cocktail.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

The Russell Square Playground in Woosung is part of the park that’s been around since the village’s founding in 1855. The square is named after a popular park in London. Woosung’s first school was located on the grounds of the park, but was later relocated to the park’s easternmost edge. State Route 26 and U.S. Route 52 go through the village, and when the road was rerouted nearly 100 years ago, it cut the school off from the rest of the park. Today, the nearly 10-acre park has some playground equipment, picnic shelters and a World War II veterans memorial honoring soldiers from the village and township.

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SPARKLEFOX cont’d from page 30 The other part of the formula? Her talent. Early finds just the right ratios and is careful about consistency to ensure that her products get an A+ on the taste test.

Sometimes Early will get a request from a customer to make a certain kind of chocolate or caramel treat that they may have seen elsewhere, or remembered from years ago.

“It’s challenging but fun, because sometimes it’s something that I’ve never made before,” Early said. “During Christmas, a guy came in and wanted me to make a Take 5 bar but with really good chocolate and our house-made caramel. We did that for him for Christmas, and it ended up that everyone loved it and now we are carrying it in our case because it turned out really good. It’s fun to do that kind of stuff.”

“Since the shop has been open, you learn a lot about what people like, so you kind of cater to that,” Early said. “I want it to be a fun place to hang out, not just a place to get your chocolate and leave.”

That fun-loving feeling starts before customers even walk through the door, with the store’s name. A name like Sparklefox is bound to make people smile, which suits Early just fine. When she was thinking of a name for the story, she wanted something with a positive feeling, so she combined that with one of her favorite animals and a Sparklfeox was born.

Early’s love for chocolate goes back to her childhood, and art was another passion of hers. At Sparklefox, she gets to practice both, making candy that looks as good as it tastes.

After graduating from Oregon High School, she studied at the Illinois Institute of Art in Schaumburg. That led to design jobs at ad agencies, but candy kept calling, and she kept answering. She’d occasionally work her wonders with bonbons and turtles and sold them at farmers markets, as well as a flower shop in Byron.

But when budget cuts eliminated her job last year, she turned a setback into an opportunity, trading her keyboard and mouse for a bowl and mixer, and an office for a storefront. Early and her husband, Shawn, remodeled the space and opened in August.

Early called on her design skills to create a look that catches the eye. Bright colors pop against their white surroundings.

“I just wanted something that was bright, fresh and inviting,” Early said. “White is a neutral color so that the products themselves — the candy, the gifts — kind of pop. From my design brain, that’s kind of how it went.”

The shop was ready for business, and it got it.

Among the other treats, customers can enjoy are cotton candy, s’more pops on a stick (a s’more dipped in chocolate), chocolate-dipped potato chips, chocolate peeps and more. All of the chocolates, cotton candy and caramels are made in house.

She also sells gelato that comes from an Italian restaurant in Rockford, made fresh each week. Gelato is similar to ice cream, but made with milk instead of cream; it doesn’t have any ice crystals like regular ice cream, and it’s more flavorful, Early said.

Customers can buy a cup, cone, or a three-cup flight to sample different flavors.

SPARKLEFOX cont’d to page 33

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SPARKLEFOX cont’d from page 32 Early also serves up candy and chocolate-flavored drinks, including French vanilla, cinnamon and dark chocolate lattes; peach, strawberry and piña colada cream sodas; and fruit- and candy-flavored Italian sodas.

For the “big kids,” the back of the store also has a small bar area, where candyand chocolate-flavored cocktails and martinis are served — like a cotton candy martini and a gummy bear cocktail.

Other popular creations Early has put together include winter’s hot seller, the hot cocoa bomb, a ball of chocolate with marshmallows and hot cocoa mix inside that turns into hot chocolate when dropped into warm milk. She also used beer from the Ogle County Brewery next door to make a ganache inside of a bonbon, sort of like a beer-infused bonbon.

Early also does bulk orders if placed far enough in advance, and has served her treats at weddings and baby showers. Orders can be placed sparklefoxconfections. com. Early also offers free delivery within 10 miles of Oregon or Byron for orders of $20 or more, with an additional fee for locations beyond that.

When she opened, Early expected a lot of her traffic would be local, but with confectioneries few and far between, she’s attracted customers from near and far.

Being at the crossroads of state Routes 2 and 64 has helped to, as people passing through will stop in for a bite. She said one customer will come from nearly 3 hours away in Iowa just to get a taste of the turtles.

“When the shop opened, I was thinking there would be people from Oregon, and some people from Rockford, Byron, maybe a few people from Dixon,” Early said.

“I’m surprised at how many people will call to make sure we’re open; I’ll ask them where they’re coming from, and they’ll go ‘We heard about you in the suburbs.’ That surprised me because, really, I’m just a little chocolate shop in Oregon, Illinois, but people somehow find out about it and they come here, and that’s pretty cool.” n

Sparklefox Confections, 108 N. Fourth St., is open 11 a.m.5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It plans to expand its hours in the summer months. Find it on Facebook and Instagram, go to sparklefoxconfections.com or call 815-881-8185 to place an order or for more information.

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here some people see something and think it’s past its prime, Vicki Miller sees it as a prime opportunity.

She’ll see an old feed scoop and think “potted plant holder.” An old wagon? Shelving. An old table? A new place to add a little bit of country to your decor. For her, things don’t get old, they just become vintage — and if they’ve got some life left in them, Miller will find it and bring it to her shop, Vintage Chicks and Feed, a few miles east of Leaf River.

It’s all about finding something in pieces that other people may have overlooked — a certain charm and character in search of a new home.

“I’ll buy things from people who have their grandmother’s stuff, or don’t have anything to do with it,” she said.

“At least I know that someone is going to come and love it, and it’s going to have some other way to be used.”

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The shop carries rusted relics with rural charm along with locally produced soap, candles, lotions, honey, syrup, barnwood items, jewelry, shirts and hats — and then there’s the other half of the business name: “and Feed.”

In the kind of shop you’d only find in rural America, this store with vintage decor also sells feed. Miller and her husband, Gene, farm in the area and raise cattle, so they have connections with the two grain companies, Purina and Hueber, to supply them with food for pets, birds, livestock — even llamas and emus.

Purina feed comes from Missouri, while Hueber’s feed comes from farms closer to home. Hueber is based in Creston, and has elevators throughout northern Illinois.

When the business opened 7 years ago, Vicki had planned to sell just feed, but then she hit upon the idea of adding some rustic decor to the store, and Vintage Chicks and Feed was hatched.

“We can have two kinds of people coming through the door,” Miller said. “There’ll be someone who, maybe they’re coming in for feed and they’ll be like, ‘Oooh, that can be a gift for somebody.’ It makes it a lot of fun to have both.”

For many of Miller’s customers, visiting the feed shop is like a taking a trip down memory lane. She’s heard stories over the years from customers who’ve seen something in the shop and it sparked a memory about a gadget their mom or grandma had in the kitchen, or the tools and toil of days gone by with dad or grandpa out in the barn.

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HA For Vicki Miller, Vintage Chicks is more than just a business; it’s her happy pla ce.

“People love coming in and just spending time loo king,” Miller said. “That makes me happy.”

“A lot of people just come here and love looking around,” Miller said. “It brings back memories.”

Miller enjoys hearing the stories and learning new things, and she gets a real kick out of seeing what customers can do with the things she sells. For them, beauty is in the I’s of the beholder: Ideas, Inspiration and Ingenuity. “[They] can look at something and go, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so cool,” Miller said. “I’m inspired by my customers because a lot of times they are the ones who have the vision, or they’ll come in looking for something because they’ve seen an idea, and they’ll send me pictures of how they bought something here, and how they put it in their home.”

The store also is a place where local growers and artisans can sell their products. Among them: the Oregon Soap Shoppe, Pecatonica River Honey, Hough’s Maple Syrup from rural Mount Morris, sheep milk lotions from Walden Woods in rural Leaf River, and Plowboy candles and wax melts from Freeport.

The store can also help customers turn something old into something that looks new, with Dixie Belle Paint. And for people who have to muck about outside, Vintage Chicks carries a line of muck boots from The Original Muck Boot Company.

When some of the local vendors stop by the shop to restock their supply and chat with Miller, they also get a chance to chat up customers, something you won’t find at a chain store, Miller said.

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Cameras and kitchen goods, tools and toys, books and barn wood — if something catches Vicki Miller’s eye, it’ll end up at her store, and eventually in someone’s home.

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Another wing of the building houses bags of feed and old books — feed for animals on the bottom floor and food for thought on the second floor. Chairs are set up in the book room so people can browse before they buy.

Miller likes to mix things up with her displays, changing about every other month, giving customers a reason to not just stop by once, but more often to see what’s new.

“You don’t want it to look the same when you come in next time,” Miller said, “you want it to look different. It’ll be worth your while to come back in 3 months.”

Customers from near and far have visited Miller’s AL EX VinT shop, many who’ve been part of the Vintage Shop Hop, tage Chicks a semi-annual road trip showcasing more than 400 Owner Vickie Miller likes vintage shops, barn sales, and boutiques in northto support local vendors by ofern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. The first Vinfering them a place where they can tage Shop Hop of this year was the first weekend sell their products, like these birdof March, and several curious travelers stopped houses (above), goodies from Hough’s

by Vintage Chicks to take a gander at its items, Maple Lane Farm in Mount Morris share a story or two, and even get their dog some (center), and even a special fragrance food to munch on along the trip. of soap from the Oregon Soap “We’ll roll out the red carpet for them on those Shoppe (bottom) to celebrate days,” Miller said. “We’ll have treats and giveaways, the store’s seventh anand it’s super fun.” niversary.

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“Any time they can help me, I love for them to be a part of it,” Miller said. “People are so sweet when I’m teaching Miller also hosts a few events of her own throughout them how to make change, talk to people and have that the year. The Chick Thing, a play on words of a popular eye contact. They just love it, and people love it. They’re flea market in nearby Pecatonica (The Pec Thing), will like, ‘We’re so glad you’re teaching them to do that.’ [My have around 30 resale vendors on May 14 and Sept. 17. The grandkids will] go, ‘Someday we’re going to run this place, shows began 5 years ago with only a few tables, but greatly NaNa.’” expanded during the recent COVID-19 pandemic when Sometimes, customers will ask Miller for help more people were looking for things to do outdoors. finding that certain something, and Miller keeps “People love coming in and just spending a list of the items. They’ll give her an idea Vintage time looking,” Miller said. “That makes of what they’re looking for, and a phone Chicks and me happy. Just come and enjoy yourself. number to contact them if she finds what Feed, 700 E. state Then sometimes people will talk to other they’re looking. She’ll take the list with Route 72, is open from people.” her when she finds the time to search the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, A glance behind the counter will tell area for second-chance items, and when Thursday and Saturday. Find customers what Vintage Chicks and Feed she’s lucky enough to have one of those it on Facebook or Instameans to Miller. A sign reads “My happy “A-ha!” moments — when she makes a cusgram, or call 815-973place,” and for her, that’s exactly what it tomer’s day by finding what they’re looking 2432 for more inforis: a place where old items can find new life for — it gives her another reason to smile, mation. and people can make new friends. A place and her customers too. where she can spend time with her family.

“Come for the experience and just enjoy yourHer daughter, Amy, helps around the store from self,” she said. “I wanted to get that feel where you can time to time, as well as her grandchildren, Coehen, Cylee come in with your family, come in with your dirty boots and Addy. When the grandchildren are working, they enjoy to get feed, and have it be like home and a comfortable getting their own name tags and telling customers that place to be. It’s my happy place, and I hope it will be other they’re “chicks in training.” people’s too.” n

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