Long Grove Apple Haus Closing is a Heartbreak

Written by on January 26, 2012 · Leave a Comment

 Let Long Grove Apple Haus Closing Be a Wake-up Call!

Last fall when the Farmside Country Store and Winery in Long Grove closed, I was surprised. It had always been there. A sweet store sitting high on the corner of Old McHenry and Robert Parker Coffin Roads, it has been there in some form since 1869. Sure, the building is still there but it sadly stands empty. When I read the news that the Long Grove Apple Haus closed, I was shocked.

Having lived in Long Grove for over 25 years, I have seen stores come and go. But Farmside and the Apple Haus? These two stores were cornerstones of the village. Many a cider donut has been eaten in our house, brought to friends’ homes and to Coldwell Banker events. Our daughter Kristin rode her bike or walked to her first job at the Apple Haus. I’ve talked with others over the past few days and the sentiment seems to be the same: We haven’t just lost stores, we’ve lost a part of our community.

As a community we need to take action. We can’t just wait for the next small business to close and lament its passing. There are things that we can do right now and the very first is to shop at those businesses. I know that it’s sometimes easier to purchase a greeting card at the grocery store but I promise you that it’s not as much fun as shopping at Diane’s Hallmark in Lake Zurich. The women there are helpful and fun. It’s probably more convenient to run to the mall but have you been to Within Reach in Long Grove for a gift? You’ll be delighted by the beautifully arranged displays of unique items.

Next, tell everyone about your experiences at these establishments. When you eat at Enzo and Lucia’s, D&J Bistro or any of our local restaurants, let your friends know how great the food is. Tell everyone you know about the fine products and experiences at our locally owned businesses. Visit yelp.com and Yelp about it!

Adorable Baby Items at Within Reach

I’m committing to blog about at least one small business in the Lake Zurich area communities each week. If you know of one that you’d like to have featured, contact me. After you’ve read my blog posts, share them on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. Together we can get the word out and help our local business owners prosper.

Friendly Faces at Diane's Hallmark

 

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Bushels of Fun at Long Grove Apple Fest!

Written by on September 27, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Long Grove’s 19th Annual Apple Fest Sept. 30, October 1, 2

Jane Austen said “Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness”. If you agree, then you’ll be absolutely blissful this weekend at Long Grove’s 19th Annual Apple Fest! Apple Fest is my favorite of all the Long Grove festivals. Cool, crisp weather, yummy food booths, entertainment, great shopping, and FESTIVAL DONUTS(!) are all great reasons to visit Long Grove Apple Fest.

Apple Fest has a full line-up of entertainment. There’s sure to be something that a-peels (sorry, I couldn’t help it!) to everyone. Bands and performing artists will be featured at the Gazebo, Towner Green, Beans and Leaves, Covered Bridge and Fountain Square throughout the weekend. Long Grove features its own “Man vs. Food” with the Ice Cream Eating Contest and Apple Pie Eating Contest.  There are child friendly activities including face painting.

While you’re strolling the cobblestone paths, stop in at one of the 70 Long Grove stores or restaurants. Many will have apple themed dishes and merchandise. Food vendors will be set up throughout the village offering not only apple creations but other goodies like roasted corn. You can create your own caramel apple outside the Apple Haus.

I can smell the food and hear the music from my Long Grove home. If you’d like to check out homes for sale in the Long Grove area, click here to see some of the homes currently on the market.

Apple Fest is fun for the whole family. The big challenge will be finding enough time to see everything. The second biggest will be to only eat one apple cider donut sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar that are made special for Apple Fest. I hope to see many of my friends this weekend at Apple Fest!

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Bushels of Fun at Long Grove’s Apple Fest

Written by on September 30, 2010 · 1 Comment

18th Annual Apple Fest October 1st – 3rd

Long Grove’s 18th Annual Apple Fest begins tomorrow in the historic downtown district. The beautiful, crisp fall weather accompanied by the scent of cinnamon and apples makes it my very favorite Long Grove Festival. The festival is chock full of delicious foods and family activities.

The festival offers dozens of apple treats. Our family favorite is the Apple Haus festival donuts. The delicious apple cider donut is sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and a delight to the taste buds. Also available are the brown bag apple pie, fresh apples and apple cider. Many other vendors will be at the fest offering an array of taste-tempting treats.

Apple Fest provides a full day of family fun. There are kiddie rides, pony rides, and face painting for the kids. In past years there has been a huge selection of fall and apple inspired home décor. These can be found in the permanent shops, such as Mangel’s and Red Oaks, and various street booths.

Live music will accompany the happy sounds of laughter at the fest. For more information about the fest, visit Long Grove’s schedule of events.

If you attend on Sunday morning, stop by the Long Grove Farmers Market. There are only 3 weeks left to support local vendors. I will probably walk down to Apple Fest on Saturday and Sunday. And I’ll try to stay away from the donuts!

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