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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Long Grove Summer Concert Series Begins July 10th

Written by on July 6, 2011 · 2 Comments

Free Sunday Concerts July 10th through August 28th

Long Grove’s sixth summer concert series begins next Sunday, July 10th at 4pm. With very diverse styles of music, the eight concerts will be held at the new Pavilion which was generously built by Sunset Foods. The first band to perform at the Long Grove Summer Concert Series is the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band. “Klezmer” originally referred to ancient Hebrew musical instruments. Around the middle ages it became attached to Jewish folk musicians. The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band is one of the Midwest’s premier Klezmer bands. They will entertain us with rich, jazzy sounds of the swing era.

All of the Sunday concerts begin at 4 pm and will end about 6 pm. Arrive early and stop by some of the downtown stores. You can pick up a bottle of wine at the Glunz Family Winery and some snacks at the Farmside Grocery. Or pop by Timmy’s Sandwiches or Enzo and Lucia for some take-out fare to enjoy during the concert. Bring a blanket and enjoy a musical afternoon in Long Grove.

All concerts are held at the pavilion in Long Grove’s Fountain Square. Fountain Square is located between Old McHenry Road and Robert Coffin Road just northeast of the main intersection of Downtown Long Grove. The square is adjacent to the Archer Municipal Parking Lot. I can hear the music from my house but it doesn’t compare to actually being there. I hope you can take advantage of a few of the Long Grove free concerts!

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