August 2011

Changes along Dearborn Street.

This is a slow time of the year along Dearborn Street and so a number of establishments decide this is a good time to take their annual vacation. Among those that are on vacation are Dawn and Mike Kennedy,of Cafe De La Bay, and Joyce Colmar, of Vino Loco. Dawn and Mike will be back in operation on September 1st and Joyce will be returning the first week in October. We are sure that all will return refreshed and ready for another winter season.
In the same general area of Dearborn Street the building that was occupied by At Home with Style, The Arts Alliance and Girlie Chic has been sold and the new owners plan on a complete renovation. Two of the stores had previously vacated the building - The Arts Alliance moving across the street to occupy the space previously vacated by Daylillies and Girlie Chic had closed. At Home with Style opened a new store in Venice, next to the Panera Bread Company, and is now putting a lot of merchandise in temporary storage until a later date.

At Home with Style, Venice.

A few other musical chairs with businesses on Dearborn Street have occurred.  The Englewood Sun newspaper moved about a year or so ago to a building across the street formerly occupied by the Blue Pagoda orchids.  Blue Pagoda is now located just west of the old hardware store.  The Consignment America store,  moved into the former newspaper building, but has since closed its doors and departed the premises. The building is now for rent.

May 2011

We are losing a veteran of Dearborn Street at the end of this month. Judy Plank, owner of Daylilies, is pulling up stakes and moving up North after 12 years in business at the same location. Anyone who has visited the downtown area has seen one of Judy's murals (shown below) on the wall by At Home with Style.

Judy also produced calendars featuring her artwork of various businesses in the area, a sampling of one year is also shown here.

Judy will also be spending the summer in her store at 8 Front Street,  Greenport. New York. Here are a couple of photographs of the Greenport store.

Judy can be reached at dayliliesfl@yahoo.com or :
by phone (941) 266-3610.

Judy will be missed in the area and we wish her and her family the best in her new surroundings